A Garden of Words: 3rd Grade List Poems

May 30

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The Northfield Elementary poets have been working hard on their list poems. Today, our lists of juicy words take us inside a desk and a pencil box, explore a beautiful garden, and dig down into the earth.The mentor text for my list poem workshop is Naomi Shihab Nye’s “Words in My Pillow” from the anthology Falling Down the Page. You can read my initial plan for this lesson at Today’s Little Ditty.As I mentioned last week, I encouraged the students to stick as close to Naomi Shihab Nye’s poem as they wanted to. We did this by writing a “cross-out” poem. Using a print-out of “Words in My Pillow,” the poets strike-through any words they want to replace with their own ideas. You can see what this looks like in last week's post.Poet: DiegoWords in My DeskI hide wordsin my desk.I hide wordsthat help me grow.NOTEBOOKFOLDERPENCILI have feelingsin my desk.I can feel—SMARTSATISFIEDHAPPYI hide wordsthat like learning.USEFULHELPFULSMARTERWhen summer comesI leave my desk,but my wordsstay put.***Poet: AustinWords in My Pencil BoxI hide words inside my pencil box.Words that feel good.GLUE.HELPFUL.CUTTING.People can see them,and I find them waiting for melike the creativity hiding inside my brain.But I know what’s in there—SCISSORS.FUN.SPACE.CONSUMING.PASTING.CALMING.CRAYONS.PENCIL SHAVINGS are in there.BROKEN PENCILS are in there.The words play togetherwhen I think about them.STORAGE.DRAWING.ENERGETIC.COLORED PENCILS are in my pencil box.My friends the wordsgo to school before I do,but they never let me down.***Poet: KayleeWords in the EarthWords hide inside the Earth.Words that seem nice.GRASS.TREES.DIRT.No one can see them.But I find them waiting for me.Like the gemstones hiding inside the earth.No one can see them,but I know they are there.EMERALDS.DIAMONDS.SAPPHIRES.TOPAZ.AQUAMARINE.RUBY.WORMS are in there.SEEDS are in there.The words are playing togetherwhen I am thinking or saying them.CLIMBING.FLOWERS.SUN.WIND is in the Earth.My friends the wordsexplore before I do.But they nevergo away.***Poet: SloaneWords in My GardenI hide words in my garden.Words that taste good—FRESH.MINT.TOMATOES.No one can see thembut I find them waiting for me.Like the seeds inside the soil.No one can see thembut I know what’s in there.BASIL.OREGANO.THYME.ROSEMARY.STRAWBERRIES.TULIPS.COLORS are in there.NATURE is in there.The words are growing togetherwhen I am saying or thinking them.EDIBLES.BEAUTIFUL.FRUIT.FLOWERSare in my garden.My friends the wordsgrow faster than I do,but they nevergo away.***Poet: GeorgeWords in My NameI hide words inside my name.Words that fit my personality.THRIFTY.BRAVE.FAIR.No one can see thembut I find them waiting for me.Like the silent letters hiding inside my name.No one can see thembut I k now what they are.CURIOUS.KIND.SUPERCALIFRAGILISTICEXPIOALIDOCIOUS.CUB SCOUT.CLEAN.REVERENT.LETTERS are in there.The flowing sound of water is in there.The words are playing togetherwhen I am saying or thinking them.COOL.RIPE.HELPFUL.NICEis in my name.***Be sure to check out my previous post about this poetry residency. It includes links, lesson tips, and more poems by Northfield Elementary's third graders.Posts in the “Poems from the Northfield Third Grade” 2018 series:Poetry Friday List Poem Lesson A Garden of Words: 3rd Grade List Poems The Pool Is the Capital of My Summer: Odes to Place Third Grade Odes from Northfield E.S.Fractured Fairy Tale Poems Poetry Friday: Once Upon a Time A Gallery of Poems