Seeing Red!

What Is Red?

Red is a sunset
Blazy and bright.
Red is feeling brave
With all your might.
Red is a sunburn
Spot on your nose,
Sometimes red 
Is a red, red rose.
Red squiggles out
When you cut your hand.
Red is a brick and
A rubber band.
Red is a hotness
You get inside
When you're embarrassed
And want to hide.
Fire-cracker, fire-engine
Fire-flicker red--
And when you're angry
Red runs through your head.
Red is a Valentine heart,
And the trimming on
A circus cart.
Red is a lipstick,
Red is a shout,
Red is a signal
That says, "Watch out!"
Red is a great big
Rubber ball.
Red is the giant-est
Color of all.
Red is a show-off
No doubt about it--
But can you imagine
Living without it?

The Color of the Day Is...

What Is Orange?

Orange is a tiger lily,
A carrot,
A feather from 
A parrot,
A flame,
The wildest color
You can name.
Orange is a happy day
Saying good-bye
In a sunset that
Shocks the sky.
Orange is brave
Orange is bold
It's bittersweet
And marigold.
Orange is zip
Orange is dash
The brightest stripe
In a Roman sash.
Orange is an orange
Also a mango
Orange is music 
Of the tango.
Orange is the fur
Of the fiery fox,
The brightest crayon
In the box.
And in the fall
When the leaves are turning
Orange is the smell
Of a bonfire burning

What Is Purple?

What Is Purple?

Time is purple
Just before night
When most people
Turn on the light-
But if you don't it's
A beautiful sight.
Asters are purple,
There's purple ink.
Purple's more popular
Than you think...
It's sort of a great 
Grandmother to pink.
There are purple shadows
And purple veils,
Some ladies purple 
Their fingernails.
There's purple jam
And purple jell
And a purple bruise
Next day will tell
Where you landed 
When you fell.
The purple feeling
Is rather put-out
The purple look is a 
Definite pout.
But the purple sound
Is the loveliest thing
It's a violet opening
In the spring. 

Colors

What is your favorite color?  That is a question you hear a lot.
We are surrounded by color! Even on a gray, gloomy day, colors can pop out.  This week I will post poems from Hailstones and Halibut Bones by Mary O'Neill.  If you visit The Writing Corner page on this blog, you can read about the  story of how this book of poems came to be published. Maybe you'll be inspired to write a color poem of your own!

The Colors live 
Between black and white
In a land that we
Know best by sight.
But knowing best
Isn't everything,
For colors dance,
And colors sing,
And colors laugh
And colors cry-
Turn off the light
And colors die,
And they make you feel
Every feeling there is 
From the grumpiest grump
To the fizziest fizz.
And you and you and I 
Know well
Each has a taste
And each has a smell
And each has a wonderful
Story to tell...

Arbor Day

Arbor Day

"Tree Planting Day" they called it
In Nebraska long ago,
Now we call it Arbor Day, and
Oh! How I love it so!
I love to plant a growing thing-
A tree, a shrub, a vine-
And know it will for years and years
Keep growing there, a sign
To children who come after me
That someone thought of them,
And left behind a living friend
More precious than a gem.

                                                             Betty Foust Smith

Starting My Garden

         If you read my post from a couple of weeks ago,  you know that I am planning a vegetable garden in my backyard.  Here are some pictures of our plants' progress!  I was very excited to see the seeds sprout!

We started with these tiny seeds.

We dug up rich composted soil from our town's compost area to plant our seeds.

Waiting for sprouts!

Here they are!

When the seeds began to spout we transplanted some plants to give their roots more room to grow.

Uh-oh- I think we may need a bigger garden!

                  

               

Earth Day Poems

If you were the planet earth, what would you say to the people who live on you?
Write a message or letter to the people of the earth!

Happy Patriot's Day

Paul Revere

This is one of the two lanterns from the North Church.
It is on display at the Concord Museum.

The silversmith saw,                      One April night
Two lanterns shine
From the church's height.

He jumped on his horse,
Its silver-shod feet
On the ribbonlike road                  
Were sure and fleet.

The moonlight was dripping
Like silver down
On each sleeping household
And silent town.

And the silversmith's voice
Rang clarion clear
As he called, "Wake up all!
The British* are near."

                             Jean Brabham McKinney

What Revere actually shouted was, "The regulars are coming!" meaning the British soldiers who were housed in Boston. They were marching up the Boston Road through towns like Lexington and Concord, where farmers from many towns engaged them in battle. You can read more about it at The Paul Revere House Website

If I Were In Charge of the World

Here's a favorite poem of mine that you may know-


If I Were in Charge of the World

If I were in charge of the world
I'd cancel oatmeal,
Monday mornings,
Allergy shots, and also
Sara Steinberg.

If I were in charge of the word
There'd be brighter night lights,
Healthier hamsters,
Basketball baskets forty-eight inches lower.

If I were in charge of the world
You wouldn't have lonely,
You wouldn't have clean,
You wouldn't have bedtimes,
Or, "Don't punch your sister."
You wouldn't even have sisters.

If I were in charge of the world
A chocolate sundae with whipped cream and nuts
Would be a vegetable.
All 007 movies would be G.
And a person who sometimes forgot to brush, 
And sometimes forgot to flush, 
Would still be allowed to be in 
In charge of the world.  
                                    Judith Viorst

What are some things you would want or not want if you were in charge of the world?

A Frog in a Well

We all see the world from our own perspective.  Staying close to home feels different to each of us. Here's what a frog stuck in a well might think!

A Frog in a Well 

Explains the World

The world is round

and deep

and cool.

The bottom of the world's

a pool

with just enough room

for a frog alone.

The walls of the world 

are of stone on stone.

At the top of the world,

when I look up high,

I can see a star

in a little round sky.

                            Alice Schertle

Describe what you see when you look out your door or window.

How do you think the frog is feeling in this poem?

What has it been like for you staying close to home?

Spaghetti! Spaghetti!

My friends seemed to enjoy yesterday's poem so much, I thought I'd share another from Never Take A Pig To Lunch.  Hmmm, think I'll make some spaghetti for dinner!  Post your comment below, and let me know what your favorite meal is!

Meal Time!

Lately I've been reading a lot about how people are making new recipes and enjoying family meal time, but sometimes meal time doesn't go so well!

My Mother Says I'm Sickening

My mother says I'm sickening,

my mother says I'm crude,

she says this when she sees me

playing Ping-Pong with my food,

she doesn't seem to like it

when I slurp my bowl of stew,

and now she's got a list of things

she says I mustn't do--

DO NOT CATAPULT THE CARROTS!

DO NOT JUGGLE GOBS OF FAT!

DO NOT DROP THE MASHED POTATOES ON THE GERBIL OR THE CAT!

NEVER PUNCH THE PUMPKIN PUDDING!

NEVER TUNNEL THROUGH THE BREAD!

PUT NO PEAS INTO YOUR POCKET!

PLACE NO NOODLES ON YOUR HEAD!

DO NOT SQUEEZE THE STEAMED ZUCCHINI!

DO NOT MAKE THE MELON OOZE!

NEVER STUFF VANILLA YOGURT IN YOUR LITTLE SISTER'S SHOES!

DRAW NO FACES IN THE KETCHUP!

MAKE NO LITTLE GRAVY POOLS!

I wish my mother wouldn't make so many useless rules.

                                                      Jack Prelutsky

What's your favorite line in this poem?

Try illustrating it, and take a picture! Email it to me and I'll post it here!!!  lee@bpsk12.org

A Writing Kind of Day

Hi Fox Hill Friends,
I hope you were able to enjoy the sunny weather this weekend! Even though the rain is back, and it's Monday, it's still a great day because it's...

A Writing Kind of Day

It is raining today,

a writing kind of day.

Each word hits the page

like a drop in a puddle,

creating a tiny circle

of trembling feeling

that ripples out 

and gathers strength

ringing toward the stars

                                                                                             Ralph Fletcher

This poem makes me aware of the power of words.  They can start out small (like a drop in a puddle) but they gain power the more they ripple out into the world.  Put some of your words out into the world. Write a poem! Send it to me and I'll post it here!

Happy Friday!

The Average Hippopotamus  

(from MY DOG MAY BE A GENIUS)

The average hippopotamus

is big from top to bottomus,

It travels at a trotamus,

And swims when days are hotamus.

Because it eats a lotamus,

It’s practically a yachtamus,

So it’s a cinch to spotamus

The average hippopotamus.

                                                     Jack Prelutsky

Planting Seeds

This spring Mr. Lee and I decided to plant some seeds for a vegetable garden.  We are super lucky to have a big sunny backyard, so we staked out a place to grow some of our favorite vegetables. To begin we planted the seeds indoors and I'm keeping them watered and warm waiting for them to sprout!  

Look how tiny the tomato seeds are!!!

Now we watch and wait!

If you have a garden, send me a picture! I'd love to post it here!

Little Seeds We Sow in Spring

Little seeds we sow in spring

growing while the robins sing,

give us carrots, peas, and beans,

tomatoes, pumpkins, squash, and greens.

And we pick them,

one and all,

through the summer,

through the fall.

Winter comes, then spring, and then

little seeds we sow again.

                                            

                                                                                Else Holmelund Minarik

Quiet Morning

It's a good morning to curl up with pet friend and read a good book!  (Stuffed animal pets are good, too!)

These two dogs are not mine, but they are close to my heart, and I can't wait to visit them and their humans again!!

I'll just have to read with my Fox Hill fox until then!
Happy Reading everyone!

Quiet Morning

Early in the morning

dog, book and me

spend quiet moments

just we three.

Snuggled by the window,

chin on my knee

close to the raindrops,

dog, book and me.

                                                           Karen B. Winnick

Friends Are So Important!

It was so great to see so many Fox Hill friends at the parade yesterday.  Friends are still friends even if you don't see them every day!

I drove behind Ms. Bennett, and enjoyed her music!

 

Guess who?

The Lisano family did an awesome decorating job!

Ms. Festa is ready for a parade!

You never know who you will see at a parade!

These friends brought smiles to all our faces!

Here is a poem to celebrate friends!

 Maybe you can write one of your own to let your friends know what they mean to you! Send it to me and I will post it here!!

With A Friend      

I can talk with a friend

and walk with  friend

and share my umbrella

in the rain.

I can play with a friend

and stay with a friend

and learn with a friend

and explain.

I can eat with a friend

and compete with a friend

and even sometimes 

disagree.

I can ride with a friend

and take pride with a friend.

A friend can mean so much to me!

Vivian Gouled

See You At the Parade!

I hope to see my Fox Hill Friends and their families waving from windows, or porches or driveways today.  The Fox Hill Teacher Parade starts from Fox Hill at 9:00.  The information is on the Burlington Schools  website.  Know that as I drive by I'm giving each and every one of you a hug!!!
Here's a poem for today!

Parade

A parade, a parade!

A-rummity-tee-tum,

I know a padare by the sound of the drum.

A-rummity-tee tum,

A-rummity-tee tum,

A rummity-tee-tummity-tee-tum.

Here it comes, down the street!

Can't you hear the sound of the beat?

Music and beat,

Music and beat,

Can't you hear the sound of the feet?

A-rummity-tee tum,

A-rummity-tee tum,

A rummity-tee-tummity-tee-tum.

Mouse Dinner

Mouse Dinner

A mouse doesn't dine

on potatoes and beef...

he nibbles the seeds 

from a pod or a sheaf.

He catches a beetle

and then gives a brief

little wipe of his mouth 

on a napkin of leaf.

Aileen Fisher                  

April Rain Song

April is Poetry Month!

And it's raining!

April Rain Song

Let the rain kiss you
Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops
Let the rain sing you a lullaby
The rain makes still pools on the sidewalk
The rain makes running pools in the gutter
The rain plays a little sleep song on our roof at night
And I love the rain. 
                                            Langston Hughes

Think about:

Why does the poet use the word "kiss" in the first line?

What other human things does the rain do in this poem?

How do you feel about the rain at the end of the poem?

Watch the rain, or the wind, or birds or insects in your yard 

or out of your window.  Write down what you see.