In Residence: Day 2 in the Simile Zoo

Greetings from the Simile Zoo!

Find this vintage postcard on Amazon.

The third graders at Northfield Elementary are continuing to write about animals, and how they can symbolize emotions and personality traits.

Teachers: I posted instructions for this lesson a few years ago.

The Simile Zoo: Lesson Part 1
The Simile Zoo: Lesson Part 2

Today's zoo tour guides are Allie, Makaela, Parker, Matthew, Vincent, Lila, Naomi, and Julia.

Allie L.

When I feel clever,

I am like a green fox.

When a predator comes close to me,

I stay calm

and then I think of a plan

and my eyes flash and look innocent.

Then I trick them with my cleverness

and scamper away with a smile on my face.

Vintage postcard from Zazzle.

Makaela M.

When I feel frightened,

I am like a squirrel.

I run up the nearest tree. The food that I

stuffed in my mouth stays there.

I stare… and stare… and stare.

I run to my burrow like I run to my room.

Should I run or should I freeze?

Parker P.

When I am brave

I am like a wolf.

My face looks mean

with sharp teeth. My body

is not scared. I go out at night.

I’m a good swimmer, like

I’m trying to eat a seal.

Matthew L.

When I am thinking,

I am like a raccoon.

I am great at problem solving,

as raccoons can lift the lids

off garbage cans. I am agile

and steady as the raccoons can

climb up walls and steal food.

I am like a raccoon in

many ways when I’m thinking.

From Postcard Locker

Vincent T.

When I feel smart, I am like a

raccoon. I finish problems quick as if

I was running through the night. I work

slowly and carefully like I am taking a

lid off the trash can. I work my way

slowly down like as if I was a raccoon

lowering myself down a wall that’s

coming down from the attic.

Lila R.

Turtle

When I feel embarrassed,

I am like a turtle.

I hold my head low, as if

I had a shell to hide

away in. I walk away

slowly, as if I was as slow

as a turtle. I try to hide, as if

I was blending in with my

surroundings. I draw attention

to myself and feel like I need

to hide, but I can’t run away.

I really feel like a turtle when

I’m embarrassed.

This vintage postcard is from Russia!

Naomi C.

When I feel happy,

I’m like a bird.

I feel free like a baby bird that just learned

how to fly.

I fly with my flock and make my

friends crow with laughter.

I watch with joy as my little sister

hatches.

Even though I’m a blue jay, I still feel

bright as the sun.

When the sun rises, I rise with it.

It seems as though it’s singing, so I sing with it.

The sun is fading, it’s like it’s going to sleep,

so I must go to sleep with it.

Julia J.

When I feel tired,

I am like a sloth.

I climb into my bed like a

sloth climbs into the trees

after a long day.

I try not to move.

My body hurts. I lie in bed

all night.

I fall asleep to the sound of

swaying trees outside my window.

I hear the sound of owls hooting

and the sound of bats’ wings flapping.

Sloth Valentine postcard from Zazzle

In Residence is an ongoing series this month. If you missed previous posts:

Planning the List Poem Lesson at Today's Little Ditty

First Student Responses: "Words in My Pet Goldfish," "Words in My Bed," "Words in My Life"

In Residence: Poetry Friday Words: Poems by Laura S., Jason Y., Jeffrey G., and Isa L.

In Residence: The Simile Zoo: Poems by Sabine S., Asher, Cecelia D., and Evelyn D.

Than you to the Northfield ES community for hosting this annual residency. I appreciate having permission to share the third graders' poems.

Readers, the students love hearing feedback from you. Please leave a comment about our simile zoo. More animal poems are coming soon.

Next week, I'll be posting the third graders' opposites poems. But first, a special poem and interview for Poetry Friday as we look at the stunning new anthology, Poetry in Medicine.