Poetry Friday: Once Upon a Time

Hi, Poetry Friday friends. Welcome back to my series of posts from Northfield Elementary's third grade poetry residency.It's day two of our fractured fairy tale poems. In the last post, I described the beginning of our workshop. Today's I'm sharing the brainstorming worksheet I use for this lesson. The key to this poem is really digging into secondary character's point of view. If the prince could tell his version of "Cinderella" -- how might the story be different? How does he feel about the events of the fairy tale?The third grade poets had a lot of fun thinking about which fairy tale characters were itching to tell their side of things. Much like a persona poem, this exercise taps into many children's sense of empathy -- understanding and resonating with someone else's situation and emotions.As you will see, the students really got into the voices of these characters!Poet: ChristopherThe Wrong BeansOne upon a time, in a far, far landthere was a wizard who was the foxin most fairy tales.He was a trickster.He finds someone, someone special,and pranks them with his plan.“I’m the real villain everyone should fear.”Then this, “Jack was in front of meand I gave him the beans of death.I walked home, prouduntil I realized, I gave the boythe wrong beans, the beans that the boywould just plant.Then, Jack got famousfor the mistake I made. I’m so mad!I hate Jack! I hate him so much.If I ever see him, I’ll curse him,curse him better than I did before.”***Poet: Mouniksai Brick HouseHa! Those little pigs!They thought they could stay safe just by building with twigs.They built as fast as they do in Fortnite.Then the straw house got destroyed during the night.Then came the sticks.Oh, those poor little pigs.Then came me,as strong as could be.Because of my owner and I.Those pigs came begging to let them in.So, of course, we let them in.The wolf came.His breath also came.It smelledhorrible and terrible.I can see why those houses died, but I am strongerbecause of my owner and I. And I’m boss.***Poet: Sophia I Never Liked CinderellaI never liked Cinderella.My dad wanted me to marry her, not me!It was NOT my decision!In my mind, I actually thought her stepsisterwas quite pretty.I didn’t get the glass slipper.My dad pushed me to and down the stairs.And I hurt myself even MOREwhen I tripped over the glass shoe thingy.I said I would arrestwhoever the shoe belonged to, but noooo!The news got it all wrong!I didn’t want to marry her!But when my dad said he was proudof what he thought was my decisionI didn’t want to let my father down.***Poet: Grayson One Fine Day One fine daymy first day on the jobI’m feeling stressed.Someone was calling my name.“Hunter! Hunter!My grandma isbeing eaten by a wolf.”Okay. Um…um… um.I did notbring my gun.Ugh. This isthe worst day of my life!Actually, do I ever bringmy fun? Never mind that!I’d never hadsomeone eaten bya wolf.Let me runback to the office!***Poet: WilliamJack and the Beanstalk Poemfrom Jack’s Mom’s Point of ViewHe gave someone our cow.Planted beans in our yard.I wonder how this daycould get any worse.I wish I could ground himand make him get ridof that ugly beanstalk mess.I won’t let him playor have any fun.I’ll make him do the dishesand all of my chores.***Poet: JustinOnce Upon a TimeOnce upon a time there was a momwho sent her son out to sell a cow for money.After a long time, she got mad.“Fifty days later, Jack still isn’t back!” she screamed.She was mad. She went out to find him.Later, she found him in a fight with a giant.“What the heck did he do?” she thought.She screamed up the huge beanstalk,“Jack, get down here!”Then Jack came with a ton of gold.“Okay, let’s go,” said Jack.“We’re rich!” the mom screamed.Jack was grounded for a month,but they were rich.***Poet: Carter “The Story of Hansel and Gretel” by The Candy HouseOne day in the forest,I was just sitting thereminding my own business.And then out of nowhere,two kids walked out of the forestand their names were Hansel and Gretel.They see me and I see them.Then they ran up and started to eat me.I was as in pain as a person dyingfrom getting his skin ripped off.I was in pain so bad, I rang the doorbell.And the witch that owned mecame out and told them to come in.So they came in, but I did not knowwhat happened. But when Hanseland Gretel came out, they were fatand the which died in my cook burner.***Thanks to the Northfield teachers and families for permission to share the third graders’ poems online.Posts in the “Poems from the Northfield Third Grade” 2018 series:Poetry Friday List Poem LessonA Garden of Words: 3rd Grade List PoemsThe Pool Is the Capital of My Summer: Odes to PlaceThird Grade Odes from Northfield E.S.Fractured Fairy Tale PoemsPoetry Friday: Once Upon a TimeA Gallery of Poems