After the student reads the poem, the class uses the “Peel The Fruit” thinking routine from Harvard University. It was developed as part of the Visible Thinking framework of Project Zero, developed at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
This easy-to-grasp routine helps students gain understanding of a topic, idea, text, or a poem.
The idea is to “Peel back the layers to gain a deeper understanding.” I started with this idea while reading about the Harvard project, and then found great templates at Thinking Pathways that I’ve implemented in my classroom. The first is a great visual that also guides the students through the discussion process: Source
Exploring the templates
Notice the different areas of exploration such as the surface understanding labeled the “Outside Skin.” Beginning with the initial observation of what is seen and noticed, students then dig deeper “Under the Skin” asking questions that arise. The routine builds into discovering what the poem could really be about, and then moving students into making connections, developing perspective, and revealing the theme, message, or central idea.
The second template provides an “Understanding Map” that allows space for students to write down their thoughts at each part of the routine. Source
You can download these free templates and see videos and examples of student work at this webpage.
Writing Inanimate Object Poems
This thinking routine also helps to spark ideas and interest in students to write original poems. One type of poem that has taken over my classroom recently is the “Inanimate Object Poem.” Typically this style of poem is known as an “Object Poem,” but my students have taken it a bit further.
Choosing an object gives the student the opportunity to look at something quite ordinary and write about it using only clues (without giving its name). Here is an original “Inanimate Object” poem:
Comfy, soft, warm, So many blankets Where we spend our nights I feel so warm Big not small Huge not tiny Stable not weak Twin or king, Doesn’t matter to me
Mia H.
While April is National Poetry Month, my students love to read and write poetry throughout the school year. It is an engaging way to get students to read, analyze, understand and use figurative language, and best of all, write!
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Kathleen Palmieri
Kathleen Palmieri is a National Board Certified Teacher, a National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Learning Facilitator, and a fifth grade educator in upstate New York. She reviews professional texts and is an educator researcher and writer. As a writer with a passion for pedagogy, Kathleen's focus is on education practices, and strategies, as well as her own experiences as an educator. Educator well being is a priority, thus the name "Mindful Teaching Moments". Mindfulness along with knowledge is important. She has presented at math conferences, writing workshops, actively collaborates in literacy projects, and networks globally.Â
