Tag: 4×4

4 X 4

~ Book Dragon ~ 8 Comments

The 4 x 4 writing structure tasks you with writing about 4 things each within 4 feet of you. Thank you to Tammy for the mentor text. As I sat in the reception area for an early morning weekend physiotherapy appointment, I thought it’d be the perfect time to give this writing prompt a whirl.

Fan humming overhead, an undulating drone

Social distancing stickers adhered to floor, reminding us of the apex of the pandemic

Windows bringing in diffused light to a dreary wet west coast day

Empty reception – a contrast to the hubbub of weekday activity

Sploosh

~ Book Dragon ~ 7 Comments

Plip, plop, splish, splash

Shrug on raincoat

Batten hatches!

Drippity drop

Umbrella up

Plip, plop, splish, splash

Wind whipping rain

Face drizzled wet

Step, step, dodge, dodge

Puddles, oh no!

Plip, plop, splish, splash

I’m getting wet.

Rubber boots, yes!

Jump in puddles.

Wet all over.

Plip, plop, splish, splash

©Heidi Clark 2022

This poem was inspired by Denise’s post at Ethical ELA. She described how to write a 4×4 poem.

“There are four “rules.”

4 syllables in each line
4 lines in each stanza
4 stanzas
Refrain repeated four times in lines 1, 2, 3, 4 of stanzas 1, 2, 3, 4.
Bonus: Try writing a title in four syllables

Other than those four rules, anything goes. There are no rhyming or rhythm restrictions, and you can write on any topic. The 4 x 4 poem is a slight variation of the quatern. It’s also similar to the Tricube Poem.“

I have never written a 4×4 and was keen to try. I also wanted to write one that kids would like, specifically second and third graders. I wanted this to be an anchor text for them. I plan to give copies of this poem to small groups and to get them to analyze it. Specifically I want them to understand that:

  • poetry is different than prose
  • no long sentences, but phrases instead
  • the absence of ‘the’ & ‘and’
  • its joyous and fun
  • onomatopoeia
  • assonance
  • alliteration
  • repetition
  • imagery
  • notice amount of syllables
  • understand what is a stanza, and how many of them
  • familiar topic: Vancouver is smack dab in the middle of a temperate rainforest. This poem was inspired by the deluge of water we had in the past few days.

Is there anything else that I should get kids to notice? Any other advice? This would be an introduction to a poetry unit. I want them to be excited.