I warned my kids who are 4th and 5th graders that this form would be a challenge. Not all of them were ready and willing and that’s OK when we are creating our own poems. I wanted to share a few because the prompted lines work in a unique way so that each student (and myself) felt a sense of a successful poem.
Kailyn loves candy and has written a fantasy story that takes place in Kind Candy Kingdom. This is her pantoum poem.
Yummy candy I see, A candy shop is your home. At the mall I beg my mom, then my brother takes you from me : (
A candy shop home seems nice! When you are with me I feel happiness and joy… you being taken from me. It tastes sweet but sometimes sour.
You fill me with joy and happiness, the sounds of crinkling wrappers. When I put you in my mouth, you are sweet and sour, tingling on my tongue.
The crinkling wrappers from kids inside, at the mall I beg my mom. Tingling on my tongue, Yummy candy I see.
Kailyn, 5th grade
In my classroom, I have a collection of Flair pens. My students are allowed to choose from them to write. When Avalyn’s mother gave me a gift card to Target, I bought a set of scented flairs. She wrote a pantoum praise poem for her scented pens.
Scented pens can squiggle on the page In a poem in my notebook These scented pens are extraordinary on the inside If there is a blank page, these pens can make it colorful
In a poem in my notebook When I make colorful marks on the page, it’s inspiring If there is a blank page, these pens can make it colorful But really these markers are flowers
When I make colorful marks on the page, it’s inspiring O’ my non-smelly pens But really these markers are flowers As my hands hold the pen like an extraordinary trophy
O’ my non-smelly pens These scented pens are extraordinary on the inside As my hands hold the pen like an extraordinary trophy Scented pens can squiggle on the page
Margaret Simon lives on the Bayou Teche in New Iberia, Louisiana. She teaches gifted elementary students, writes poetry and children's books. Welcome to a space of peace, poetry, and personal reflection. Walk in kindness.
Reflections on the Teche 