Daniel Finds a Poem...and then, so do my students

My first graders and I have been exploring writing with the five senses. I recently shared with them my theory around why National Poetry Month falls in April, which is that our poetic senses get reawakened as the earth reawakens from a long winter nap. Of course my theory is flawed on many levels, the least of which is that not all areas of the country experience this same phenomenon. My theory does allow me to then brainstorm with the students the signs of spring that they are experiencing through their five senses. 

As part of the unit, we read Daniel Finds a Poem by Micha Archer. The students enjoyed this lovely book about a young boy learning about poetry from different animals. It's a gentle story that awakens the reader's senses to the beauty of the natural world.  The students wanted to read the story again, in part because the illustrations are poetry themselves and deserve to be poured over. 

The students finished this particular lesson by thinking about how they were experiencing poetic moments with their five senses this spring. 

Feeling the warm sun 

Looking at the sun...

Tasting refreshing lemonade

Hearing baby chicks


Smelling flowers


Here are more of their poetic experiences:

Thanks for the inspiration, Micha!