Happy Poetry Friday, all! Poetess and author Laura Purdie Salas is hosting this week’s gathering on her blog, Writing the World for Kids. Won’t you join us there?
Related to her new book, Snowman – Cold = Puddle: Spring Equations, Laura has a fun, quick writing challenge for us this week: write an equation poem. What fun! She’s even set up a Padlet to collect them. My class’ participation in Global School Play Day 2019 on Wednesday inspired my offering.
On Tuesday morning, the most magnificent rainbow appeared in the sky just as families in cars and buses filled with excited children were making their way to school. Cars pulled over, parents and staff snapped pictures as children squealed with joy. What a way to start another day of learning and growing together!
With this image still vivid in my memory, I scrambled for pen and paper when my students were safely delivered to PE class. I scribbled down words, thoughts, and feelings that came to mind, knowing that there was a poem amongst those faded pastel hues. Later that day, I curled up with a cup of tea and my scribbles. Wondering what more I might add to my ideas, I searched Wonderopolis (a great source for poetic inspiration) for a wonder about rainbows. I found Wonder of the Day #116: Why Do Rainbows Appear? and mined a few more descriptors and facts from the text. After some gentle nudges, a rainbow appeared.
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Thanks for wondering and wandering a bit with me today. I hope you’ll join us on this Poetry Friday by posting a bit of poetry — your’s or someone else’s — and leaving a comment here or there. Thank you for hosting, Laura!
Wondering and Wandering 
Aww, I love you equation. 🙂 We live near a town called Rainbow City and I don’t think it’s any coincidence that we have seen SO MANY rainbows there! My favorites are the double rainbows. Thank you for sharing! xo
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Doubles are the best, aren’t they. Truly magical! Thanks for visiting today, Irene. xo
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“…knowing that there was a poem amongst those faded pastel hues.” Writing is truly in the noticing. Thanks for the little peek into your thinking and searching process.
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Thanks, Alice. I’m always fascinated to learn about everyone’s process, too. Right now I’m reading some of Mary Oliver’s prose about her process. Love her note taking outdoors everyday no matter what. You never know what might be useful.
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There is so much that I love about this post! I’m really intrigued by the equation poem and will have to experiment with this! Thank you for inspiring me today!
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Hi Jennifer! Thanks for visiting today. Laura’s poetry challenge was a fun micro-writing experiment. Let me now if you give it a try!
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I love that you scribbled in school. A rainbow is such a beautiful inspiration. Not only have you captured it…but shared it too. How nice! I too scooted over to wonderopolis after seeing a poem about kites.
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Wonderopolis a great resource, isn’t it? You never know what you’ll find there!
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Rainbows definitely deserve poems, especially that one. I like “tiny prismic raindrops” — I don’t think I’ve ever seen that adjective before :-)!
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It gives me shivers when I hear of a special happening, right time, right place. What a wonder you all witnessed! I do love the picture and what emerges from those “tiny prismic raindrops”, Christie.
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Truly magical. And it arrived on a morning when a child who was having a hard time separating from mom at arrival was ready to begin again. A sign of better days to come.
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Lovely equation! Those little ones are a rainbow of joy, aren’t they? So precious!
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I love how you wandered through thoughts and resources to write your poem–and thank you for your lovely equation poem. Your enthusiasm jumps off the screen!
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Thanks, Laura. I loved your challenge and can’t wait to get a copy of your book. My Kinder-poets will love it!
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Love your equation, the pic collage, and your rainbow sighting all of which lead to a celebration in poetry!
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Glorious poem and image Christie, how lucky for all of you to be visited by that spectacular rainbow! I like your equation poem too, and maybe we all need some kindergarten play in our day, regardless of our age, thanks!
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I always enjoy wondering and wandering with you.
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Another Wonderopolis reminder! I have completely neglected that this year, and I am sad to have missed out on so many great wonders with my kinders. Carol V’s Poetry Friday also mentioned it, so I am renewed in my desire to dial into all there is to discover as we open our minds to the Wondering World! Loved your poem too!
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I love this. What a great rainbow and what a way to begin school
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