1. “Onomatopoeia” and “Weather” by Eve Merriam
Descriptive Poems
“Onomatopoeia” and “Weather”
by Eve Merriam

2. Descriptive Poem A descriptive poem can describe:
A person, place, or thing - real or imaginary.
An experience. (ie., playing in the rain)
A feeling. (ie., security)
An idea. (ie., patriotism)
A natural occurrence. (ie., weather or seasons)

3. Descriptive Poem A good descriptive poem:
Produces vivid mental imagery.
Engages the mind.
Seeks to be understood through a closer look.
Stirs deeper feelings and connections to the subject.
Leaves the reader with something to think about.

4. Descriptive Poem Rossetti & Dickinson’s poems focus on how things look
Merriam’s poems focus on how things sound

5. Meet the Poet: Eve Merriam

6. Meet the Poet: Eve Merriam
Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1916
Began reading and writing poetry when she was a young child
Was fascinated with language and its sounds

7. Meet the Poet: Eve Merriam
"I find it difficult to sit still when I hear poetry or read it out loud. I feel a tingling feeling all over, particularly in the tips of my fingers and in my toes, and it just seems to go right from my mouth all the way through my body. It's like a shot of adrenalin or oxygen when I hear rhymes and word play." 

8. Meet the Poet: Eve Merriam
One of America’s most respected contemporary poets for children.
Believed that poetry was meant to be read out loud and that people can only appreciate poetry when they hear it, rather than just read it.

9. Meet the Poet: Eve Merriam
Wrote poetry for both adults and children:
There Is No Rhyme for Silver
It Doesn’t Always Have to Rhyme
The Inner City Mother Goose
Catch a Little Rhyme
Finding a Poem
Rainbow Writing
Out Loud

10. Meet the Poet: Eve Merriam
Passed away in 1992 from cancer
Inspired many people with her passion for poetic language
Greatly enriched children’s poetry

11. Sound Experiences
Pair and share - Brainstorm examples of objects and experiences that have sound associations.
Create a class list.
Jot down your favorite or most memorable sounds or sound/associations in your Reader’s Response Log(s).

12. What does water coming out of an old rusty spigot sound like?
Onomatopoeia
What does water coming out of an old rusty spigot sound like?

13. Student Learning Goal for Reading
Today we will determine the meaning of literal and nonliteral words and phrases in poems by Eve Merriam.

14. Onomatopoeia By Eve Merriam
The rusty spigot
sputters,
utters
a splutter,                                   
spatters a mattering of drops,
gashes wider;
slash
splatters,
scatters,
spurts,
finally stops sputtering
and plash!
gushes rushes splashes
clear water dashes.
From CATCH A LITTLE RHYME by Eve Merriam.  Copyright c 1966, 1994 Eve Merriam.  Used by permission of Marian Reiner.
From CATCH A LITTLE RHYME by Eve Merriam.  Copyright c 1966, 1994 Eve Merriam.  Used by permission of Marian Reiner.

15. Onomatopoeia By Eve Merriam
The rusty spigot
sputters,
utters
a splutter,
                                       
From CATCH A LITTLE RHYME by Eve Merriam.  Copyright c 1966, 1994 Eve Merriam.  Used by permission of Marian Reiner.
From CATCH A LITTLE RHYME by Eve Merriam.  Copyright c 1966, 1994 Eve Merriam.  Used by permission of Marian Reiner.

16. “Onomatopoeia” By Eve Merriam
spatters a mattering of drops,
gashes wider;
slash
splatters,
scatters,
spurts,
finally stops sputtering
                                       
From CATCH A LITTLE RHYME by Eve Merriam.  Copyright c 1966, 1994 Eve Merriam.  Used by permission of Marian Reiner.
From CATCH A LITTLE RHYME by Eve Merriam.  Copyright c 1966, 1994 Eve Merriam.  Used by permission of Marian Reiner.

17. “Onomatopoeia” By Eve Merriam
and plash!
gushes rushes splashes
clear water dashes.
                                       
From CATCH A LITTLE RHYME by Eve Merriam.  Copyright c 1966, 1994 Eve Merriam.  Used by permission of Marian Reiner.
From CATCH A LITTLE RHYME by Eve Merriam.  Copyright c 1966, 1994 Eve Merriam.  Used by permission of Marian Reiner.

18. Shades of Meaning
Shades of meaning are the subtle differences between words, which reveal the deeper meaning of a text.
Imagine each word – what do they mean?
Walk, stroll, lumber

19. Onomatopoeia
Sounds can represent experiences or objects. Words that mimic sounds are called onomatopoeia. They sound like what they describe and provide mental imagery. Can be derived from carefully chosen words with particular letters sounds, as well as sound words.

20. Applied Learning Readers Response Log(s):
Partner or Individual Work: Refer back to the class list or favorite sound memories. Select one object or experience to describe.
Brainstorm examples of words and sound associations to describe it.
Include rhyming words, nonsense words, and/or onomatopoeia.

21. Applied Learning Word Work – Shades of Meaning:
How does the water coming out of the spigot change over the course of the poem?
Write examples of words that show shades of meaning within the poem.
Small Group Reading: Read and discuss Eve Merriam’s poem, “Weather.”

22. “Weather” by Eve Merriam

23. “Weather” by Eve Merriam
Small Groups
“Weather” by Eve Merriam

24. “Weather” by Eve Merriam
Dot a dot dot dot a dot dot Spotting the windowpane. Spack a spack speck flick a flack fleck Freckling the windowpane. A spatter a scatter a wet cat a clatter A splatter a rumble outside. Umbrella umbrella umbrella umbrella Bumbershoot barrel of rain. Slosh a galosh slosh a galosh Slither and slather a glide A puddle a jump a puddle a jump A puddle a jump puddle splosh A juddle a pump a luddle a dump A pudmuddle jump in and slide!
From CATCH A LITTLE RHYME by Eve Merriam.  Copyright c 1966, 1994 Eve Merriam.  Used by permission of Marian Reiner. 
From CATCH A LITTLE RHYME by Eve Merriam.  Copyright c 1966, 1994 Eve Merriam.  Used by permission of Marian Reiner.