Have students choose a planet, conduct their research and write down key factual information about their planet. Have students make a list of sensory details about their planet. Show students the examples and discuss line breaks and any other poetic elements that might be helpful to them. Using words, phrase, and ideas from these lists, students construct a free verse poem of 15 to 25 lines. When students are done with their rough draft, they use thesauruses to revise their poem.
Students share and peer edit.
Final copy is done in a planet shape on white construction paper, water colored, cut out, and mounted on black construction paper. Rough draft with evidence of revision and editing 20 pts. Final copy 20 pts.