This week’s poem was “Some Questions about the Storm” by Hilda Raz. In it, two speakers are talking about a storm, asking such questions as “was it bad?” “What did you see?” and “Was that storm worse than others?” When I defined the word torque we decided that it was most likely a tornado, which made sense, since the trees in the poem had been “hurt” and “twisted,” with their crowns “broken” and trunks “shattered.”
I wrote the seven “question” words on the board—who, what, where, when, why, which, and how—and said that the students’ poems should incorporate as many questions as possible. Here are some examples.
Ms. Thiel, 2nd Grade
Questions about the New Kid
Solomon P.
You know him?
Who is he?
What’s his name?
What kind of food does he eat?
Hot or cold?
Why did he transfer?
What’s new about him?
Who are his parents?
Wow. I sure don’t
know him.
Questionary
Spencer R.
Why are there people?
Which is the morning breeze?
Who is the mysterious figure?
When is the history gonna
change?
How is the picture of art
changing? Where’s the storm
of ocean wings?
Knight of lords in medieval times.
Kingdom royal guards of me.
Questions
Luke R.
How does it knock down stuff?
Why does it knock down stuff?
Where does it happen?
Why does it knock down trees?
Wait a second maybe it is
mad.
Questions
Leila W.
Question 1: Why do dogs bark?
Why do cats meow? Why
do teachers teach? Why do
mice squeak? Who did
what? Why do readers read?
Why do people talk? Why do
people walk? Too much to ask
too much to answer. Why do
lions roar? Why do kittens
purr? This is what I’m
saying: WHAT DO I
DO?!
It’s
all
a mystery……
Ms. Ward, 2nd Grade
My Things Are Great
Deshontay B.
Sweet things are great
in all things are great
my things are great?
Questions I Don’t Know for a Storm
Monica E.
Did I brush my teeth?
No.
Yes.
No.
I did.
Or….
I did I did yes I did.
Did my mom get me breakfast?
Yes.
No.
Yes.
I’m not full….
No. She did not. Nope, nada, nu-uh.
Is there a storm?
Yes I brainstormed
for
days.
?
Alistair G.
How does it rain
How does it snow
How does the sun glow
Are aliens real
can I fly
Am I 65
years old
Can I turn invisible
or walk on waterfalls
Am I short
Am I tall
Why?
Jasmine M.
I wonder why elephants have trunks. Why?
I wonder why cheetahs are fast. Why?
I wonder why there are phones. Why?
I wonder when I get the answers, they
might lie.
I wonder why daddy wears ties.
Why?
I Have Lots of Questions
Olive P.
Why can’t we have a cat?
Why am I 8?
Why am I short?
Why am I thin?
Why am I writing this?
Ms. O’Connor, 2nd Grade
Let Me Know
Karynn C.
Is it big or loud
do I need to run or
hide I want to know
just let me know is it
scary or bad just let me
know.
Storm
Alexis M.
Was it dangerous?
Was it scary? What
happened? Nothing
bad. I’m not hurt.
Where
were you?
I was fine. I am
okay. But it was
a really bad storm.
We survived though.
Even Now
Madison N.
Why do I feel blank? Just the
wind and mist….I can’t see
in the middle of nowhere.
I CAN’T DO
THIS…..WHY?
Thoughts rolling around
head in…my head
Why?…Why?…Why?…Why?
Give me the
answer….Why?
Questions about Everest
Shirley R.
Have you climbed it?
No!!!
I wouldn’t even climb it if you paid me!
Okay,
Have you seen it?
Yes! OH YES, it was awesome!
Did you like seeing it?
YES YOU MR. I-HAVE-A-LOT-OF-
QUESTIONS!!!
(SOUND OF SLAMMED DOOR)
Well I guess I’ll ask someone else.
HEH HEH HEH!
1 Question or More????
Rachel X.
How much do people eat?
Is there an end to space?
Can you feel my feet?
Where is this place?
Are mashed potatoes yummy?
Can you kick a ball?
Is the train stuffy?
Do you like the mall?
Are you a great poet?
Are you insane?
Do you ever bet
that you are in pain?
Can I tell if you
have fell into a pit?
Will you ever do
something like a lick?
Well, anyway.
How many questions are you?
Ms. Rupp, 2nd Grade
What Which When How? Will?
Rachel B.
What does garden mean?
Which is mine?
How many of it?
Will I achieve it?
What does achieve mean?
How are pickles made?
What makes an apple?
Seeds
what am I doing?
Poetry
what is poetry?
What is name
a name
how is a name
not a person
yes? What does what mean?
Oh boy.
Untitled
Sirenna J.
Which state
Hawaii
or North
Carolina?
Why is
life hard?
Be an
actress
or star?
Be an
artist or
musician?
Write
songs or
surf
I think surf
I’ll prefer
Some Questions about the Storm
Naima R.
Did it whir into a dove’s mind?
No, more like a haunted monster’s.
Was it in a haunted cave or
a cave with fireflies glowing bright?
Neither, in the middle of them both.
Was it near a bear’s teeth?
Oh yes very near them.
Was it back on a pin?
Half way at least.
How many butterflies were there?
Millions, barely any escaped.
Untitled
Leila S.
I was in the bathroom
so I couldn’t write
anything.
Wait, was I?
Yes. No. YES
Space
Clara S.
Could you build a space portal?
Could you fly to planets?
Will you go to outer space?
If you don’t it’s OK.
Which path is right?
Is that an asteroid?!!
Why did you ask me if I
wanted to do this?
Oh well at least I survived.
Ms. Schwartz, 2nd Grade
Question
Morgan H.
Why are they serious?
What day was it?
Who wrote the poem?
Where was it?
Why this?
Why can’t you make this
a funny poem?
Untitled
Jayce M.
Why do dogs see a little
black why do
cats see better
in the dark
why do I eat a lot
so who will
ever answer
my questions no one
Question
Rhiannon S.
Why do I have
to write this
WHY? What do I
write
um…….
Where do I go
Who do I draw
What am I
Who are you
Are you an alien
Which was do I GO?
When is Monday
Hi!?
whoever you are?
What
Madeleine S.
What is this
about?
What am I?
Where did I
come from?
What?!!!!!
Questions
Caleb W.
Why can’t you have eyes on
your stomach?
Why can’t this be Minecraft?
Why can’t this be five nights of
Freddy?
Why can’t your skin be
yellow, red, blue, and green?
