All posts in Peterson

When Feelings Come Alive @ Peterson 7th Grade

The other week at Peterson, we read and watched a performance of “Explaining my Depression to my Mother” by Sabrina Benaim. As we discussed what makes spoken word different than written poetry, we also […]

Body Talk @ Peterson 6th Grade

This week at Peterson we explored poetry all about the body. Many poets in the past have written about the human body’s beauty, flaws, and capabilities. Together we listened to the poem “Hands” by […]

Celebrating with Odes @ Peterson 6th Grade

This week at Peterson we learned about ode poetry, when the poet gives praise and celebrates a person, place, or object. Together we read Marcus Jackson’s poem “Ode to Kool-Aid.” Jackson creates unique similes […]

Fractured Fairytale Personas @ Peterson 6th Grade

This week at Peterson we learned about persona poetry, where the poet puts on the identity of someone else. This week we took the personas of fairytale characters. Students discussed the characteristics of fairytales, […]

Daddy’s Forehead & Other Jokes @ Peterson 7th Grade

Right after the winter break, we warmed up with a humorous yet heartfelt poem called “Daddy Dozens”. Written by the Chicago namesake, Jamila Woods, students used “Daddy Dozens” as an anchor poem to write […]

Songbirds @ Peterson 6th Grade

This week at Peterson Elementary, we explored lyrical poetry, discovering how poets incorporate elements of music into their poems. Poetry has deep roots in music. Long ago before Spotify and iHeartRadio, songs were a […]

2020 Vision @ Peterson Elementary 6th Grade

This week at Peterson Elementary, we are welcoming the year 2020 with a positive outlook. Students discussed their New Year’s resolutions which includes eating healthy, learning a new language, traveling, and getting better grades. […]

Students commune with nature @ Peterson 6th grade

This week at Peterson students explored ideas about nature. Does nature have a voice? How does it communicate with us? Students discussed how nature earns the title of “Mother Nature” by providing food and […]

Survival Songs @ Peterson 7th Grade

Last week, we learned about stanzas and repetition through the reading of a “Litany for Survival” by feminist, activist writer, Audre Lorde. Students wrote their own poem on survival from the perspective of the […]

Recipe For Identity @ Peterson 6th Grade

This week at Peterson Elementary we explored the concept of identity. What main characteristics make up someone’s identity? Are these accurate representations? Students defined identity as a mixture of gender, race, religion, culture, talents, […]

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I’M FROM THE CITY LIGHTS / STREAMING OUT IN THE NIGHT / AND HUGE SKYSCRAPERS / TOWERING OVER THE LAKE – MELISSA E., 7TH GRADE POET