Poetry Break - Child Poet

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Nye, Naomi Shihab. 2000. Salting the Ocean: 100 Poems By Young People. New York: Greenwillow Books. ISBN 9780688161934

INTRODUCTION
Before reading this poem aloud, find out what your own name means. Then share this information with the class. Talk about whether you/they think that the meaning fits who are you. Provide examples of other names and their meanings. You can choose generic names for this. Or, you can use names of historical figures or popular celebrity names and have the students decide if the specific meanings fit the person with each name.

Poem: no title given
By Emmett Tenorio Melendez

My name came from my great-great-great-grandfather.
He was an Indian from the Choctaw tribe.
His name was Dark Ant.
When he went to get a job out in a city
he changed it to Emmett.
And his whole name was Emmett Perez Tenorio.
And my name means: Ant; Strong; Carry twice
its size.

EXTENSION
Have the students think about their own name. Were they named after someone? Do they know the real meaning behind their name? Have them decide what they think their name should mean based on what they think of themselves. Have them write a short poem describing this meaning. If there is time, let the students do some research on the Internet about the true meanings of their name. They can ask their parents about their namesake, too. If the students promise to be nice, they can write a “name” poem for another classmate and share it with them or the group. It could be fun for students to hear how their friends/classmates feel about them.