'I Am' Poems

Purpose: To understand ‘I am’ Poems and how to construct them.

Materials: Recycled paper, pencil, colored pencils, crayons, marker, watercolor paper, watercolors, and water cups.

Procedure: (Discuss ‘I am’ Poems)

• Discuss the structure of ‘I am’ poems (see examples).

• Have students practice their ‘I am’ Poems with you and with each other.

• Encourage students to choose an ecosystem of interest to them when constructing their ‘I am’ Poem. Note: If students choose to paint, cut a piece of watercolor paint and paste on metaphor writing activity below (pdf).

• Students can share their work with their classmates and parents. These can also be showcased in the classroom (see below).

• Students can draw their animal or plant on the back of their ‘I am’ Poem.

• Students can also punch a hole up at the top of their ‘I am’ poem and where it as a necklace. They can read the poem to the class and ask at the end, “What am I?” The class can guess and then the student can turn over the poem and show the illustration of the animal or plant.

• Have fun!

I am a [mammal, bird, reptile, amphibian, fish, invertebrate, plant]

Physical description (3 things)

Behavior

Range (where it lives)

I am a [herbivore, insectivore, omnivore, carnivore]: list what your animal eats

Predators (list them)

What am I?

Wetland ‘I am’ Poem

(Example)

I’m a bird.

I have a green head, a brown chest, yellow beak, and orange feet.

I migrate and feed on agricultural crops.

I live in wetlands and marshes in the Northern Hemisphere of the USA.

I’m an omnivore and eat: aquatic invertebrates, fish, amphibians, seeds, duckweed and other plants.

Crows, foxes, coyotes, raccoons, and skunk like to eat me.

What am I?

(Students can draw their animal or plant on the other side of the poem; in this case, a mallard duck)

Ocean ‘I am’ Poem

(Example)

I’m an invertebrate.

I have eight arms with many suckers, a bulbous head, and large eyes.

I am intelligent and a master of disguise.

I live in the Pacific Ocean.

I’m a carnivore and eat: shrimp, clams, lobster, and fish.

Harbor seals, sea otters, and sperm whales like to eat me.

What am I?

(Students can draw their animal on the other side of the poem; in this case, an octopus)