Two Writing Teachers Slice of Life March Challenge
Photo by Margaret Simon, Jefferson Island
Can you write a poem about green without using the word green? I posed this question to my students. A few took the challenge, and I joined in. I projected 15 Shades of Green from Dictionary.com. We collected words and wrote. I had help with mine from Madison who is quite a metaphorical thinker.
Shamrock Field
A harlequin field
sprinkled with clover
and citron rain
releasing hunter’s bows.
Emerald droplets
jade grasses
with diamond light.–Margaret Simon (c) 2018
Forest
Gentle Light Of Harlequin,
Emerald Eiffel Illuminated
Within The Forest of Paris
O’So Stock Full of
Chartruesed Jades
And Myrtle-Shamrock
Mints,
Lining the Azure
Sky.
Poem Without Saying the Word Green
Like a shimmering emerald,
Like a mint on a breezy day,
Like an olive in a celadon salad,
Like a jade gemstone in a glimmering cave
–Jacob, 4th grade
Reflections on the Teche 
Thanks for sharing your work and your students’ side by side. I can really see how your mentoring is shaping them – and, of course, the poems are great!
Perfect poems to usher in spring–and expand our color vocabulary this morning. Thanks for sharing synonyms in lovely poetic form today!
This is a fabulous idea and such a creative way for students to develop their vocabulary skills. The poems are wonderful. On another note, my husband and I have had long discussions about my frustration w/ blogging, but it’s posts like yours that keep me here. Thank you.
I am curious about your conversation. Thanks for your feedback.
Great idea for poetry. This idea really makes one think about words that can be used to convey a word that cannot be spoken (written). I often did an adjective activity like this with my students.
Thanks for sharing this parallel structure of poetry! I loved the many different names for “green” explored throughout. Great lessons contained within…synonyms, word choice, making mind movies…an endless list. Wonderful non-green slice!
What a clever idea! This post definitely expanded my notion of green as well as my “green” vocabulary. The poems are delightful. I will never think of green in the same way. Kudos to your students. Love your poem, too!
What a great idea! I’m going to try a similar writing challenge with my third graders, thanks!
What a fantastic challenge and I am green with envy of all of the green that is outside right now! We are still full of mud and snow!
This is a great idea for writing poetry. All three examples are beautiful…and so appropriate for St. Patrick’s Day.
What a great idea, Margaret. Your work with your students is always so fresh and engaging and I love when you share it in a slice. The poems are great and the activity is, as others said, a fun and authentic way to learn some new vocabulary.
They are all fantastic! I think I like Jacob’s best – “like a __” is a neat pattern to write a poem with.