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LiteracyWritingUnitPlanningWinter,2017
Reischl,Educ490

TitleofUnit:WonderfulWater!PoetryUnit

GradeLevel:4thGrade

Designedby:EricaMyrick Estimated#ofdays:15

Resources:
Keymentortextsthat AmericaScoresvideoclipofelementarystudentsinapoetry
willbeusedtomodel slam
aspectsofthewriting. http://www.americascores.org/news-and-events/national-poetry-slam
AFootintheMouth:PoemstoSpeak,Sing,andShout,Fishes:
PoemforTwoVoices,byGeorgiaHeard;IAmStanding--Girlon
Land,BoyatSeabyAprilHalprinWaylandandBruceBalan
Snow,Snow:WinterPoemsforChildren,FindingColor,byJane
Yolen
PoetryforYoungPeople,TheNegroSpeaksofRivers,by
LangstonHughes
ScienceVerse,WaterCyclebyJonScieszka
AChildsIntroductiontoPoetry,ABraveNewVoice:Langston
Hughes-1902-1967InTimeofSilverRain,byLangstonHughes
onCD
AWorldofWonders:GeographicTravelsinVerseandRhyme,Is
theYellowSeaYellow?,AuroraBorealis,AngelFalls,The
ArcticandAntarctica:WhichisColder?TheCircleandthe
Poles,OceansFive,KnockaboutandKnockaboom,Walk
Lightly,byPatrickLewis
LemonadeandOtherPoemsSqueezedFromaSingleWord,
Snowflakes,byBobRaczka
PoemsforChildren:NowhereNearOldEnoughtoVote,Clouds,
byCarlSandburg
TheSeaIsCallingMe,maggieandmillyandmollyandmayby
E.E.Cummings
TheSongofHiawatha,TheDark-eyedMinnehaha,byHenry
WadsworthLongfellow

FullCitationsforall AwakeningtheHeart:ExploringPoetryinElementaryandMiddleSchool,
yourprintorinternet byGeorgiaHeard
sources: InsideInformation:DevelopingPowerfulReadersandWritersof
(fullcitations,including InformationalTextThroughProject-BasedInstruction,byNellDuke
internetresources)
Humansources: MentorTeacher:LakeishaDrummer,4thGrade,Carpenter
Whodidyouconsult ElementaryprovidedAnnArborPublicSchoolsDistrictPoetry
withaboutthisunit? Curriculumfor4thGrade

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Whatdidtheyoffer LiteracyCourseInstructor:CathyReischl,UniversityofMichigan
you?Listnamesand
briefdescriptionof
natureofresources
theyoffered.

Stage1:DesiredResults
Overview:
Studentswillengageinathree-weekpoetryexplorationunitusingthethemeofwater.Theyhavebeen
studyingtheEarthsprocessofthewatercycleinscienceforthelasttwomonths.Throughoutthisunit,
studentswillbeintroducedtoWhatisPoetry?andwillparticipateinreadingdifferentformsofpoetry
thatcontaindifferentemotionsandfeelings.Duringthefirsttwodaysofthisunit,studentswillbuildon
theirbackgroundknowledgeastheygetanopportunitytoenjoyandappreciatepoetrytheylistentoand
read.Theywillrespondtopoetryindividuallyandingroups.Studentswillbrainstormandwritepoetry
usingupto5differentpoeticformsandstructure.Theywilllearnaboutdifferenttypesofpoeticforms,
Narrative,Funny,FreeVerse,Rhymed,IAM,Concrete,Rhymed,Acrostic,andDiamante.Theywillwrite
poemsusingtherulesandformulasthatapplytothespecificpoeticform.Studentswillpresentand
publishtheirpoemsattheendoftheunit.Studentswillfurtheranalyzeandcritiquepoemslaterinthe
unit.Thepoetrystudyunitisintendedtoteachastyleofwritingthatrevealsmeaningwhileusing
conciselanguage.Byteachingthecharacteristicsofpoems,studentswilltakerisksaswritersusing
theirownstyle.

LearningGoalsfortheunit(restatedandmade
morespecificthanCCSSstandards)
SWBATdevelopacriticalunderstandingthat
writersandspeakerscarefullyselectcraft
wordsandphrasestoconveyspecific
meanings,ideas,andrelationships.
SWBATapplyunderstandingofpoetic
elementsbywritingtheirownpoetry
SWBATexplorepoetrybooks,anthologies,
andcollectionsindependently.
WhichCCSSStandardlinkswiththis
learninggoal?
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.4.1Referto
detailsandexamplesinatextwhen
explainingwhatthetextsaysexplicitlyand
whendrawinginferencesfromthetext.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.4.2Determinea
themeofastory,drama,orpoemfrom
detailsinthetext;summarizethetext.

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SWBATlearnthecharacteristicsofseveral
differentformsofpoetry.
SWBATlearnthedefinitionsofseveral
differenttypesofpoetrycraftelements.
SWBATdemonstrateanunderstandingof
figurativelanguage,wordrelationships,and
nuancesinwordmeaningthroughspeaking
andwriting
SWBATeffectivelycommunicatethoughts
andideaswithpeersbycritiquingothers'
poems
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.4.5Explainmajor
differencesbetweenpoems,drama,and
prose,andrefertothestructuralelements
ofpoems(e.g.,verse,rhythm,meter)and
drama(e.g.,castsofcharacters,settings,
descriptions,dialogue,stagedirections)
whenwritingorspeakingaboutatext.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.4.1(a)
Cometodiscussionsprepared,having
readorstudiedrequiredmaterial;explicitly
drawonthatpreparationandother
informationknownaboutthetopicto
exploreideasunderdiscussion.

SWBATlistentoavarietyofdifferenttypes
ofpoetry.

EssentialQuestions(5questions)
Whatispoetry?
Wheredowritersgettheirideasforpoetry?
WhattoolscanIusetomakemypoemsinterestingandunderstandabletoreaders?
HowcanIusemylifeexperiencetoexpressmyselfinpoetry?
WhattypesofpoetrydoIenjoythemost?

Stage2:AssessmentEvidence
Performancetasks
CreateHeartMap(Usewatertheme-WonderfulWater)
MentorPoemHuntanduserecordingsheettodocument
Creatediamante,acrostic,orthemepoemsinpoetryworkshop/anthologyfolder
Think-pair-shareabouttheirliveswithothers.Brainstormideastowriteusing
thethemeofwater,creatingalistofatleast10ideasforwriterspurpose
Draft,revise,publishfreeversepoem
Createnewspaperblackoutpoem
Summative:performanceoftwooriginalpoemscreatedduringtheunit

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Stage3
Instructionalsequence(addrowstolistalllessons).NOTE:Youdonothavetowriteout
completelessonsatthispoint.Youneedtosimplyincludealogical,sequentiallistoflessons,
withalessontitleandatwoorthreesentencedescriptionofeachlesson.Indicateanymentor
textsyouwilluseforeachlesson.Includeonelessonforeachdayofinstruction.
RemembertofollowDukessequenceofasyoudesignyoursequenceofinstruction:
Launch
ReadingandResearch
WritingandResearch
RevisingandEditing
PresentationandCelebration
Stage3:SequenceofLessons

LessonTitle Twoorthreesentencedescriptionofthislesson

Lesson1: WelcometoWonderfulWater!PoetryUnit
Launchingthe Writersreadpoetryinordertolearnmoreaboutit.
Unit*
APoemADayBulletinBoard
http://smithvilleelementarylibrary.blogspot.com/2014/04/april-is-na
tional-poetry-month.html

Immersionphase,day1fromAAPScurriculum
Discussionquestionsintroducedwhenreadingpoetry


WatchanddiscussAmericaScoresvideoclipof
elementarystudentsinapoetryslam
http://www.americascores.org/news-and-events/national-poetry-sl
am

CreatePoetryWorkshopfolder(usedividersfor
resources/anchorcharts,mentortexts,andoriginalpoetry)


Lesson2 Whatisapoem?Howdowritersknowwhattowrite
Readingand about?
ResearchPhase Writersreadpoetryinordertolearnmoreaboutit.

MentorBookandPoem:AFootintheMouth:Poemsto
Speak,Sing,andShout,Fishes:PoemforTwoVoices,
byGeorgiaHeard;IAmStanding--GirlonLand,Boyat
SeabyAprilHalprinWaylandandBruceBalan
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WhatIsaPoem?Wheredopoetsgetideasforwriting?
http://www.theteacherstudio.com/2016/01/kicking-off-our-poetry-s
tudies.html

CreateHeartMap,byGeorgiaHeard(Usewatertheme-
WonderfulWater)poetryworkshopfolder-originalpoetry
http://www.wsra.org/assets/Convention/Handouts_2013/a6
%20georgia%20heard%20heart%20mapping.pdf

Lesson3 CharacteristicsofPoetry
Writersreadpoetryinordertolearnmoreaboutit.
Writersnoticethecharacteristicsofpoemsastheyreadthem

MentorBookandPoem:Snow,Snow:WinterPoems
forChildren,FindingColor,byJaneYolen

Whatdowenoticeaboutpoetry?Anchorchart(Whole
class)
FigurativeLanguageAnchorChart(PoetryWorkshop
Folder)

HowtoSharePoetryDay2ofAAPSCurriculum

Lesson4 PoetryQuestionChart/ChoosingMentorPoems
Poetsnoticewhatmakesagoodmentorpoem

MentorBookandPoem:PoetryforYoungPeople,The
NegroSpeaksofRivers,byLangstonHughes

CompleteQualitiesofamentorpoemanchorchartfrom
Day4ofAAPScurriculum(wholeclass),
MentorPoemHuntandRecordingSheet-poetryworkshop
folder
Lesson5and6 EarthVerse:UsingScienceinPoetry
Writingand (fromRead,Write,Think/Technologyuseproject)
ResearchPhase Poetswill:
- examinerhythmandrhymebyreadingaboutpublished
poems,
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- explorediamante,acrostic,orthemepoems,
- increasesciencevocabularyandcomprehensionbycreating
poetrybasedonthethemeofwater.
- improvefluencythroughrepeatedreadingsofpoetry

EarthVerselesson
http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/lesson-plans/e
arth-verse-using-science-1141.html?tab=3#tabs

MentorBookandPoem:ScienceVerse,WaterCycle
byJonScieszka


Lesson7 WritersPurpose/GeneratingIdeas
(Day7ofAAPSCurriculum)
Writerswritewithapurpose

MentorBookandPoem:AChildsIntroductiontoPoetry,
ABraveNewVoice:LangstonHughes-1902-1967In
TimeofSilverRain,byLangstonHughesonCD

Studentsthink-pair-shareabouttheirliveswithothers.
Brainstormideastowriteusingthethemeofwater,creating
alistofatleast10ideas(Useyourheartmap,thinkofan
experienceinsummeratthepool,waterpark,summerrain,
inwinterplayinginsnow,sledding,hailstormthatfrightened
you,yourfavoriteseasonsprecipitation,avisittothe
beach,travelonaboat,cloudwatching,etc.)

Lesson8 DraftingStanzas
(Day9ofAAPSCurriculum)
Writersusestanzastoshowabreakorchangeinideasinapoem

MentorBookandPoem:AWorldofWonders:
GeographicTravelsinVerseandRhyme,IstheYellow
SeaYellow?,AuroraBorealis,AngelFalls,The
ArcticandAntarctica:WhichisColder?byPatrick
Lewis

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Draftamodelofastanzawithstudents

Lesson9 RevisingPoetry
Revisionand (Day10ofAAPSCurriculum)
EditingPhase Writersrevisetheirworktomakeitbetter

MentorBookandPoem:AWorldofWonders:
GeographicTravelsinVerseandRhyme,TheCircleand
thePoles,OceansFive,Knockaboutand
Knockaboom,WalkLightly,byPatrickLewis
DiscussRevisingPoetryAnchorCharttogether,then
studentsrevisetheirwork

Lesson10 WordChoiceandPersonification
Poetsusevividverbsandamazingadjectivestohelpusvisualize
whattheyarewritingabout.
Poetsgiveanimals,objects,orideashumanorphysicalqualities
thatmakethemseemalive

MentorBooksandPoems:LemonadeandOtherPoems
SqueezedFromaSingleWord,Snowflakes,byBob
Raczka
PoemsforChildren:NowhereNearOldEnoughtoVote,
Clouds,byCarlSandburg

WaterCycleIntegrationVividLanguageLesson
WaterCycleIntegrationWaterDanceUnitPoetryVividLanguage
Science.pdf
VividVerbs,AmazingAdjectives,Personification


Lesson11 LineBreaksandWhiteSpace
(Day14and15AAPSCurriculum)
Writersuselinebreakstoshowapausewhenreadingapoem
Writersusethewhitespace/blackspaceonapageinorderto
determinehowtheirpoemwilllookandsound

MentorBookandPoem:TheSeaIsCallingMe,maggie

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andmillyandmollyandmaybyE.E.Cummings
Usementortexttodiscusshowthereaderknowswhereto
takeaslightpause.Leavethewordsthesame,butchange
whereyoumightputnaturalpausesinthepoem.Ask
studentshowthechangesinlinebreaksaffectrhythmofthe
poem.
NewspaperBlackoutActivity
http://newspaperblackout.com/tagged/howto

Lesson12 TitleandPublishing
(Day16ofAAPSCurriculum)
MentorBookandPoem:TheSongofHiawatha,The
Dark-eyedMinnehaha,byHenryWadsworthLongfellow
Generateananchorchartforchoosinggoodtitles.Have
studentsbrainstormalistoftitles,thennarrowitdown.
Lesson13,14, PoetryPlus!Creating21stCenturyPoemswithWeb
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Tools
Presentationand
Celebration (Read,Write,Think-
http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/lesson-plans/p
oetry-plus-creating-21st-31072.html)

Astechnologybecomesmoreprevalentinclassrooms,students
areexpectedtoutilizetechnologicaltoolstofacilitateandapply
theirlearning.Studentsturntheiroriginalpoetryintodigitalform
usingAnimotoandshareitwithotherclassesorevenwith
publishedpoetsduringaGoogle+HangoutorSkypesessionasa
poetryslam.

Agoalofthestudyistohaveeachchildpublish/finaldrafttwo
poems.Theycanbeexpectedtocreatetheirownstylechoice,as
wellasanotherfreeversepoemusingthetechniquestaughtinthe
class.

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