Click over to join the round up and to read poems from The Best of Today’s Little Ditty, including one of mine.
Ethical ELA posts a 5 day Poetry Challenge each month. (Next month, there will be a prompt every day for National Poetry Month.) This month I participated in only two days, but I shared one of the activities with my students this week on our Kidblog site.
Click here to see the full prompt from Jennifer Goyer-Jowett.
Her prompt included finding a Japanese character to write a haiku from. I chose river. (There isn’t one for bayou.)
In the process of finding this character, I discovered the Japanese word Kawaakari which means the gleam of last light on a river’s surface at dusk.
Last light of first day
Margaret Simon, draft
glows like any other, yet
gleam lingers longer.
Knowing my student Madison would jump on this prompt (she loves all things Japanese), I posted the prompt to my class Kidblog site. I’m sharing their wonderful responses.
Ember’s graceful flight,
Sparks fly, blizzards and tornadoes
of dire fire.
Madison, 6th grade
Maddox, 5th grade, wrote “The Japanese character I chose is mizu which stands for water. It represents the fluid flowing and the formless things in the world.”
fluid flowing streams
flowing in the wild forest
complete harmony
Maddox, 5th grade
Standing tall and firm,
Strong arms supporting small twigs,
Uneven Fractal.
A. J., 6th grade
Breighlynn, 4th grade wrote, “My Japanese character is Kaze. Kaze is for wind. It represents Freedom of movement.”
Freedom of Movement
Going here and going there
I love to travel
Breighlynn, 4th grade
Reflections on the Teche 
Oh, these are so neat. I just knew that students would love this prompt. I’m glad you shared it so quickly with them. Debbie Ridpath Ohi has activity sheets on her website that teach Japanese characters. I just found this this morning as librarian friends and I are scurrying to curate free/relevant and safe sites for kiddos in our school classrooms. I love the idea of the first day being special. Lovely.
Wow! I love how they took your prompt and ran with it! I connected with the use of Japanese characters; I’m trying to learn the language on Duolingo, since I now have a Japanese son-in-law (daughter is fluent!).
Oh my goodness, these are fascinating. I especially like AJ’s final line “uneven fractal” – wow does that speak to me. Also, if it is appropriate, please let Madison and AJ know that while I have never met them, I feel that I am coming to know them through their words. I am grateful that you share them so often. I am regularly moved by what they say. Love love love this whole idea. (And I saw it on Molly’s, too, where she added a picture. I may see if my own boys want to try this.)
Margaret, the prompt is perfect to ignite the creative spirit. All of the student samples are wonderful. Maddox’s haiku takes me back to my nature walk with Sierra and the family when in Virginia. Japanese characters are great poetry starters because they open our imagination in interesting ways. Thanks for sharing.
I love that you led your students in trying something you explored yourself. What an interesting connection between Japanese letters and the Haiku form! Now I need to check out the prompts myself! Thanks for sharing!
Very cool!! I love the thoughtful character selection and word choices. Madison’s Cookie is well done, and I appreciate A.J.’s “uneven fractal.”
What a fascinating poetry prompt!
Your slice and your students’ poems are divine. Thank you for sharing this.
What an interesting and inspiring prompt. And clearly one that gets excellent results! My eyes have been opened.
Really wonderful Margaret. I say again that you are giving your students a beautiful gift for their lifetimes! I love them all, but especially that line about a fractal! Be well & safe!
Wow these are amazing, your students responded so well and in their own individual style. Very impressive. Love that they love poetry!
Wow these are amazing, your students responded so well and in their own individual style. Very impressive. Love that they love poetry!
Margaret – in a word – breathtaking. I am going to hold to “Kawaakari, which means the gleam of last light on a river’s surface at dusk” for the rest of my life. Reading your haiku – and the kids’ – is like sitting by a little fountain in a quiet garden. I almost hear cherry blossoms rustling in a gentle breeze. Such peace. Tell Madison her “doodle” is amazing.
I love reading your students’ poetry! When you described the prompt, my first reaction was a blank, but I am inspired by all of these responses to it. They are so lovely and peaceful.
I really love this writing/image duality and what it brought out in all the voices. I especially like AJ’s “uneven fractal.” So great that you can work with your students through the KidBlog!
Using a character is like responding to an abstract painting. Great prompt and I really enjoyed all the haiku. Thanks.
This was such an intriguing prompt and I love that you shared it with your students with such wonderful results. Thanks for sharing those talented young voices!
What a fabulous idea. You could use this with Chinese characters, too. Also, fractal?! Respect, right there! 🙂
These prompts are fabulous and the poetry they inspired amazing. I was recently in Abu Dhabi/Oman where Arabic is common. Perhaps I could use Arabic as a poetry prompt? I might have to try this… Thanks for the inspiration today, Margaret. 🙂
What fun! Love yours and all the kid responses.
An intriguing prompt, and sensitive responses all around, thanks Margaret!
Love the prompt and the poems it inspired! Thanks so much for sharing…
So love seeing your students responses to this cool prompt–and love how you are connecting with them.
Margaret, what a great idea to share with your students. The alliteration in your poem bring out the sounds of your words so well. Your poem “lingers” in my mind. Your last line reminds me of a sunset gleaming on a body of water where you want the orange-pink “gleam” to “linger longer.” Your student’s haikus bring vivid imagery and flow so beautifully! They are amazing writers, following your instruction, and your example so well! It is apparent you are a great teacher! Thank you for sharing them. Reading all the poems brought me joy!