submitted by Francie Kugelman

This is a popular poem template which I found http://www.swva.net/fred1st/wif.htm”>online:

The WHERE I’M FROM Template

I am from _______ (specific ordinary item), from _______ (product name) and _______.

I am from the _______ (home description… adjective, adjective, sensory detail).

I am from the _______ (plant, flower, natural item), the _______ (plant, flower, natural detail)

I am from _______ (family tradition) and _______ (family trait), from _______ (name of family member) and _______ (another family name) and _______ (family name).

I am from the _______ (description of family tendency) and _______ (another one).

From _______ (something you were told as a child) and _______ (another).

I am from (representation of religion, or lack of it). Further description.

I’m from _______ (place of birth and family ancestry), _______ (two food items representing your family).

From the _______ (specific family story about a specific person and detail), the _______ (another detail, and the _______ (another detail about another family member).

I am from _______ (location of family pictures, mementos, archives and several more lines indicating their worth).

This can be used at many grade levels. I use it with the 5th grade Heritage unit. It can also be used with 2nd grade Sharing Stories, Third grade Storytelling, 4th grade Communication, etc.

For an example of using this poem to integrate technology, see Elaine Wrenn’s 6th grade Heritage Digital Storytelling Films from Echo Horizon School in Culver City.

You could also assign parents to write THEIR own Where I am From poems or have students write them about their parents or grandparents.

Also see: Family Research Project
Parent Followup to Heritage Poetry Writing