Resources

by Barbara Danish

Materials and Preparation

- Crayons and arts and crafty things, to make valentines

- The author of this article, in advance of walking into her class, wrote two versions of a love poem to read aloud to the class to kickstart the activity.

Poem 1

Mrs. Wolfson’s class I love you.
You are like an orange.
You are like the sun.
You are like my socks.
You are like salt.
You are like a pillow.
You are like words.

Poem 2

Mrs. Wolfson’s class, I love you.
You are like the smell of an orange
when my fingernail first breaks the skin.
And you are like the first piece of sun
that cracks the night sky.
Do you know how much I love you?
Do you mind that I love you so much?
And it is my red socks you are like,
little fires that keep me warm.
You are the right amount of salt on my salad,
You are a pillow that surprises me
with its cool bottom side.
Listen, I dream about you
and in my dreams you are beautiful words
that I sing to myself, over and over.

Lesson 2: Valentine’s Day Poems

At start of class, say, “I wrote a love poem for you, and I’d like to read it to you.” Read your version of Poem 1.

After reading, prompt: “You don’t like it? Why not?”

Generate responses from students. Then ask: “Do you know from this poem that I love you? I was afraid of that. Well, sometimes poems don’t work the first time. I wrote another one.”—Read your version of Poem 2.

Ask: “Which one did you like better?” When students respond that they preferred #2, ask why—push them. That poem turned the listeners into things, was very detailed, asked questions, compared the listeners with great things. Emphasize how comparison works in many different ways: “If I had compared you to mud, that’s different from comparing you to cool wet mud on a hot muggy day.” Make a list as they brainstorm why they liked poem 2 and what makes a “good” poem.

Activity: Students write love letters to whoever or whatever they like. May use crayons, construction paper, etc. May present valentine to other person in class if they choose.

Please read Barbara Danish-Brown’s article “Learning to See” for excerpts of student writing generated by this activity.