Express their personal feelings about the death of John F. Kennedy Jr. through journal writing and class discussion. Explore the meaning of these deaths to the nation through individually identifying words, phrases, or sentences found in the news articles relating to the burial that are especially evocative, rich or significant. Extend their understanding of Kennedy's place in our national consciousness by interviewing members of an older generation about how his death has affected them. Students then share their letters with the class by reading them aloud. Tell them to look for words and phrases that seem especially meaningful about or evocative of who these people were and the significance of these deaths and the Kennedy family to our nation.
Students now read their poems aloud in turn.
Have students listen for how many different kinds of poems can result from the same news article, and ask them what words or phrases seemed to be repeated in many of the poems. The poems can then be hung on the classroom wall or on a bulletin board in the hallway for the entire school to read. Students should now go home and interview at least two people from an older generation about what this event and these deaths have meant to them and their views about the significance of the Kennedy family in American history and culture. Students should be sure to write down responses as accurately as possible. Interview responses should be shared in a future class.