Wednesday was our annual Gifted by Nature field trip to City Park. All the elementary gifted kids in the parish (district) gather for a day of games and art and nature. I’m usually the one to lead a poetry writing activity. This year we designed our learning fun day around the concept of pi, so of course, we wrote Pi-ku!
Pi-ku follows the syllable count of pi, 3.14. Some students challenged themselves to more digits, 3.14159…
A beautiful spring day on the shore of Bayou Teche with lily pads and duck families, draping oaks and cypress trees became the perfect setting for inspiring pi-ku.
Lilypads
Lilypads
Josie
are
in the water.
They’re
absorbing sunlight
providing habitat for wildlife
such as
Louisiana bullfrogs
and other creatures.
The shadow
drops the temperature
providing a cool habitat
Nature has many examples–Pi!
Beautiful
Jayden
blooms
rest peacefully
watch
as the calm wind blows.
The flowers dance to the soft music.
They stop
moving from side to side
surrounded by leaves
friends of vines
saying Hello to
multi-colored dragon flies and bees.
Outside I
see
a tree with a
hole.
Could I make it a
home? A place warm, quiet, safe and dark.
–Izabella
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Reflections on the Teche 
Your students have definitely captured nature with their poems! Nice detail, personification, and personification. I especially like the lines: beautiful blooms rest peacefully and the flowers dance to the soft music. Izabella’s animal’s point of view poem is good use of the sense of vision and a good prediction of how the hole will feel. I think her animal’s question shows this reader the animal’s voice and brings the poem alive. In Josie’s poem I like all the scientific details especially “the shadow drops the temperature providing a cool habitat.” Thank you for sharing! Children’s poetry always make my day bright.
I love the double meaning of your day, Gifted by Nature. That’s just wonderful! And, pi-ku…what a great way to observe, learn and celebrate. Your students make me want to write a pi-ku. I think I need a day in a park–or, at least outside.
I’ve been spending time with Gwendolyn Brooks these days. She’s pretty amazing. This Poetry Friday I’m sharing some of my learning and poetic response over at A Word Edgewise. Thanks for putting up the link early!
What lovely pi-ku and photos! Sounds like it was a fabulous event. 🙂
What a fun project. I’ve done a haiku hike before, but these nature pi-ku incorporate math, nature, and poetry so beautifully. I love Izabella’s wondering about that tree-hole. Who might live inside?
[…] week’s Poetry Friday host is Margaret Simon at Reflections on the Teche. Visit Margaret for all of the week’s poetry […]
What future water worlds, leafy green expanses, will these young poets put into words because of your City Park Nature Field Trip? I love each poem so much.
What future water worlds, leafy expanses will these young poets put into words next? You are guiding them on a course for life. I love each of their poems.
These are wonderful, Margaret! I love the flexibility of length in these pi-ku, and your students created some wonderful poems. Izabella’s ending line is perfect. How lucky these children are to have found a home with you and your word gifts! Thanks for hosting this week!
[…] ever-inspiring Margaret Simon of Reflection on the Teche is hosting this week’s Poetry Friday Roundup. She’s sharing some wonderful nature pi-ku […]
It’s terrific that you find ways to take your students into nature for inspiration, Margaret. The pi-ku are terrific! Thanks for hosting!
Such lovely Pi-ku and what a great title- Gifted by Nature. Thanks for sharing and for hosting this week!
Sounds like a great day! I like how informative Josie’s pi-ku is. Jayden’s creates a beautiful mood. Accurate observing by Izabella!
Love the creativity of these kids and their wordplay! Thanks for hosting, Margaret…and keep doing what you’re doing in the classroom!
What an inspiring nature and math poetry prompt you’ve introduced to your students–all moving poems, and I love the bullfrog pic! Thanks for sharing all and hosting Margaret.
Such a great way to get your kids to take a closer look around them in nature. Pi-ku offers a less daunting entry point, allowing them to see some of the simplest, yet deeply beautiful things in nature that are right before their eyes. I really liked Izabella’s reflective thought on the idea of a home in a hole in a tree!
[…] friend and poet mentor, Margaret Simon is hosting our Poetry Friday gathering today. Stop over at her blog to read about her students’ exploration of nature through poetry. Their beautiful pi-ku poems […]
I am SO due for a nature field trip! Fortunately I’ll be heading to St. Augustine on Saturday for a day of haiku. I hope I can find some lilypads or dancing flowers or a special tree with a hole, too. 🙂 Thanks for hosting, Margaret!
Margaret, the children’s poems are wonderful nature pi-ku poems. Could you please ask them if they would like to offer their poetry to a future spring gallery? I would be delighted to have their work in the stu-voice section.
Carol, you can use Jayden’s. She mine and I have her permission form. I’ll check with the teachers of the other two. Thanks!
[…] ago, I hope you’ll take some time to see what you missed! For more poetry, head on over to Reflections on the Teche, where Margaret Simon is hosting today’s Poetry Friday roundup with some student-written […]
[…] Poetry Friday and my poetry playmate Margaret Simon is our gracious hostess this week for the poetry roundup. Perhaps you’ll join us? Margaret is has some lovely (and fun!) Pi-Ku for us to enjoy. I […]
The pi-ku are sing-song delightful. Lovely rhythms – and subjects.
[…] lovely and talented Margaret Simon is hosting the Roundup at Reflections on the Teche. Be sure to check out the full menu of poetic goodness being shared around the blogosphere this […]
Of COURSE you were able to find a way into poetry with a theme of Pi! 🙂 Your students poems are fabulous. The form is invisible in Josie’s. I’m impressed by how many facts she included!
I love the pi-ku! Izabella and I are on the same page with noticing dark holes in trees. I can’t get Inlinkz to work (no idea why) so here is my link: https://friendlyfairytales.com/2019/05/16/gnome-wanted/ If you would add me to the roundup, I would greatly appreciate it.
Brenda, thanks for joining in. I was able to insert your link.
Yay! Thanks! I don’t know how you teachers manage to participate in Poetry Friday with the long hours you work.
These are amazing! And I’ve never heard of Pi-Ku before. What wonderful work your students are doing. So lucky to have you as their teacher!
I love that you are getting these young poets OUTSIDE… what fun, and what wonderful poems they are creating. Very happy making… thank you! xo
[…] and I found time to sit listen, watch, reflect, and write. I hope you enjoy these poems. Thanks to Reflections on the Teche for hosting Poetry Friday this […]
These are wonderful student poems! I love working with students on creative writing – especially poetry. I miss my 3rd grade writer’s circle which ran for six years! I also envy your work with the gifted student population – much needed, and much appreciated. Have you tried Fibonacci Poems – much to be found in nature there, too! Thanks for hosting Poetry Friday today!
Oh so wonderful! I love the idea of Pi-ku and will need to try. In fact, I’m certain that doing the Skinny poem came from your post on getting kids to write them.
Margaret, these are marvelous! I’m right there with you this week, with a nature poem written by my 16-year-old.
Thanks for hosting!
Oh, Margaret, your posts are always so refreshing and full of great ideas and wonderful student writing. I love Izabella’s Pi-ku with its question that made me me reread and ponder whose voice might be speaking. Thank you for sharing and for hosting Poetry Friday this week.
[…] be sure to visit Margaret Simon at Reflections on the Teche for the Poetry Friday […]
What a wonderful idea. pi-ku – I always knew poetry was mathematical – hence why I love metre so much!
[…] Friday–and I love Poetry Friday! And special thanks to our host for this week, Margaret at Reflections on the Teche. She shares some lovely pi-ku (based on the number “pi”) from some of her students. You […]
I love the idea of pi-ku–and the poems you shared, too. Those children are lucky to have you!!
Pi-ku is such a welcoming form, perfect for your young naturalists. Their poems make me feel that I’m there on the bayou with you. Thank you for hosting today!
Most enjoyable indeed! Outside outside outside is where it’s at, and I’m so glad your district has an event for gifted peers to know each other. Thanks for switch-up hosting!
Margaret, the pi-ku your students wrote are beautiful. Their words transported me to a spot beside the water. I especially love Jayden’s “moving” poem.
[…] week Margaret Simon shared some wonderful nature Pi-Ku she and her students created. (You may read their work here.) Never having written a Pi-Ku (syllable counts matching 3.14159265359), and loving a challenge, I […]