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Grades level iconsGrades 3–5
Genre information iconPoetry
Video resource type iconVideos

Birds in Flight: I’m Like a Lion

by 826 National, featuring Iman Abdullah, Grade 2, 826NYC
Have you ever thought about what you have in common with an animal? In this lesson, students will write a comparison poem that explores these similarities and differences.
About the Author

IMAN ABUDULLAH is a seven-year-old who attends PS 39 in Brooklyn, New York. She loves to read, write nonfiction, and spend time with her family and friends.

Congratulations to 826 Digital Writers’ Showcase Finalist, Iman Abdullah! Watch her video and see the lesson below to learn how to write your own comparison poem. Read more about Iman and the other Writers’ Showcase finalists at www.826national.org/826-digital-writers-showcase-2023-finalists

Common Core Standards
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.1.A Common Core Standards Icon
Introduce the topic or text they are writing about, state an opinion, and create an organizational structure that lists reasons.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.1.A Common Core Standards Icon
Introduce a topic or text clearly, state an opinion, and create an organizational structure in which related ideas are grouped to support the writer’s purpose.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.1.A Common Core Standards Icon
Introduce a topic or text clearly, state an opinion, and create an organizational structure in which ideas are logically grouped to support the writer’s purpose.
What You Will Do

STEP 1

Watch the video and follow along with the Mentor Text on page 1 of the I’m Like a Lion — Handout. Then, answer this question in your writing journal: What are 2 things the narrator had in common with birds?

STEP 2

Next, choose an animal that you know a lot about—it can be an animal as familiar to you as a family pet, or one as unusual as a fire-breathing dragon! Follow the steps on page 2 of the handout to write and draw about your animal. 

STEP 3

Now you will brainstorm ideas about yourself! Follow the directions on page 3 of the handout to complete this step.

STEP 4

The data display on page 4 is called a Venn diagram. It is used to show the similarities and differences between two groups of information. Follow the instructions on...

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