SHARKS AND MINNOWS

You can be a minnow
swimming in the sea.
I'll be the shark, so
IT is me.

Swim across the pool
as fast as can be. 
I'll try to get you.
Sharks are too hungry.

Hey, I tagged you.
Your hand was my mark.
Now it's your turn.
You be the shark.

    Have you ever played Sharks and Minnows in a swimming pool?  Have you played Marco Polo?  There are lots of tag games.  Can you name some others?  Can you write your own poem about one of the games you like to play?  Have fun writing your poem.  Do you need to do some research in order to write the poem?

Silence is a secret we hold within us.

Today is Friday, so it is time for the Poetry Friday Round Up.  Michelle Barnes is hosting us this week on her blog, Today's Little Ditty.  Thank you for hosting us, Michelle.

FISH LIFE

serigraph by Yainnis Gaitis

In schools, fish swim there
and back again,
eyeball to eyeball,
fin to fin.

Only time they're closer
is when,
they're packed in
a sardine tin.

  Do you ever feel like you're packed in tight?  Perhaps when you have to walk in a line, or sit in tight rows.  Does it make you feel like you are just one of a horde?  Just remember you are special; you are unique.  Can you write a poem today about what makes you special?  Have fun writing.

 How are you doing with the snow?  Are you on the East Coast where they are supposed to have snow measured in feet?  Or, are you in Australia where it is summer?  I'm in Hawaii and I'm wearing shorts.  I'm barefoot. 


Today is POETRY FRIDAY.  You'll find more poetry posts on Tara's blog at A TEACHING LIFE.  Thanks Tara for hosting us.

DUCKLINGS

I saw some little ducklings
swimming in the lake.
The mama duck she paddled
with babies in her wake.

Everywhere I looked
I could not see the drake,
just the mama duck with
her ducklings in her wake.

   Did you see an animal today?  Can you write a poem about your sighting?

The best thing about children's poetry, is to see the laughter it brings to a young person.

LITTLE MINNOWS*

Little minnows swim
with a tail swish
going round and round
in their minnow dish.

Their tiny fins flap
to and fro
making those minnows
go, go, go.


    This is another poem based on movement.  Can you count the number of words in each line? Can you write your own poem that uses movement for it's inspiration?  Have fun writing.


* Heidi, this poem is for you.

WE DON'T EAT TUNA!

My pet Charlie

is a fish.

He swims around

in his dish.

When I feed him

he darts to the top.

He swims and swims

and does not stop.

         Do you know why fish keep swimming?  The water that flows over and through their gills helps them to breathe.  Do you have a pet?  Even a pet rock?  What is a pet?  Have you ever been called "teacher's pet"?  Today can you write a poem about your pet, real or imaginary?  Oops, my pet dragon is calling; he wants to be fed.