Look at and reread the poem from yesterday.  Answer the following questions.  Make sure you number your  answers.

1. Which sentence is the best summary of the poem?
 A. A child reflects on a parrot seen outside a window
 B. A child wishes a parrot would come back to the tree.
 C. A parrot eats a snack it has found in a tree.
 D. A parrot becomes friends with a cardinal.

2. What does the speaker see on Friday?
 A. a library
 B. some parrots
 C. some cardinals
 D. a jungle

3. Read the lines from the poem

It needed to relax and settle down for a while
And build it's very own nest

What does the speaker mean?
 A. The parrot would like to have many friends.
 B. The speaker should visit the parrot more.
 C. The parrot should find a place to make a home.
 D. The speaker would like to set the parrot free.

4. Why did the author write the poem? (Author's Purpose)
 A. To explain how to best care for a parrot
 B. To tell what a parrot likes to eat
 C. To describe what a parrot looks like
 D. To share a unique observation of a parrot

Parrot in the Pine Tree

On Monday I looked out the window at dawn

And saw pretty oranges, and yellows with red,

A parrot's tail feathers spilled like paint from the pine

Then it turned its bright green head

I saw its chocolate-colored beak as it turned

And looked at me like it was lost,

Its long claws were wrapped round the elegant pine

And tightly held a walnut that had been tossed.

On Friday some blue jays had taken its place

With cardinals lined up like before,

The tree branches looked like a clothesline that day

With T-shirts drying galore.

I imagined the parrot was looking for home

Maybe back to the jungle he flew,

Or maybe to the deep and very dark forest

Behind the library he knew.

I hoped that the parrot had found its place

Somewhere it could finally rest,

It needed to relax and settle down for a while

And build its very own nest

From the Alabama State Department of Education, ARMT Specs

Read the poem.  Find all of the similes.  Post your similes to the blog.  Once you publish you cannot change your answers.  Make sure you proofread. 

Everyone is doing better at identifying and writing similes.  However, some people are still making comparisons that do not make sense.  You cannot compare a person to a pin. Your comparisons have to give the reader a clearer picture of what you are trying to say, not confuse them.  Also, you know what is appropriate and inappropriate content for school.  I had to delete some people's post and you should be able to figure out why.

Today's task is to complete the following similes.

1. She is as pretty as
2. He is as tall as
3. The piano sounds like
4. The dog barks like
5. The air feels like

We are still working on Similes.  You all are getting better at identifying them and writing your own.  Here are some tips you need to remember:

1. All similes must contain the word like or as.
2. Just because the word "like" or "as" is in a sentence, does not make it a simile.
3. Your similes must make sense.  You are comparing two things to give the reader a clearer image.

Today's assignment:

Write original similes using the following ideas:

1. Write about something very small.
2. Write about something funny.
3. Write about something fast.
4. Write about something soft.
5. Write about something that stinks.

Make sure you post on today's post.  

Yesterday we talked about similes and how to identify them in an author's writing.  Today you are going to become the author and create your own similes.  You are to create five similes. Each one should be based on one of your five senses; touch , taste, smell, hearing and sight.  Be creative, but make sure you use like or as and make a comparison.

Example:

The fabric was as smooth as silk.  (touch)

His snore is like the loudest lion roar.  (hearing)

The room had an inviting smell like fresh cut roses.  (smell)

He was as tall as the trees.  (sight)

The tea had a sweet taste like fresh honey.  (taste)

Similes

A simile is a comparison using the words like or as.

He ran like the wind.

She is as sweet as sugar.

This morning we read the story Owl Moon by Jane Yolen.  We identified similes she used in her story.  The examples we came up with are listed below. 

Examples of Similes from Owl Moon

The trees stood still as giant statues
a train whistle blew, long and low, like a sad, sad song
it was as quiet as a dream
I could feel the cold as if someone's icy hand was on my back.

 Your assignment today was to read in your own books and try and find similes.  Reply to this post and write one example of a simile you found in your reading.  Make sure you credit the author.  See the example below if you need help.


Example post:

Somewhere behind us a train whistle blew, long and low, like a sad, sad song.
Owl Moon by Jane Yolen