For their sixth week of poetry Twain 4th graders learned about making a “To Do” list. This type of list helps someone keep track of all the tasks they have to complete. I asked students if animals or objects have important things they must do. Just like humans, things in nature and ordinary items have jobs that are essential to the earth.
Together we read the poem, “Things to Do If You Are a Tree,” by Laura Purdie Salas. In her poem, Salas uses personification, which is when a poet gives non-human things human qualities. Salas describes the tasks a tree accomplishes that is similar to human activities. Eat a kite for dessert/Dance in the wind/Knit a scarlett fall sweater/Set your alarm clock for spring.
Inspired by Salas, students created their own “To Do” Lists for pets, plants, and other unique objects. Please read these wonderful poems below, and make sure you check important things off your own “To Do” lists.
Ms. Gomez-Drakulich 4th Grade
Group 1
Things to Do If you Are A Tiger
By Daniel D.
Rests on a big bed.
Runs in the grass.
Talks to his friends.
Go to school to learn multiplication.
Eats pepperoni pizza.
Coasa que hacer si eres un Chango-mono
by Ignacio G.
un chango come platanos
se comforta como un humano un poco
baila comoun humano
juega como un humano
duerme como un humano
Things to Do If you Are A Bird
by Mateo V.
Communicate by chirping
Travel by flying.
Eats worms like gummy worms.
Learns to fly, like we learn in school.
Sleeps in a nest like a bed.
Ms. Hayes 4th Grade
Group 2
Book
by Madison M.
I wonder what page she’ll stop at today?
I get so tired after my pages being flipped
for what seems like forever.
She said she was only going to read one
more chapter, which is long enough,
but she ended up reading three chapters.
I’m just so, so, so tired.
It feels like it’s never going to stop.
I need a BREAK.
Finally, she’s done. Now I get my
well-earned break.
But I have to do it all over again
tomorrow.
Dog
by Adrian E.
They want to play all day.
They want to get in the couch
They want to be outside all day.
They get excited when you come home.
They have fights with cats.
My Toy Lambchop
by Amelia S.
I will put my Lambchop in jail.
I will steal Lambchop, so I can put him in jail.
I will put on a wig to laugh at Lambchop.
I will make my brother hold Lambchop hostage
so I can save him.
I will make Lambchop bored by reading.
Ms. Williams 4th Grade
Group 3
Rabbits
by Emily C.
Rabbits can eat carrots like us,
that’s something in common!
Also rabbits eat pineapple, cabbage
and strawberries.
And they can walk!
Also, they are mammals like us.
So many fun facts about Rabbits,
you probably didn’t know about.
They are so like us.
Bird
by Layla L.
I will chirp all day, talking about nonsense.
I will sleep.
I will eat corn and boiling eggs.
I fly around like crazy.
I will be so scared if someone touches me.
If I Was A Dog
by Jaylani Z.
If I was a dog, I would eat tacos a lot.
If I was a dog, I would play Roblox.
If I was a dog, I would sleep all day.
If I was a dog, I will be cute.
If I was a dog, I would scratch a lot.
Ms. Carther 4th Grade
Group 4
Things to Do If You Are A Paintbrush
by Lily A.
Dance.
Take a bath.
Dress up in colors.
Making something pretty.
Talk to other brushes.
Things to Do If You Are October
by Donovan D.
As leaves fall,
Halloween is near as you feel the fear.
The only good thing is you can trick or treat.
Or just relax at home and watch scary movies.
Next month is the month of Thanksgiving.
November.
Things to Do If You Were A Squirrel
by Mack G.
I was a squirrel, at Halloween I need to
eat everyone’s pumpkin or take nibbles
of the pumpkin.
Then, I will have to go and get nuts
for the winter, for friends and family.
Then I need to find a new tree every year,
because it will rot.
I will go have fun with my friends to mess
with humans.
Lastly, I will have to carve carefully,
to make pillows and blankets.
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