#EquationPoem 9, Plus Some Guest Equation Poems!

Happy Poetry Friday! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.)

Before I share my daily equation poem, I want to share some by special guests! These poems and illustrations are by 2nd and 3rd graders at Katzie Elementary in Surrey, British Columbia. I’m sharing them with kind permission after they were posted on social media. Aren’t they fabulous! They’re so short, and yet, look at what they showcase: kids’ hobbies, the behaviors of animals and plants, metaphors (bee shopping gets me every time!), observation, unfortunate experiences, the interconnectedness of weather to animals to plants and to people, emotions, life cycles, and a lot of understanding about our natural world.

Well done, young writers and artists! I just love what you created here!

Equation poems written and illustrated by 2nd and 3rd graders at Katzie Elementary.
Equation poems written and illustrated by 2nd and 3rd graders at Katzie Elementary.
Equation poems written and illustrated by 2nd and 3rd graders at Katzie Elementary.
Equation poems written and illustrated by 2nd and 3rd graders at Katzie Elementary.
Equation poems written and illustrated by 2nd and 3rd graders at Katzie Elementary.
Equation poems written and illustrated by 2nd and 3rd graders at Katzie Elementary.
Equation poems written and illustrated by 2nd and 3rd graders at Katzie Elementary.
Equation poems written and illustrated by 2nd and 3rd graders at Katzie Elementary.

It just makes me so happy to think of kids and educators and you (perhaps) writing equation poems along with me :>) Now here’s my daily poem.

For National Poetry Month 2021, I’m posting an equation poem each day. Maybe with an image, maybe without. I needed something very accessible and doable this year! Maybe you feel the same way? I’d love for you to join me, and here are several options for sharing your own or your students’ equation poems:

  • in the comments below
  • on social media with #EquationPoem–and be sure to tag me, please! (@LauraPSalas on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook)
  • on the Padlet on my bookpage here

This is a view of Chesapeake Bay and one of the bridges over it on a very foggy evening recently. It looked like just smoke with occasional floodlights! The watercolor app I use gave it more color variation than there was, but it still captures something of the feeling…

And if you love equation poems, check out my Snowman-Cold=Puddle: Spring Equations, published by Charlesbridge and with gorgeous art by Micha Archer.

Snowman - Cold = Puddle: Spring Equations

Happy poeming!

And for lots of wonderful poetry, don’t miss the Poetry Friday Roundup with wonderful Tabatha Yeatts at The Opposite of Indifference.

P.S. Click here if you want to see all of this month’s equation poems!

P.P.S. If you like these, you might also love This Plus That, by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Jen Corace, and Mathematickles, by Betsy Franco and Steve Salerno.

18 Responses

  1. Small reads + LPS = brighter days!

    OK — not an original, but from the heart, dear Laura.

    I got a needed giggle at the Big Fish + Big Fish = little fish equation poem & love them all.

    Just look at what a great poem instigator you are!

    1. Aw, thank you, Jan–that’s a poem I’ll put in my pocket for reassurance:>)

  2. Love all of these! I must do this with my little enrichment girls. Thanks for always inspiring me!

  3. Look at all these young poet-artists… wonderful! And your fog equation’s got me thinking, dreaming, imagining. Thank you!

  4. I love the illustrations you use with your poems, and I like that the kids jumped in with artwork, too! So cute!

  5. These are all so good! I think my favorite is the one about the snake.
    Ruth, thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com

  6. I love the fog picture/equation, Laura. I never get to see fog so it has a kind of romantic aura to me. And the kids’ equations, from weather to reproduction, springtime to too much rain, really fun & they spoke from their lives for sure. Have a lovely weekend!

  7. The kids’ equation poems and illustrations are magnificent, Laura! I can imagine how much they enjoyed creating these. I adore your equation and image of the Chesapeake Bay; I grew up near it. In fact, for a few years early in my marriage, I could walk a block and there it was. Thank you for all the beauty you share.

    1. How cool, Fran! We/I’ve been to Annapolis a few times for conferences or drum corps events. And we’ve been to DC quite a few times. But this was our first time just being near the Bay for vacation. I love the ocean, and the bridge and boats were awesome, and Randy got to eat so much fresh seafood…what a wonderful area to live in. A block away…wow!

  8. Laura, the equation poems are wonderful examples from elementary students. I can see a hallway gallery of equation poems for all to admire. I would like to have time to write an equation poem. Have a great weekend.

  9. What cool poems these kids created! (We have not subtracted enough cold yet for snakes to come out, but if you substitute turtles for snakes, the math works around here!)

  10. I am SO loving all of your equation poems! And the student work that makes me smile the most are the ones who refuse to be constrained by the three boxes!

  11. oooooh, fog!
    Seeing those equation poems makes me want to try them with my students. I think I just might on my next “maker monday.” We always do something fun and crafty.

  12. Laura, the student’s equation poems are excellent and fun! I have been thinking about flowers plus bees equals honey, also. However, it’s been too dry for too long here. I love how some children added extra spaces for more words. The rain + rain = sadness stands out to me because of the expression on the sadness illustration. Your equation poem and photo are both stunning.

    soil — rain = no flowers

    1. Yes, the ones that capture emotions are always so poignant. They’re so spare and invite the reader to fill in the gaps with their own memories and emotions…

  13. These are so sweet. I love the two fish and the babies. And the ducks in a family. The idea of rain as a rainbow or sadness or flowers or worms, so good for POV as well. Beauty, eyes, beholder, right?
    I also particularly like this one or yours and the photo about the twilight minus the edges = fog. It is so true, that we get that glimpse of the world and then the dark overtakes.…..unless it is clear and starlight and the moon can shine a path,

    Here is one for this day (I am trying to get one a day as you know, even when I am behind!)
    Dawn + Birdsong = Joy

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