Pasteur Autobiographies

For Black History Month, I'm using all African-American poets. I started with Rita Dove's poem, "Fifth Grade Autobiography". This is always one of my favorite poems to use with HOS. We read the poem, which describes a photograph, and attempted to re-create the photograph on the board based on Dove's description. I asked the students to close their eyes and picture a photograph within their own homes. They wrote poems based on those photographs.

Ms. McDermott's 5th Grade Class

5th Grade Autobiography
Justin M.

I was five when there was a wedding.
My aunt's wedding.
She had a sparkly dress like a reflection
of the sun on a lake.
My uncle is dark from the suit and
the moon on his chest.
When we took the picture, my mom, dad,
brother, sister, uncle, aunt and me they all
smelled like stink bombs.

5th Grade Autobiography
Guadalupe K.

I am two in this photograph.
Mom, dad son and me are on the square picture.
My mom sits on the corner of the square.
Wind coming through like if we are outside.
I am now eleven years old.

5th Grade Autobiography
Amanda T.

I am trying to smile nicely.
I am tired in the picture because I woke up
5 seconds before it was taken.
I am cold in my dress.
I am very awake when the
flash hits my eyes.

Mr. Herbeck's 5th Grade Class

5th Grade Autobiography
Carlos A.

I am 10 in this photo
I was with the champion of solo boxing
He had won by a physical knockout
His mohawk looked cool
They called him the Aztec kid

5th Grade Autobiography
Weronika G.

I am 9 years old.
My mom, picking in the bushes.
The sun shining so hot.
The shades in the trees.

My dad making BBQ.
Starting up the fire
So hot, so thirsty.

My grandpa playing with me.
Picking apples.
Roasting them.
It smells so good everywhere.

Mrs. Weiland's 4th Grade Class

4th Grade Autobiography
Jasmine J.

I was a baby with my grandmother by the river.
She was wearing a fluffy red sweater.
It was sunny and foggy.
It was my mom's birthday
and it was the last time I saw my mom for 5 years.
After that day, my grandma died.
I still remember her soft and warm hands.
I still remember her voice.

4th Grade Autobiography
MichelleO.

I was a few weeks old when my grandparent's visited from Mexico.
Me and my grandparents were on the couch.
My grandpa was holding me.
My grandma had a red shirt and beige pants.
My grandpa had a white shirt and gray pants.
The sun was very bright and yellow.
Two months later, my grandpa died.
My grandma is still alive.

4th Grade Autobiography
Giovanni

I was 9 in the photograph.
I was in Marquette park when my soccer team
won the championship.
I was so tired I was dying.
My mom ran to get the drinks.
In the background, was the goal.
In the front was a huge cup.
When the picture was taken, it was muddy and got stuck.

Ms. Kane's 7th Grade Class

7th Grade Autobiography
Phillip D.

I remember I was 12 years old with my uncle at Universal Studios.
I was in the roller coaster swirling and twirling in the air.
I was in the front seat of the roller coaster sitting next to my uncle.
I could see myself gripping on the handebar fiercly.
I remember the wind blowing across my face
and having the roller coaster zoom on and on.
Those were the longest 15 seconds of my life.

7th Grade Autobiography
Gloria A.

I was 12 years old.
I was in the background holding my camera.
My mom and her brother are sitting
side by side in a folding chair.
He was smiling his smile.
She was crying like she always did when he came.
Not sad tears, but tears filled with joy.
That night a dark cloud covered the sky.
That night god decided he needed another angel.

7th Grade Autobiography
Ana L.

It was my birthday
the day I turned 8 years old
My cousin is sitting down look at me
with menacing eyes
My brother has just jumped in front of me
I had a cake on my face
My cousin was happy
My dad took the picture with smiling eyes
He won't be happy anymore
He broke his leg the next day