Poetry Challenge #244-This One's For the Birds
Tweet! Tweet! Happy National Bird Day (May 4)! Why? It’s the middle of migration for many bird species. If you look closely, you may find a bird you’ve never seen in a tree or bush. Or you might hear an unfamiliar song.
Poetry Challenge #244
This One’s For the Birds!
Find a bird to watch for a few minutes. Describe it in a poem using lots of similes (comparison using like or as).
Its color is as ____ as a ____. It moves like a ____. Its song sounds like ___.
(If it doesn’t cooperate and sing for you, you can hear its song by searching on the Cornell website: allaboutbirds.org
You can also watch birds on the feederwatch webcam if you don’t see any near you.
Set Your Timer for 7 Minutes
Start Writing!
Don’t Think About it, just do it!
After poeming, treat the birds to a treat! Don’t worry if you don’t have a bag of bird seed around. Share fruit with them or bread crusts. In the photo below (pinched from Margarita Engel’s instagram: @margaritapoet) orange halves are popped onto a chain-link fence for a tasty feast. These oranges look whole and new, but you can also “share” gently juiced citrus and partially eaten apples. Some for you, some for the birds! They’ll Tweet you for it!
—This one’s for you, Adele Bennett (Oct 5, 1932-May 4, 2022).
Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge 2000+ days ago. Now we take turns creating prompts to share with you. Our hope is that creatives—children & adults—will use our prompts as springboards to word play time. If you join us in the Challenge, let us know by posting the title, a note, or if you want, the whole poem in the comments.
Click on Fishbowl link and sign up to receive email notifications from Kelly's blog (aka The Fishbowl):
All who subscribe, comment or share a poem will be entered in . . .
What Inspires Me? #16 Ken Burns UNUM
Ken Burns has been making documentary films for about 40 years. These include The Civil War (1990), Baseball (1994), Jazz (2001), The War (2007), The National Parks: America's Best Idea (2009), Prohibition (2011), The Roosevelts (2014), The Vietnam War (2017), and Country Music (2019). His newest film Benjamin Franklin is showing on PBS now.
Ken Burns documentaries are informative, well-researched, interesting—and as I did with Country Music—binge worthy. That’s no secret. But this might be. It was to me: UNUM!
UNUM is a new (to-me-at-least) feature on his website is all about connectivity.
Connecting historical dots.
Connecting events.
Especially connecting with viewers!
In more than 40 years of delving through history, Ken Burns team has noticed connectivity. that while note-worthy events in one part of the world occurred, in other parts equally noteworthy events were happening—historical, physical and cultural. There are obvious and no so obvious connections.
UNUM explores this through snippets of films organized into groups of historical or cultural significance as well as by time periods.
And what’s really cool—especially for research purposes, users can initiate their own searches on UNUM. Whatever clipping pop up as a result of that key word search will play a bit before the “key word” appears in the clipping and a bit longer so views will see for themselves how it fits in the grander scheme of things.
Teachers: What better way to connect students to historical events than with visual-oral-actual clipping! Civil Rights, Black History, Government, Prohibition, Vietnam, the Dust Bowl—you teaching it; UNUM for Educators!
UNUM is a proud partner of PBS LearningMedia, which provides educators with free standards-aligned videos, interactives, lesson plans, and other instructional resources for the classroom.
Writers of Fiction and Non-Fiction: UNUM for Educators provides the color commentary, visual and oral playlist for America-centric historical fiction and non-fiction—and not dry clippings on microfiche! You writing it—UNUM has it. If not, send word to Ken Burns—a documentary about that subject is either already in the works—or it will be!
But, don’t take my word for it, check out UNUM for yourself.
Be warned, once you delve into UNUM, you might find yourself down a rabbit hole you will not want to escape:
Fin Pal asks Norman "Got Tricks?"
In Norman’s newest adventure, NORMAN ONE AMAZING GOLDFISH, his human enters him into Pet-o-Rama. They have their routine all worked out: “Circles! and Bubbles! and Flips!”
What other tricks do you think Norman the Goldfish might be learning?
Ready to read Norman’s answer? Scroll down . . .
Glug
Glug
Glug . . .
It’s true! Who says you can’t play with a goldfish? Goldfish can learn lots of tricks including Ringing a Bell. Find tips on tricks goldfish can learn and how to teach them on “How to Play with Goldfish” by Lisa at Animal Knowledge.
Do you have a question for Norman the Goldfish- about friends, school, pets, family, life in and outside the fishbowl? Send him a letter!
Don’t forget to order your copy of NOT NORMAN: A GOLDFISH STORY and NORMAN: ONE AMAZING GOLDFISH!!
Poetry Challenge #241-Out of the Mouth of Babe
Batter UP! Today, April 27th is National Babe Ruth Day! A day set aside to honor and remember Babe Ruth, arguably the most famous baseball player of all time, in his 22-season MLB career (1914-1935, with the Red Sox, Yankees, and Braves), Babe Ruth held 56 records for the Yankees, some of which still stand today.
The first Babe Ruth Day was April 27th, 1947, when almost 60,000 fans crowded into Yankee Stadium to fete Babe Ruth. To read more about Babe Ruth and view a clip of his speech that day, click over to BabeRuthCentral, the website maintained by his family, that celebrates all things Babe!
Poetry Challenge #241
Out of the Mouth of Babe
Ninety-nine years ago, prior to the opening day game in the brand spanking new Yankee Stadium, the biggest, grandest, first-ever to be called a baseball stadium, Babe Ruth told reporters:
“I’d give a year of my life if I could hit a home run on opening day of this great new park.”
And he did! *
Today’s challenge is to write a poem about something you (or some imaginary you) would give anything to do.
Be sure to include what that “anything” is and be specific about exactly what it is you want that badly to do.
After all, if Babe could do it, why can’t you?
Set Your Timer for 7 Minutes
Start Writing!
Don’t Think About it, just do it!
And get ready! The House That Ruth Built, by Kelly Bennett, with illustrations by Susanna Covelli, commemorating the 100th Anniversary of Opening Day at the original Yankee Stadium and Babe Ruth’s first home run in the legendary ballpark, is forthcoming from Familius, Spring 2023!
Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge 2000+ days ago. Now we take turns creating prompts to share with you. Our hope is that creatives—children & adults—will use our prompts as springboards to word play time. If you join us in the Challenge, let us know by posting the title, a note, or if you want, the whole poem in the comments.
Click on Fishbowl link and sign up to receive email notifications from Kelly's blog (aka The Fishbowl):
All who subscribe, comment or share a poem will be entered in . . .
Poetry Challenge #247 Upsie-Daisy
Forget your troubles, come on, get happy…*
Why? Because it’s National Upsy Daisy Day (June 8)** a day “set aside to encourage you to face the day positively and to get up gloriously, gratefully and gleefully each morning.”
Upsidaisy
Ups-a-daisy Upsie-daisy
Upsy-daisy
Oops-a-daisy
Oopsy-daisy
Hoops-a-daisy
However you spell it, the term “upsy-daisy” dates back to the mid 1800s. (Maybe some nursemaid sometime said it to a child named “Daisy” while lifting her after a fall, and it stuck.) It sounds happy. Try it “Upsie-Daisy!”
“You find that life is still worthwhile, if you just smile...”
There’s even an Upsy-Daisy Doll—who knew?
Poetry Challenge #247
Upside Down and Right Side UP
In honor of Upsie-Daisy Day write a five-line poem beginning and ending with the same line.
And, in honor of the day, try to include the word “daisy” in your poem.
When your finished read your poem from the top down and then from the bottom up. Which view do you prefer?
Set Your Timer for 7 Minutes
Start Writing!
Don’t Think About it, just do it!
*Judy Garland sang Forget Your Troubles in Summer Stock (1950, Saul Chaplin), Here’s a link.
**Stephanie West Allen created National Upsy Daisy Day in 2003. Her desire in creating the celebration was to “make humor, laughter, and a positive attitude part of the Upsy Daisy Day way.”
Upsy Daisy Day video featuring “Bring You a Daisy a Day” song written by Hank Snow.
Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge 2000+ days ago. Now we take turns creating prompts to share with you. Our hope is that creatives—children & adults—will use our prompts as springboards to word play time. If you join us in the Challenge, let us know by posting the title, a note, or if you want, the whole poem in the comments.
Click on Fishbowl link and sign up to receive email notifications from Kelly's blog (aka The Fishbowl):
All who subscribe, comment or share a poem will be entered in . . .
Poetry Challenge #240-Take Two
Have you ever been told you look like someone else or you remind the speaker of someone? Have you ever said that to another person? Has anyone ever called you the wrong name? Chances are you’re not alone. Happy National Look Alike Day!
According to Michael Sheehan, an assistant professor of neurobiology and behavior at Cornell University, who studies appearance variations and genetics, “‘You most probably have a doppelganger somewhere around the world,’” Sophie Chung reported in the Jan/Feb 2018 issue of M2Woman. “‘There is only so much genetic diversity to go around.”
“If you shuffle that deck of cards so many times, at some point, you get the same hand dealt to you twice.”
Poetry Challenge #240
Take Two!
Watch people and see who or what they remind you of.
Write a poem paying close attention to details that make the reader see this person/people too.
Repeat one line at least twice in the poem.
Set Your Timer for 7 Minutes
Start Writing!
Don’t Think About it, just do it!
After poeming, celebrate National Look Alike Day (April 20th) by binging on Doppelganger Television. Buffy the Vampire Slayer went to Doppelgangland. In one Seinfeld episode, George dates a girl who looks “exactly like” Jerry. Profilers has a doppelganger episode. And supposedly there’s a 2018 series Dopplegangers. For more, check out digitalspy’s post of silly doppelganger TV. Chances like this don’t come around twice . . .
Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge 2000+ days ago. Now we take turns creating prompts to share with you. Our hope is that creatives—children & adults—will use our prompts as springboards to word play time. If you join us in the Challenge, let us know by posting the title, a note, or if you want, the whole poem in the comments.
Click on Fishbowl link and sign up to receive email notifications from Kelly's blog (aka The Fishbowl):
All who subscribe, comment or share a poem will be entered in . . .
What Inspires Me? #15 Carrying Kevan
Just watch the video. Yes! Click and watch. You’ll see. Then scroll down to read more.
Kevan Chandler grew up in the foothills of North Carolina. He is the youngest of three siblings and the second to be diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy, type 2, a rare neuromuscular disease. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in counseling from John Wesley College. In the summer of 2016, Kevan and his friends took a trip across Europe, leaving his wheelchair at home, and his friends carried him for three weeks in a backpack. Read More of Kevan’s story!
This photo and more are on the We Carry Kevan website.
Along with having a grand time traveling, Kevan and his buds give backpacks modeled after the one they customized for Kevan to families of others with disabilities so they can explore, play, travel—experience the world together!
Whether that means climbing all 30 million steps of the Great Wall
Enjoying a wee walk in the park
Watching a high school football game in the bleachers—maybe even the very back row!
Going Any Place a Wheelchair Can Not!
How can you help? Click over to the We Carry Kevan website and check it out. Your gift to We Carry Kevan will help us bring backpacks, support, encouragement, and love to individuals with disabilities and their families.
Poetry Challenge #239-Scrabble Scramble
The game of Scrabble was invented by unemployed architect Alfred Mosher Butts during the depression. It was first produced and sold in 1948. Now, nearly a third of American homes own a game. And if you need an excuse to pull out and dust off your game—or click over online—every April 13th is National Scrabble Day. (I was so engrossed in a game I forgot to post…sorry…whoops a whole different game entirely.) Moving on:
Pick Your Letters—Any Letters!
Poetry Challenge #239
Scrabble Scramble
In honor of National Scrabble Day, let’s play: Draw 2 letters from a game of Scrabble, or pick the first 2 letters in an online version.
Use these letters as many times as possible in a poem about Scrabble, words, games, or keeping score.
Set Your Timer for 7 Minutes
Start Writing!
Don’t Think About it, just do it!
And now that you have the game out, convince someone to play!
Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge 2000+ days ago. Now we take turns creating prompts to share with you. Our hope is that creatives—children & adults—will use our prompts as springboards to word play time. If you join us in the Challenge, let us know by posting the title, a note, or if you want, the whole poem in the comments.
Click on Fishbowl link and sign up to receive email notifications from Kelly's blog (aka The Fishbowl):
All who subscribe, comment or share a poem will be entered in . . .