Monday, May 24, 2021

Magnificent Mother Earth

Earth Day Tributes

"Where the Sidewalk Ends" by Shel Silverstein

"Earth Day" by Jane Yolen

"My Loyal Friend" by Patricia A. Fleming

Monday, May 3, 2021

Animals: Affectionate and Domestic...With One That is Perilous

Cuddly kittens and playful pups a plenty!

"Cat Kisses" By: Bobbie Katz

"I Took My Doggie" By: Ken Nesbitt

"My Cat is Fat" By: James McDonald

"Why Are you Screaming" By: Rosa Silva

And one hungry sea creature that is considered unsociable.

"About the Teeth of Sharks" By: John Ciardi

Friday, April 30, 2021

Ice Cream, Hot Dogs, Burgers and Fries!

These yummy poems will make your stomach growl!

"18 Flavors" By: Shel Silverstein

"Hot Dogs Forever" By: Sonja Dunn

"Not So Fast Food" By: Kenn Nesbitt

And now that our stomachs are full, it's time for...

"Willie the Burper" By: Bill Dodds

Wednesday, April 21, 2021

Iambic Pentameter with Kwame Alexander

April 2021

Poetic inspiration has come to Lafayette Avenue School in the form of an expert in free verse, Kwame Alexander. When asked why he writes in verse, Newbury and Caldecott Winner replied, "Why not?!?"

In preparation for our virtual Author's Day with Mr. Alexander, LAF students all read Becoming Muhammad Ali by Kwame Alexander and James Patterson. This historical fiction novel about professional boxer, Muhammad Ali's childhood taught us that poetry can be enjoyable and can tell in-depth stories.

With it's setting in segregated Louisville, KY, Becoming Muhammad Ali tackles racial prejudices that are still a problem today. When asked how students in 4th and 5th grades can help to combat racism, Mr. Alexander advised students to read books about cultures different from his/her own and to always be kind!

Mr. Alexander spoke about his editing process and explained that revising his poems is his favorite part of each of his projects. He compared the brainstorming and the first draft to getting dressed. The editing is like choosing the accessories; Which color shoes should I wear? Ponytail or mohawk? Hat sideways, backward or forward facing? He encouraged students to revisit their drafts with enthusiasm and to have fun while improving their writing.

After listening to this amazing poet, many LAF students were motivated to try writing poetry for themselves.

Here's a LAF original inspired by Kwame

Buzzer Beater

By Jack Bealer

Slipping on my idol’s shoes

Air Jordans tied tight

I’m on the court

Ready to go

I get the ball at half court

Through the legs

Crossover

Drive to the basket

Pass it out for someone to shoot a three

The ball goes up in the air

Silence

Over the rim

And then

SWOOOSH

The crowd roars!!

I look over at the stands

And I couldn’t believe it

It was really him

The real GOAT

The real Michael Jordan

Watching ME win the game!

Find even more LAF original poems in the

2021 LAF Poetry Book

Kwame Alexander-"Ingredients of a Poem"

The Crossover: Graphic Novel by Kwame Alexander

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This morning a dinosaur tromped into school,

ferocious, atrocious, and dripping with drool.

He had to be practically twenty feet tall,

and banged around looking something to maul.

He stomped and he snorted, he bellowed and roared.

His head hit the ceiling and busted a board.

That beast was undoubtedly ready for lunch.

He snatched up a chair in his teeth with a crunch,

Then stopped for a moment and thoughtfully chewed;

it seems he had smelled cafeteria food.

He spit out the splinters and plowed down the hall,

his tail swinging wildly and smashing the wall.

He burst through the doors of the lunchroom to see

the lunch ladies clutching their hair nets to flee.

He found the lasagna and gobbled it up,

then lapped up the lemonade, cup after cup.

He ransacked the salad bar, plundered dessert,

then stiffened and yelped as if suddenly hurt.

He let out a howl as he clutched at his side,

then gave out a gasp and fell over and died.

So next time a dinosaur comes to your school,

I think you’d do well to remember this rule:

Get out of the way of his bad attitude

and make sure he eats cafeteria food.

— Kenn Nesbitt

Vacation

In my head I hear a humming:
Summer, summer summer's coming.
Soon we're going on vacation
But there is a complication:
Day by day the problem's growing-
We don't know yet where we're going!

Mother likes the country best;
That's so she can read and rest.
Dad thinks resting is a bore;
He's for fishing at the shore.
Sailing is my brother's pick;
Sailing makes my sister sick;
She says swimming's much more cool,
Swimming in a swimming pool.
As for me, why, I don't care,
I'd be happy anywhere!

In my head I hear a humming:
Summer, summer, summer's coming.
Soon we're going on vacation
But we have a complication:
Day by day the problem's growing-
Where oh where will we be going?

Mary Ann Hoberman

The way to eat your lunch meat
is to roll it into tubes.
The way to eat your Jell-O
is to jiggle all the cubes.
The way to eat your Swiss cheese
is to nibble it like mice.
The way to eat your water
is to chew the chunks of ice.
The way to eat your doughnut
is to try to save the hole.
The way to eat your ice cream
is to overfill the bowl.
The way to eat your pudding
is to suck it through a straw.
The way to eat your peanuts
is to store them in your jaw.
The way to eat your apple
is to munch it like a hog.
The way to eat your spinach
is to feed it to your dog.
The way to eat your noodles
is in one unending slurp.
The way to end your meal
is with a record-breaking BURP.

-- John Frank

Lafayette School Poetry on Parade

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