These past two weeks I’ve been trying to squeeze in Write Out opportunities for my students. Write Out is an annual event sponsored by the National Writing Project and the National Parks. This year Kate Messner was the Author Ambassador. One of her prompts asked students to take a hula hoop outside and focus on their circle when writing. Because I can’t leave well enough alone, I added paint chips and jewel loupes to the writer’s toolbox.
Our weather has been perfect the last two weeks. Cool mornings. High sun. Warm afternoons. Perfect for writing outside.
The paint chip words were just the thing to add a little twist to the poems my students and I wrote.
Purple flowers are
community of the grass,
some clustered
some isolated
in the sea glass waves.by Adelyn, 6th grade
The grass has a shine
from the blazing sun
spitting out embers
like a swarm of yellow jackets.by James, 4th grade
Looking through the jewel loupes helped us see intricate designs and stretched our metaphorical thinking. I love using the jewel loupe with my camera lens on my phone.
The blades of grass
are a kaleidoscope
reflecting after the fire
in a tangerine dream.
by Margaret Simon, draft
Reflections on the Teche 