I recently did an activity with my colleagues to get to know each other better and it was a kind of poem called “Where I’m from”. The idea is to describe your childhood and the important things that influenced you. You can see my version of the poem below. The first part is about the place where you came from (it can include visuals, sounds, and even smells, too), the second part is about words and expressions that were important to you or were spoken by people who were important to you, the third part is about nostalgic food and drinks, and the last part is about activities and events. If any of my students would like to try this, I’d be happy to see your version of this identity poem!

I’m from the fields full of sheep and cows,

Cattail marshes where the frogs never sleep, and

Hummingbirds at the feeder;

That’s where I’m from.

I’m from Mangia! Mangia!

Just put a Band-Aid on it, and

Don’t ask me what the weather’s like - go outside!

That’s where I’m from.

I’m from pitchers of lemonade,

Lamb chops that I can’t bring myself to eat, and

Fresh corn on the cob;

That’s where I’m from.

I’m from The Great Apple Tree Wars,

Neighbourhood barn burnings (the communal, not vengeful kind), and

Hunting crayfish in the culverts;

That’s where I’m from.