Because many of my students have Spanish as their first language and English as their second, a poet like Neruda is invaluable. I found a copy of the poem where the original Spanish version was side by side with an English version. We read the poem first in Spanish and then in English. Students who had previously struggled really shined this week in our discussion.
Next, the students wrote an ode to a family member, or their family as a whole. For the special project portion of lesson, I typed up each of their poems, and brought them back the following week with construction paper and supplies. Students framed their work on the construction paper and decorated. Many students took a cue from Neruda and translated their own poems into Spanish!
The students left for the holidays with a beautiful and personal handmade gift for a family member.
Some of the many great examples:
Ms. Gonzalez’s Class:
Ode to My Family
My family is fun, because they do things with me.
My family is smart, because they help me with my homework.
They are cheerful because they cheer me on.
They are beautiful, because I get all my looks from them.
Things I like about my family
Are that they play with me,
They are also very careful with me,
And they take care of me.
By Maria A.
My family is fun, because they do things with me.
My family is smart, because they help me with my homework.
They are cheerful because they cheer me on.
They are beautiful, because I get all my looks from them.
Things I like about my family
Are that they play with me,
They are also very careful with me,
And they take care of me.
By Maria A.
Ode to My Family
My family is beautiful, kind, thoughtful, helpful, and generous.
My family is beautiful because they always dress nice and smell good.
My family is kind because they buy things that we really need.
My family is thoughtful because they always think of others.
My family is helpful because they always do things to help others.
My family is generous because they give things to those in need.
I like my family because they are good people.
I like my family because they dress like they are at a party.
I like my family because they have taught me to respect others.
I like my family because they are generous.
I like my family because they want me to get a good education.
by Sammy C.
My family is beautiful, kind, thoughtful, helpful, and generous.
My family is beautiful because they always dress nice and smell good.
My family is kind because they buy things that we really need.
My family is thoughtful because they always think of others.
My family is helpful because they always do things to help others.
My family is generous because they give things to those in need.
I like my family because they are good people.
I like my family because they dress like they are at a party.
I like my family because they have taught me to respect others.
I like my family because they are generous.
I like my family because they want me to get a good education.
by Sammy C.
Ode to My Mom
My mom is sweet like sugar.
She is kind like people who are kind to me.
She is helpful like a good friend.
She is understanding, like understanding life.
She is funny, like watching funny movies.
She is kind by helping me with my problems.
She is fun when she plays games with me.
She can help me understand why life is so hard.
She buys me things when I’m nice to her.
Sometimes my mom makes me laugh with her funny jokes.
by Ruben P.
Ode to My Family
My family is fun like when we
Go outside to play soccer.
They’re very dependable
When I get hurt or need help.
They care when I’m sick,
They care when I’m sad,
The make me happy,
Even when I’m mad.
When I need help
They’re the ones I turn to.
Even if it takes all of them,
They’re here to help me.
I love it when they act kind
Like when they clean up after me.
They’re always there for me,
When I fall down they’re
All there to help me back up.
They take care of me,
They’ll go out of their way
To get me feeling better.
They’re very kind,
Like when I busted open my nose.
No one pointed,
Instead they tried to be kind.
When I busted open my nose,
They all tried to help.
The thing I love most about them
Is that we’re always together.
By Kevin L.
Ode to My Sister
My sister is pretty,
with long hair,
with dark brown eyes.
Very smart, very kind,
always helping me climb.
She is playful, she is tall.
But most of all she likes
To go to the mall.
She and I are always together,
Trusting each other,
Like a baby and its mother.
We are sisters, we are friends,
In fact...
We are best friends ‘til the end.
By Sandra R.
Ode to a Father
Who is helpful and loyal
to his family. He’s giving
to charities so he can
make a difference.
He’s a spender
to give.
I like my dad
because we try to
play Beethoven
but there’s always
one note.
We cook pastries
for other relatives
we travel far but
not too far from home.
We see Andy Warhol’s
art because it speaks for
itself.
Ode to my father.
By Denise B.
My mom is sweet like sugar.
She is kind like people who are kind to me.
She is helpful like a good friend.
She is understanding, like understanding life.
She is funny, like watching funny movies.
She is kind by helping me with my problems.
She is fun when she plays games with me.
She can help me understand why life is so hard.
She buys me things when I’m nice to her.
Sometimes my mom makes me laugh with her funny jokes.
by Ruben P.
Ms. Formisano’s Class:
Ode to My Family
My family is fun like when we
Go outside to play soccer.
They’re very dependable
When I get hurt or need help.
They care when I’m sick,
They care when I’m sad,
The make me happy,
Even when I’m mad.
When I need help
They’re the ones I turn to.
Even if it takes all of them,
They’re here to help me.
I love it when they act kind
Like when they clean up after me.
They’re always there for me,
When I fall down they’re
All there to help me back up.
They take care of me,
They’ll go out of their way
To get me feeling better.
They’re very kind,
Like when I busted open my nose.
No one pointed,
Instead they tried to be kind.
When I busted open my nose,
They all tried to help.
The thing I love most about them
Is that we’re always together.
By Kevin L.
Ode to My Sister
My sister is pretty,
with long hair,
with dark brown eyes.
Very smart, very kind,
always helping me climb.
She is playful, she is tall.
But most of all she likes
To go to the mall.
She and I are always together,
Trusting each other,
Like a baby and its mother.
We are sisters, we are friends,
In fact...
We are best friends ‘til the end.
By Sandra R.
Ode to a Father
Who is helpful and loyal
to his family. He’s giving
to charities so he can
make a difference.
He’s a spender
to give.
I like my dad
because we try to
play Beethoven
but there’s always
one note.
We cook pastries
for other relatives
we travel far but
not too far from home.
We see Andy Warhol’s
art because it speaks for
itself.
Ode to my father.
By Denise B.
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