Under a Tree, Poems About Me

Eloise Greenfield is the inspiration for illustrated poems about things you love!

• 1.

  Locate several collections of poems about children, such as those by Eloise Greenfield. Preview accompanying illustrations and titles for several poems, and predict what each poem might be about. Read and reread poems aloud, identifying elements unique to the author's poetry.

• 2.

  Write a poem about the things you love, using Crayola® Colored Pencils. Think about people you love and familiar phrases they use when talking to you in your happiest days. Write a poem, repeating the phrase that you love to hear. Write every other verse to tell something fun about being a child.

• 3.

  Discuss how poets and illustrators choose titles and design illustrations to go with poems. Look through books of poetry to get ideas. Create a title for your poem that gives readers a preview of its subject.

• 4.

  Cover your work area with newspaper. Use Crayola Washable Kid's Paint and Paint Brushes to design a preview illustration of your poem. Make your illustration bright and full of life. Try using a flat bristle brush loaded with paint to build up a thick edge around the colors and shapes. To keep colors from blending, dry an area before applying wet paint to adjacent areas.

• 5.

  Use Crayola Scissors to cut pictures related to your poem from recycled magazines. Attach pictures to the painted illustration using a Crayola Washable Glue Stick.

• 6.

  Write your poem in colorful Crayola Washable Markers to display with your artwork. Make the title bold and eye-catching.

Benefits

• Students integrate various strategies to read and comprehend poetry by Eloise Greenfield and other poets.
• Children write poems about things they love, using supportive, familiar phrases from their own experiences.
• Students use pictures and titles to preview poems, then create illustrations and titles to give readers a preview of their poems.

Adaptations

• Focus on strong rhythms in poetry. Clap the rhythm with your hands or use rhythm instruments to accompany Ms. Greenfield's poems while reading them aloud. Work in pairs to write your own verses with strong rhythms. Or start with a rhythm and write a poem
• Have a Meet the Author Day focusing on Eloise Greenfield or another familiar poet. Work in teams to research the poet's life. Hold poetry readings and respond to stories and poems with art.
• Assemble original poems into a collection to donate to a school library, local children's hospital, or family agency.