Where I’m From Poems I love these autobiographical poems. Students

are able to express themselves and their

cultures, all while feeling successful at writing.

But also, students are able to share with each

other and find common ground they did not

know they had.

These are the three templates I use when

working with this poem. I usually have students

complete the template as a rough draft. Then I

have then either publish in their writer’s journal

or on colorful writing paper to be displayed.

The fourth template is a brainstorming sheet if

you are to use this poem template as a character

study with your students.

© maxey 2012 thelocoteacher.blogspot.com

Page 2 & 3 - The traditional template. I use this template with my upper

elementary students. They are to go through

the template and fill in the blanks with what

is being asked in the parentheses. If a

student is unsure or unable to come up with

something to go into that blank, I always

allow them to choose another topic to do in

that blank. For example, if a student is

unable to come up with a family tendency,

but they have another family story they

wanted to share, he/she can easily just write

the story in that blank. The template is not

fixed, it’s merely a guidance.

The brainstorming sheet is attached.

© maxey 2012

Where I’m From Poem Author: __________________

I am from _____________________ (an every day, ordinary item),

from _____________________ (the name of product)

and _____________________ (name of product). I am from the _____________________ (description of home). I am from _____________________ (detail about growing up in your house), from _____________________ (detail about growing up), and from _____________________ (sensory detail about home). I am from the _____________________ (plant, flower, or something that has to do with nature), the _____________________ (plant, flower, or something that has to do with nature). I’m from _____________________ (family tradition)

and _____________________ (family trait), from _____________________ (name of family

member) and _____________________ (name of family member). I’m from the _____________________ (detail about a family tendency)

and _____________________ (detail about a family tendency). From _____________________ (something you were always told)

and _____________________ (something you were always told). I’m from _____________________ (something you believe in), _____________________ (something you believe in). I’m from _____________________ (a detail about the history of your family). From _____________________ and _____________________ (two food items that represent your family). From the _____________________ (specific family story).

I am from _____________________ (location of your family memories).

© maxey 2012

Where do you live? (name places, plants, animals)

Who are your family members?

What are some traditions of your family?

What is your family like?

What do you like to eat? What do you like to do?

What do you say a lot? What gets said to you a lot?

What dreams does you have?

Where I’m From Brainstorming

My name is _________________________

Page 3 – Tradition template - blank version. For your higher level thinkers, they might enjoy

trying to create their poem with the blank

template. I often will let my higher level thinkers

start with the traditional template, just like

everyone else. But when I see them finish in about

5 minutes or start to get frustrated by being

constrained with the traditional format, I’ll let

them go on their own with a blank copy. Often

times these kids are so naturally creative that they

are able to create a much better poem when left on

their own.

© maxey 2012

Where I’m From Poem Author: __________________________

I am from __________________________ , from __________________________ and __________________________ . I am from the __________________________ . I am from __________________________ , from __________________________ , and from __________________________ . I am from the __________________________ , the __________________________ . I’m from __________________________ and __________________________ , from __________________________ and __________________________ . I’m from the __________________________ and __________________________ . From __________________________ and __________________________ . I’m from __________________________ , __________________________ . I’m from ____________________________________________________ . From __________________________ and __________________________ . From the ____________________________________________________ .

I am from ____________________________________________________ .

© maxey 2012

Page 4 – The modified template. This is the template I use with my lower

elementary students. The poem is still a “Where

I’m From” poem, but it is more approachable for

their level. Again, if a student is struggling to

come up with something for a particular blank,

let them choose something else. For example, if

they do not have pets, let them fill in the blank

with another family name or even the name of a

stuffed animal they love.

© maxey 2012

Where I’m From Poem

Author: _________________________ I’m from ________________________ and ________________________. family name family name

I’m from ________________________ and ________________________. type of pet or pet name type of pet or pet name

I’m from ________________________ and ________________________. place something you see outside

I’m from ________________________ and ________________________. animal that lives where you live animal that lives where you live

I’m from ________________________ and ________________________. favorite food favorite food

I’m from ________________________ and ________________________. favorite tv show favorite movie

I’m from ________________________ and ________________________. family tradition family tradition

I’m from ________________________ and ________________________. favorite subject at school favorite thing at school

I’m from ________________________ and ________________________. friend name friend name

I’m from ________________________ and ________________________. favorite thing to do favorite thing to do

I’m from ________________________ and ________________________. thing people tell you thing parents tell you

I’m from ________________________ and ________________________. favorite thing about yourself favorite thing about yourself

I’m from _____________________________________________________. something you dream for yourself

© maxey 2012

Page 5 – Brainstorming for a character. Use this template for a character study.

Students will need to choose a character from a

book they are familiar with and have read. I

usually talk to the students about choosing a

meaty character that has a lot of depth and

substance. They use their book to look through

to find details to write down, or instances where

they can make inferences about their character.

For example, if the character lives in Alaska, but

never says what plants are near him/her, the

student could infer what types of plants might

be there. When they are finished, they can use

this brainstorming sheet to complete either the

traditional or modified template to complete the

poem. I always remind my students that they are

writing this poem in first person, from the point

of view of the character.

© maxey 2012

Where does your character live? (places, plants, animals)

Who are your character’s family members?

What are some traditions of your character’s family?

What is your character’s family like?

What does you character like to eat? What does your character like to do?

What does your character say a lot? What gets said to your character?

What dreams does your character have?

Where I’m From Character Brainstorming My character is _____________________________ From the book ______________________________