Poetry and Writing

## Created By

Margo Sailor

12/1/15

## Standards

LAFS.5.RL.2.5: Explain how a series of chapters, scenes, or stanzas fits together to provide the overall structure of a particular story, drama, or poem

LAFS.5.RF.3.3: Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding word

LAFS.5.W.2.4: Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development and organization are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience

VA.5.O.1.1: Use structural elements of art and organizational principles of design to develop content in artwork

## Lesson Objective

To have students reflect on the topic of "gratitude" by writing a poem that expresses things they are grateful for and then illustrating some of those same things

## Essential Question

Can I use my personal experiences to reflect on things I am thankful for and then write them in a poem with appropriate structure so that others will understand?

## Materials

Copy of a Thanksgiving poem showing structure expected for final project (I used "The Turkey Shot out of the Oven" by Jack Prelutsky), lined 8 1/2 x 11 holiday paper, white construction paper 12 x 18, crayons, markers, colored pencils, glue sticks

## Procedures

1. Students read poem together in groups. Identify structure (stanzas, rhyming, words at the end of every other line)
2. Students think of things they are grateful for that begin with each letter of the alphabet. Some letters may be omitted
3. They then write :I am grateful for" at the top of the lined paper. Then, they write something they are grateful for that starts with the letter A and a few words describing it. They follow each line with the next letter of the alphabet
4. Here is the example I showed my students to get them started

I am grateful for...

Apples so sweet

And Bikes for my feet,

Colors so bright

And Dogs that don't fight.

Ears so that I can hear

And Friends that make me cheer,

5. Students continue with their poem until they get to the bottom of the page. At the very end they write "I am especially grateful for..." and complete that sentence with something that is really important to them

6. Students then glue the poem to the white construction paper and draw some of the items they said they are grateful for next to it

7. Students then have the option of reading their poems to the class

 Assessment Strategies

Does the complete poem follow the assigned format of the rhyming at the end of each line and written in stanzas? Does each line state something the student is thankful for in alphabetical order? Are the words spelled correctly? Is handwriting legible? Do the pictures that they drew reflect things they said they were thankful for in their poem? Are the pictures drawn/colored neatly?

 Evaluation of Lesson (Reflection)

All students enjoyed working on their projects. Most were successful in creating a poem that told some things they were thankful for. Many struggled with making their sentences rhyme at the end. I was surprised that many did not understand the concept of rhyming words as it relates to spelling. Only a few of the projects were extremely well done with stanzas, rhyming words at the ends of the sentences and phrases that made sense. Next time, I would spend more time on teaching rhyming words as it relates to spelling before giving the assignment.