“The Shapes of Leaves” is the title Arthur Sze‘s poem we read and discussed last week. The poet argues that “our emotions resemble leaves and alive / to their shapes we are nourished,” so I asked how it was possible that leaves could resemble feelings? I brought along some color copies of a few mentioned in the poem: Norway and sugar maples (for grief and pleasure), dogwood (pain), and aspen gold (for anger), and as students compared and contrasted them, we considered how their shapes, details, and colors might suggest certain emotions. It made for some of our most interesting discussions to date!
I then drew some geometric, organic, and abstract shapes on the board, and the 2nd graders offered emotional words for each. When it was time to start writing, the idea was to choose or think of at least one shape, and write about how it feels or makes you feel.
Ms. Thiel, 2nd Grade
When I Feel Like a Star
Austin C.
I feel like a starfish
drowning under water and fish
passing by. And when I see
another starfish I don’t say
hi and when it’s dark I would
go outside.
The Triangle Zack and the Talking Books
Moses N.
Zack was
in a
house his
face is
triangle
two
books
slap Zack
on the
face ouch!!!!!
The books slap
Zack on the
face Zack
has
to go to
the hospital.
Heart
Destiny S.
My heart is pounding
I felt small
My heart is dying I wish
it would STOP
I feel so lazy like a
rhombus sitting on the couch
Ooh ooh ooh it
hurts I look like I’m dying
My heart was lost but now
it’s found
Diamond
Leila W.
I feel bright,
like a DIAMOND.
I am bigger than you.
I am so shiny.
I’m a Diamond
dipped in Gold,
wrapped in an emerald
with a shiny face.
I can brighten your
day!
Ms. Ward, 2nd Grade
Untitled
Avni B.
I am a diamond right now and I feel…
hard
smart
sleepy
I am a heart right now and I feel…
lovely
uncomfortable
lovable
I am a star and I feel…
light
nice
not smart
I am a circle and I feel…
happy
cold
peaceful
A Heart
Matasia C.
A heart is a very pretty shape.
A heart is love. It could
even be in your heart
that’s in your body.
A heart also can be true love.
It doesn’t have to be
just one thing. A heart can
be on a card or when you’re
making something it could have a
heart. Be loved by a heart. These
are funny things. You can go
North and give a heart. Go
East and give a heart. Go
South and give a heart. Go
West and give a heart.
If I Was a Shape
Roxane L.
If I was a shape
what would I be?
Would I be a cloud, soft and
fluffy? Or maybe a
star,
calm and twisted?
Do you think I could be
a circle, jumpy and happy?
Squares
Tristen N.
Squares are soft
like a pillow but the
thing is that I never
touched a square but
I would like
to what is wrong
with that
I told
you what
but squares
are not
real they
are a shape
because
it looks
cool
Ms. O’Connor, 2nd Grade
Cloud
Zakaria B.
When I see a cloud, I think:
how cozy it is. But
Then he speaks for himself. I
could let you live on me!
Then he comes to get me
Oh! When I see a cloud. I
Think: how cozy it is.
The Triangle
Aiden F.
The triangle the triangle
so pointy and sharp
Scaredy Cat Circle/Cautious Circle
Katy H.
A circle, a very cautious circle, do you remember the
llamas sleeping in trees? This circle rolls right over them! He
does it so he doesn’t have to jump over them. A roller
coaster? He ignores it. A bully? He’s too petrified. And,
an alligator at the zoo? He screams his head off.
What a scaredy cat. He sleeps on the bottom of a bunk
bed with nobody at the top because he’s scared
he’ll fall off the top! SCAREDY CAT CIRCLE!
Crescent
Opal P.
I can be sleepy
I can be happy
I can also be sad
I have a pointy
end
Ms. Rupp, 2nd Grade
“Circle” Dash
Emiliano B.
Attempt 1: Circle rolls,
spike coming, circle
jumps, circle hits other
player! Circle, get angry!
Hearts!
Gabrielle P.
Hearts are like love.
They are sweet and happy.
I saw a square that did
not have a friend. I will
be her friend. What up?
I can be your
friend.
A Sphere
Leila S.
A sphere can roll. It is really
happy.
Square
Erika W.
Sad lonely square!
Square angry!
Square bored!
I wish I had a friend
lonely square!!!!!
Ms. Schwartz, 2nd Grade
Pizza
Calvin M.
Pizza happy excited
nice funny.
Moon
Ketan N.
I am sleepy and tired
but I have to do
my homework so I will
hide and sleep in the blanket
Heart
Leyla S.
A heart is lave
I mean
love sorry
sometimes a
heart can
be
sad
because
a
heart
is
a
body
praet
I
mean
part
I love
my
heart
it is
always
love
Untitled
Caleb W.
A diamond is mad and happy and icy
and he falls on his face.
A circle is rolling and rocking
and rock and roll music.
A square is mad and OK and sad.
A star is bright and it is light
and if you touch you will
turn into chicken
