“ “If you don’t know where you’re If you don’t know where you’re from, you’ll have a hard time saying from, you’ll have a hard time saying where you’re going.” where you’re going.”

Poet Poet

Wendell BerryWendell Berry

Who and What Who and What Defines Us?Defines Us?

Essential Question:Essential Question:How do people become who How do people become who

they are today?they are today?

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://stencilwithstyle.com/spiderweb.jpg&imgrefurl=http://stencilwithstyle.com/spiderweb%2520with%2520text.htm&h=245&w=320&sz=38&hl=en&start=14&tbnid=9CTBvvoJrzNjoM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=118&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dspiderweb%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26sa%3DG

““Though I write in many forms, I am Though I write in many forms, I am first of all a poet, which means my first of all a poet, which means my job is to see and sing the connection job is to see and sing the connection between things. The spider’s web is between things. The spider’s web is a delicious image for this and for the a delicious image for this and for the wonder of something newly made wonder of something newly made from old patterns, like the sentences from old patterns, like the sentences writers spin each day.”writers spin each day.”

~ George Ella Lyon~ George Ella Lyon

VocabularyVocabulary

Carbon-tetrachloride : a Carbon-tetrachloride : a chemical used in chemical used in cleaning products and cleaning products and aerosol cansaerosol cans

Imogene: Imogene Coca Imogene: Imogene Coca was an actress in the was an actress in the 1960s1960s

Alafair: Alafair Burke Alafair: Alafair Burke writes mystery crime writes mystery crime novelsnovels

Vocabulary (cont.)Vocabulary (cont.) More Vocabulary-More Vocabulary-Sift- an object that separates parts of a mixtureSift- an object that separates parts of a mixture

Auger- a hole-making tool that is used for wood Auger- a hole-making tool that is used for wood workingworking

Simile- A comparison of two things using the words Simile- A comparison of two things using the words “like” or “as”“like” or “as”(ex. You eat like a pig!)(ex. You eat like a pig!)

Metaphor- A comparison of two things that does not Metaphor- A comparison of two things that does not use the words “like” or “as”use the words “like” or “as”(ex. You are a pig!)(ex. You are a pig!)

WHERE I’M FROMWHERE I’M FROMBy George Ella LyonBy George Ella Lyon

I am from clothespins, I am from clothespins, from Clorox and carbon-tetrachloride. from Clorox and carbon-tetrachloride. I am from the dirt under the back porch.I am from the dirt under the back porch.(Black, glistening, (Black, glistening, it tasted like beets.) it tasted like beets.) I am from the forsythia bush,I am from the forsythia bush,the Dutch elmthe Dutch elmwhose long-gone limbs I rememberwhose long-gone limbs I rememberas if they were my own. as if they were my own.

  I am from fudge and eyeglasses, I am from fudge and eyeglasses, from Imogene and Alafair. from Imogene and Alafair. I'm from the know-it-allsI'm from the know-it-allsand the pass-it-ons, and the pass-it-ons, from perk up and pipe down. from perk up and pipe down. I'm from He restoreth my soulI'm from He restoreth my soulwith a cottonball lambwith a cottonball lamband ten verses I can say myself. and ten verses I can say myself.

  I'm from Artemus and Billie's Branch, I'm from Artemus and Billie's Branch, fried corn and strong coffee. fried corn and strong coffee. From the finger my grandfather lost From the finger my grandfather lost to the augerto the augerthe eye my father shut to keep his sight. the eye my father shut to keep his sight. Under my bed was a dress boxUnder my bed was a dress boxspilling old pictures, spilling old pictures, a sift of lost facesa sift of lost facesto drift beneath my dreams. to drift beneath my dreams. I am from those moments-I am from those moments-snapped before I budded- snapped before I budded- leaf-fall from the family tree. leaf-fall from the family tree.

The The WHERE I'M FROMWHERE I'M FROM Template Template

I am from _______ (specific ordinary item), from _______ (product name) and _______. I am from _______ (specific ordinary item), from _______ (product name) and _______. I am from the _______ (home description... adjective, adjective, sensory detail). I am from the _______ (home description... adjective, adjective, sensory detail). I am from the _______ (plant, flower, natural item), the _______ (plant, flower, I am from the _______ (plant, flower, natural item), the _______ (plant, flower,

natural detail) natural detail) I am from _______ (family tradition) and _______ (family trait), from _______ (name of I am from _______ (family tradition) and _______ (family trait), from _______ (name of

family member) and _______ (another family name) and _______ (family name). family member) and _______ (another family name) and _______ (family name). I am from the _______ (description of family tendency) and _______ (another one). I am from the _______ (description of family tendency) and _______ (another one). From _______ (something you were told as a child) and _______ (another). From _______ (something you were told as a child) and _______ (another). I am from (representation of religion, or lack of it). Further description. I am from (representation of religion, or lack of it). Further description. I'm from _______ (place of birth and family ancestry), _______ (two food items I'm from _______ (place of birth and family ancestry), _______ (two food items

representing your family). representing your family). From the _______ (specific family story about a specific person and detail), the From the _______ (specific family story about a specific person and detail), the

_______ (another detail, and the _______ (another detail about another family _______ (another detail, and the _______ (another detail about another family member). member).

I am from _______ (location of family pictures, mementos, archives and several more I am from _______ (location of family pictures, mementos, archives and several more lines indicating their worth).lines indicating their worth).

http://www.swva.net/fred1st/wif.htmhttp://www.swva.net/fred1st/wif.htm

  

Student SampleStudent SampleI am from hairsprayI am from hairsprayFrom braces and rubberbands.From braces and rubberbands.I am from lightning bugs I am from lightning bugs Fluttering in the summer night sky.Fluttering in the summer night sky.

I am from BelleI am from BelleThe cute little puppy The cute little puppy We rescued from the poundWe rescued from the poundAnd Smoky the catAnd Smoky the catWhose death still touches my heart.Whose death still touches my heart.

I am from Papaw’s goulashI am from Papaw’s goulashAnd Momma’s pumpkin pieAnd Momma’s pumpkin pieFrom Dad’s overbearing From Dad’s overbearing Protectiveness of his little girl.Protectiveness of his little girl.

I am from outrageous I am from outrageous Eleven foot Christmas treesEleven foot Christmas treesAnd joyous Thanksgiving feasts.And joyous Thanksgiving feasts.

I am from French immigrantsI am from French immigrantsFrom 1692 and New Paltz, New YorkFrom 1692 and New Paltz, New York

I am from Louis Bevier and Marie Le Blanc.I am from Louis Bevier and Marie Le Blanc.

I am from the American dreamI am from the American dreamFrom broken despair and gained hopeFrom broken despair and gained hopeI am the present, past, and future,I am the present, past, and future,History in the making.History in the making.

http://www.ci.maryville.tn.us/mhs/family_history/family_history_004.htmhttp://www.ci.maryville.tn.us/mhs/family_history/family_history_004.htm

It’s your turn!It’s your turn!

Let’s check out your Five Let’s check out your Five Senses graphic organizerSenses graphic organizer

Peer ReviewPeer Review1. Exchange poems & read your 1. Exchange poems & read your

partner’s poem carefully. partner’s poem carefully.

2. Fill out the peer review form.2. Fill out the peer review form.

3. Discuss the completed form with 3. Discuss the completed form with your partner.your partner.

Crystal BallCrystal Ball If you could foresee any one day of If you could foresee any one day of

your life in a crystal ball, which day your life in a crystal ball, which day would you choose and why? Be would you choose and why? Be prepared to share.prepared to share.

Crystal Ball Part ICrystal Ball Part I Please fill your crystal ball with at Please fill your crystal ball with at

least five adjectives describing what least five adjectives describing what you hope your weekend will be like. you hope your weekend will be like.

(ex. long, exciting, fun, busy, lazy) (ex. long, exciting, fun, busy, lazy)

Crystal Ball Part IICrystal Ball Part II Please fill your crystal ball with Please fill your crystal ball with

adjectives describing who you are adjectives describing who you are now and who you want to become. now and who you want to become. You may add –er to adjectives that You may add –er to adjectives that already describe you. (ex. smarter, already describe you. (ex. smarter, taller, exciting)taller, exciting)