Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Experiment: Name Squared -- Day One @ Crown Part II

What's a poem, squared? After a conversation on rules -- inventing them, breaking them, knowing them, we decided to count the letters in our names and write poems that was equal to that number, squared -- as many lines as words per line. We also discussed the reason why we call something "squared" -- remembering the actual shape of a square and denoting base x height. We reviewed the notion of "function rules" and "substitutions" and listed the various modes of expression -- algebraic, concrete, numerical, verbal, and graphical -- making ties between those forms of expression in math and the ways in which our poetry/theater connected.

Here are a few examples of NAMES SQUARED!

L E R O Y (5)

say hi and good bye
see you again another time
when life is just right
see you in high school
see you in college years

T A T Y A N A (7)

Tatyana is a thirteen year old girl.
She is a creation to the world.
She's brilliant, talented, and funny. And sometimes,
her nose is a little runny. I
really like Tatyana. She's a really cool
person. She lights up my day. She
makes me feel great. I love Tatyana.

K H A R I (5)

When I think of me,
I think proud and free.
Love, faith, and belief is
a part of you and me.
Don't cry -- your hopes fly.

T Y L E S H I A (8)

I am short, silly, and really kind, small.
Every day I wonder if I were tall.
I am little, but I have a big
Dream. A dream that is more than it
May seem. I am a cool person to
be around. I like to walk and shop
all over town. So I am true and
me, the best that I can always be.

D E N I S H A (7)2

I really dn't know what to do.
This whole thing has me feeling blue.
I feel like I'm about to cry
but I'm holding the tears back in
my eyes. What's wrong with me, I
say to myself as I hold my
tears. Then I think I'm going away.

N I C O L E (6)

In the dark, scared and alone.
Where am I going now, friend?
If that is your real name.
You don't understand! The pressure's on!
I must fight this mirror fight
with the girl I don't like.

Experiment: If.When.Then @ Crown -- Day One

Day One @ Crown

Conditional Exercise -- if/when/then in pairs

If I was a mountain,
then you would be an orange.

If I was a can,
then we would all live on the moon.

If I was pink,
then I would fly above the moon.

If chocolate tasted like mice,
then we would go swimming.

If you stop licking your lips,
then you will wear tight pants.

If I drove a car,
then I would leave.

If the world spun very fast,
then bubbbles would be blue.

If my head was big,
then I would get married.

If I die today,
then I won't see another tomorrow.

If I was a tree,
then I would cry.

If I get an A in math class,
then pizza will always be for breakfast.

If I was a boy,
then I would die.

If I turned to page 6,
then I will cry.

If I was to eat an apple,
then I would fall.

If I read a book,
then tigers would sleep in my classroom.

If I see Ms. Amanda,
then I would break a pencil.

If I ran outside,
then I would sleep forever.

If I ride horse,
then I will wish upon a star.

If I were to cut myself,
then I would be sure to smile.

If a giant learned algebra,
then you would get smaller.

If you look on the sole of your shoe,
then flowers will bloom.

If my leg didn't hurt,
then blue would be purple.

If I had a million dollars,
then I am going to dig a tunnel to Australia.

If I was Jamaican,
I would buy you a wig.

If you fly,
I will die.

If I fall off the bridge,
then I'll never know the real truth.

If I tie my shoe,
then I will marry J.

If I was to fly like a bird,
then you have to dance silly.

If I was the sky,
then you'd have to do the lean wit-it, rock wit-it.

If I was the moon,
I'd dress nicely.

If you start crying,
I will cheer you up.

If I were you,
then I'd lose myself in the world.

If two stars cross in the night,
then I will leave you.

If the world was no longer a world,
I'd wear my socks all at the same time.

If god hears my prayer,
I'll go the store and buy pigs' feet.

If I call you tonight,
then we could go to sleep.

If I beat someone up,
we'd go to sleep at dawn.

If I went to sleep,
then you would turn purple.

If I was blind,
you'd wake up wheezy.

If I go to school,
then I'll love you forever.