May 30, 2017~Jaxen's Birthday!

Objective:  Shel Silverstein is one of the most beloved poets of all time because of the humorous and child-like nature of his writing.  This is one poet that most people remember from their childhood who helps to foster a love for reading poetry. Today you are going to play with one of his poems by inspecting its rhyme scheme and rhythm.

• Entry Task:  Get into two or three groups—at least 2, no more than 4 people.

1.     Read the poem given to you out loud in your group.
2.     Identify the rhyme scheme—labeling with A, B, C, etc. along the right side of the poem.
3.     Identify the rhythm—counting the syllables and numbering along the left side of the poem.
4.     All group members copy the numbers along the left-hand margin of a page in your anthology and the letters along the right-hand margin.
5.     Copy the rhythm numbers and rhyme scheme letters onto the construction paper.
6.     Choose a topic like zoo, cookies, whatever, something general that you all know about.
7.     Title your anthology page and your legal-sized paper with your topic.
8.     As a group, write a poem about your topic using the rhythm and rhyme scheme from the Silverstein poem.  (You can be off a syllable or two on the rhythm, and you can change two rhymes in the poem)
9.     Everyone must have a copy of the poem in the journal AND the poem must be copied in color on the legal-sized paper.
10. When finished, cut out your copy of the Silverstein poem and tape over your poem in your journal. 
11. Pass around your journals and sign each others’ copy of your poem, so you know who worked on it.
12. Make sure all your names are on the legal-sized paper.

• Exit Task:  Turn the legal-sized paper in to teacher.