“A Piece of Paper Is..,” as imagined by the students of Pete Markus

on May 19 in Uncategorized by

InsideOut Writer-in-Residence Pete Markus is a master at unlocking the imaginations of young writers.

His lessons give students literary wings, proving time and again a truth that Markus made so famous; First Lady Michelle Obama even quoted him, “If you ask a kid to dream, he’ll dream.” Mrs. Obama quoted Markus in 2009 as the InsideOut Literary Arts Project was selected as a recipient of the prestigious Coming Up Taller Award.

Here are excerpts of Pete’s  latest project with his students:

“A piece of paper is… a wolf that howls at the sun./ A paint brush that makes colors out of water./ A world full of words that glistens when the moon comes out./ A magnet that attracts wood.”Jahlil, Grade 4, InsideOut Literary Arts Project, on “The Importance of Paper.”

InsideOut writer Pete Markus engages with high school students.

“A piece of paper is a sky that is always blue. Or a tree that sings Kumbaya till it’s night time.”Kacey, Grade 4

“A piece of paper is an ocean that you can write on forever.”
Dario, Grade 4, Detroit Public Schools

A piece of paper is…
a lunar eclipse that makes the whole world light up.
A sky pouring down love and peace.
A woodpecker that chops down metal houses.
A redwood tree that never gets chopped down.
LaMarcus, Grade 4, Detroit Public Schools

A piece of paper is a deer’s tail that sticks up whenever it walks. A piece of paper is a hand that never stops clapping. A piece of paper is a cloud that looks down at the world admiring the world’s beauty.

Patty, 4th grade, Detroit Public schools

Listen to Pete’s unique passion for words here.

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