Someone Told Me

For this activity, you will need something to write on and write with, and as many people as you can find in your home. First, make a list of all of your favorite facts about the world, especially the ones you think most people don’t know about. For example, most people have exactly 206 bones. Then, make a list of the questions you have about and for the world. For example, how did we discover that yeast makes bread rise? Poets are always asking good questions, including ones that don’t have an answer yet. The answer of a question might change depending on who or what you ask. Writing a poem might mean investigating one question by asking many people.

Read Naomi Shihab Nye’s “One Boy Told Me,” which lists surprising facts and questions from one boy the poet met.

Now, create a new list of favorite facts, and questions for the world. Ask every person in your home to contribute as many as they can. Display them on the wall and invite every person to add to the list whenever they can.