On the first day of our 6th Grade poetry residency at Sayre Elementary, we went over what poetry is, as well as the poetic terms “line” and stanza.” We then read a poem by Naomi Shihab Nye about a very strange gift. The poem was called “Valentine for Ernest Mann” and featured a man giving his wife two skunks for Valentine’s Day. Just like poetry, we talked about how there’s something beautiful to be found in most things. After that, students chose to either write about a weird gift they have received or given, or even make up their own weird gift they would give or receive. We shared some very strange gifts…
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Mr. Smith’s Classroom
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The Cardboard Dino
By Daniel C.
When I was about 6 or 7
I was given a gift that would
Rivel the heavens.
On my birthday
I was given a cardboard box
That said “Go Outside”
I went outside
And to my eyes
Was the most wonderful thing.
It was a cardboard dinosaur.
Painted to look like a T-Rex,
the Amazon boxes after four years
Came to this masterpiece.
–
The Weird Gift
By Emily S.
It was my very favorite day, my birthday.
Where you would eat cake and celebrate!
Sure, not that many people had
Come, but it was fun.
Lots of people had brought gifts,
But one had stood out…
An axolotl! Such beautiful features and eyes.
But oh so sad when he had to leave me.
Didn’t know how to care for such an
Exotic being I loved.
But we all have to let go sometime!
–
The Weird Gift
By Priscilla A.
The dandelion
With its beauty
It kills.
The plant that
Destroys others.
Nature killing itself.
The dandelion is a
Gift.
Though it kills and destroys,
It has beauty. It is a
Part of nature. It is a
Gift. My gift, your gift,
Nature’s gift.
–
Mr. Hollich’s Classroom
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Don’t Be Fooled
By Romeo C.
My mother gave me
A water bottle for my birthday
But not just a regular water bottle
It was in a T-Mobile bag
And I thought it was a iPhone
And when I opened it, she gave me
An empty plastic water bottle
And after that,
I didn’t talk to my mom
For the rest of the day
But I learned my lesson:
Don’t be fooled.
–
Valentine’s Tape
By McKinkley R.
I got someone tape, they were so happy.
Jumping with joy, she was so satisfied
She gave me a hug.
Valentine’s Day was so good. We were stuck
Together like tape.
–
Ugly Gift
By Isabella
Last year for my brother’s b-day I decided
To get him a gift I didn’t have much
Money but I bought him something
With what I had then I give him it
He unwrapped it… then he saw it…
He started laughing, he loved it!
They were Spongebob underwear
It was weird but special
At the same time.
