Illustration of a person surfing through milk spilled out of a red cup
Illustration by Alex Nabaum
Poem,

Mistake

a diamante

By Linda Mitchell
From the February 2023 Issue
Featured Skill: Analyzing and Writing Poetry,
Common Core Standards
  • Anchor Standards
    R.1, R.2, R.4, W.4
  • Grade 6
    RI.6.1, RI.6.2, RI.6.4, W.6.4
  • Grade 7
    RI.7.1, RI.7.2, RI.7.4
  • Grade 8
    RI.8.1, RI.8.2, RI.8.4, W.8.4
TEKS Standards
  • Grades 6, 7, 8
    3a, 4a, 5a, 5b, 5d, 5e, 5f, 5g, 5h, 5i, 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6e, 6g, 6h, 7a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d, 9e, 9f, 11a

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Mistake

a diamante

Mistake

colossal, grievous

blunder, trip, tumble

assumption, error, chance, risk

venture, strive, try

rare, golden

opportunity

“Mistake” by Linda Mitchell, first published in IMPERFECT: poems about mistakes: an anthology for middle schoolers, edited by Tabitha Yeats. © 2018 by Linda Mitchell.

Writing Prompt

Go to Scope Online to learn more about the structure of a diamante poem. Then choose one of the following words: doubt, blame, grudge, uncertainty. (Or pick your own word.) Use that word to write a diamante poem, using “Mistake” as a model. 

This poem was originally published in the February 2023 issue.

Audio ()
Activities (2)
Skills Activities
Writing Support
Audio ()
Activities (2)
Skills Activities
Writing Support
Step-by-Step Lesson Plan

Close Reading, Critical Thinking, Skill Building

Download the Lesson Plan

1. READING THE POEM

As a class, read the poem aloud a few times or listen to the poem read aloud.

2. ANALYZING THE POEM

As a whole class or in small groups, answer the questions in the Analyzing Poetry Activity.

Text-to-Speech