Trinity University Digital Commons TrinityUnderstanding by Design: Complete CollectionUnderstanding by Design4-2-2009 Writing Free Verse Poetry 3rd gradeAnnie Houston Winter Trinity UniversityFollow this and additional works at:http:/digitalcommons.trinity.edu/educ_understandingsThis Instructional Material is brought to you for free and open access by the Understanding by Design at Digital Commons Trinity. It has been accepted for inclusion in Understanding by Design: Complete Collection by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons Trinity. For more information, please contactjcostanztrinity.edu.Repository CitationWinter, Annie Houston, “Writing Free Verse Poetry 3rd grade“ (2009).Understanding by Design: Complete Collection.Paper 84. http:/digitalcommons.trinity.edu/educ_understandings/84Understanding By Design Unit Cover PageUnit Title: Writing Free Verse Poetry Grade Level: 3rd Grade Subject/Topic Area(s): Writing Designed By: Annie Houston Winter Time Frame: 3 weeks School District: North East Independent School District School: Walzem Elementary School: School Address and Phone: 4618 Walzem Road, San Antonio, TX 78218 (210) 564-1625 Brief Summary of Unit: This 3 week unit is designed to help students discover that poetry is meaningful and relevant to their lives. This unit will focus on using good word choice to create powerful images in their writing. Students will also gain the understanding that poetry is meant to be read aloud as they prepare for a class performance. Students will discover that they are poets as they write in their poetry notebooks and prepare a piece of poetry for publication in a class anthology. Unit: Writing Free Verse Poetry Grade: 3rd Stage 1: Desired Results Understandings Students will understand that A poem is a piece of writing that is characterized by particular elements Free verse is a type of poetry with few rules or boundaries Words can be used to elicit vivid imagery Writers use tools and processes to bring ideas into a final product They are poets Poetry is relevant to their lives Poems are meant to be heard Essential Questions What makes a poem a poem? Who is a poet? Why should we write poetry? How do the words I choose change the images I create? What does a poem sound like? How do I know a poem is finished? Knowledge Students will know What resources to use to find replacement words Free Verse is a type of poetry that does not always rhyme, does not have a set number of syllables, and that uses poetic language Poets use imagery to convey meaning Powerful verbs give a sentence energy Line Breaks can change the meanings and rhythm of a poem Skills Students will be able to 3.18 C- Use precise word choice to create vivid images in their writing 3.18F- Select and bring drafts of their poetry to publication, demonstrating an understanding of the language 3.16H- Use resources such as a dictionary and a thesaurus to find synonyms and replacement words 3.18A- Generate ideas by using prewriting techniques 3.12H- Demonstrate learning through productions such as oral and written reports and dramatization Stage 2: Assessment Evidence Performance Task: Students will keep a poetry journal containing all drafts of their poetry as well as reflections. At the end of the unit, students will have the opportunity to participate in the Open Mike publication party. Each student is expected to select one of his poems and present it to the class. The students will create a class anthology by designing a cover and submitting their favorite poems. Students will be assessed according to the Student Unit Assessment Rubric. Other evidence: Weekly conferences with teacher Student reflections Poetry bookmarks Stage 3: Learning Activities (Steps taken to get students to answer Stage 1 questions and complete performance task) Day One: Mini Lesson: Welcome to Free Verse Poetry Ask the students the question: “What is a poem” and give the students some thinking time. The students will then share their thoughts. The teacher and students will repeat the process with the question “Who is a poet”. Tell the class that they are going to be writing poetry over the next few weeks. Explain the performance piece to the students. Pass out the rubric and go over expectations. Show the students your poetry notebook, explain what it is, and select an appropriate poem to read. Have the student helper help pass out the notebooks. Give the students time to decorate and personalize their front covers. The class will end with the students writing their first reflection entry. The students will take a few minutes to write their definitions of a poem and a poet. Day Two: Mini Lesson: What is Free Verse? Read aloud the poem “Black is Brown is Tan” by Arnold Adolf. Is this poetry? What do you think? What makes a poem a poem? Explain that this is a type of poetry called free ve