Poetry Unit Cassel – 2004
Over the next few weeks you will be writing many different kinds of poetry. At the end of the entire unit, you will work bind your poetry together in an interesting way (requirements below) to create your own poetry book.
Poems you will create: 1. “If I Were in Charge of the World” Copy Change – 10 points
2. Acrostic (2 poems: 1 is your name) – 10 points
3. Synonym (2 poems) – 10 points
4. Opposite (2 poems) – 10 points
5. Rhyming List Poem…Ten Little… - 10 points
6. List Poem- 10 points
7. Free Verse (using at least one of the poetic devices listed) – 20 points
8. Extra poem about one of your classes – 10 points
Final Project Guidelines: 1. Create interesting title page that includes: your name, an illustration, and a title. (10 points)
2. Include all the poems from this unit in the order listed above. (90 points)
3. You should have at least five illustrations in addition to the cover. (10 points)
4. Bind together in some way: Report folder, ribbons tied through 3 hole punch, Kinko’s plastic binding, etc. (5 points)
5. Evaluate yourself on every poem written and quality of final project. (5 points) TOTAL : 120 1. Copy Change: You will find a copy of the poem “If I Were in Charge of the World.” On the back of the sheet is a planner for your version of the poem. You are changing the copy (the words) to make the poem your own.
2. Acrostic: You will write two acrostic poems. One poem will use your name as the anchor letters. The other poem’s subject is your choice. Some ideas are family members, teachers, class names, any other unique idea you have. Focus on WORD CHOICE – that’s what makes these poems so interesting. . The first letter of each line must come from the title or subject of your poem. . You can write your acrostic poem as a list, with a different item on each line. . OR, you can write your poem as a sentence or two that continue through the poem. . Make sure you have selected items that capture the essence of your subject.
3. Synonym (2 poems): These are descriptive poems that are made of words that mean the same thing. You may find a thesaurus a very handy tool for this assignment. WORD CHOICE is the focus in this poem also. . Very descriptive . Is made of one couplet (two line, poetry paragraphs.) No more, no less. . The first line contains three or four synonyms (or descriptive words) for the subject. . The second line either tells how you feel about the subject (for example, “This old trash can won’t be forgotten”) or describes the subject a little more (“They will haunt if they can”) . Each line generally has seven or eight syllables arranged in a way that gives each poem a rhythm when read aloud.
4. Opposite (2 poems): These are short descriptive poems that describe something by using its opposite. . It is about opposites. . It’s made of couplets, so it can be two, four, six, eight, or more lines long. (Four lines is a good length) . The first line is frequently, though not always, a question: What is the opposite of ? . If the poem opens with a question, the rest of the poem answers that question. . Like all good poems, a good opposite illustrates with specific details.
5. Ten little… : This is a rhyming poem. You will use the model to create your own poem about ten little somethings. Some ideas are hamsters, kittens, pigs, robbers, rodents, students, crazy drivers, or soccer players. The poem is made up of couplets The first line of each couplet begins with a number; the second line ends with that number minus one. The second line begins with One. In the first line, a group of some sort does something. In the second line, something happens to one member of the group, and as a result, there is one fewer. These two parts of the line are joined by the conjunction and. (Number) little ______ing ______(rhymes with number minus one) One ______and then there were (number minus one).
6. List Poems: There are MANY types of list poems that one can write. Your list poem will need 10-20 lines. These poems will NOT rhyme, but should focus on WORD CHOICE to make them entertaining. Many list poems are FUNNY! Look at the examples and the ideas and write your own original poem. Some ideas include: How to Survive In My House During the Holidays What I Really Wanted for Christmas & What I Actually Got My Favorite Things to Do Ways to Annoy My Little Brother How to Survive Mrs. Cassel’s class The Best Places to visit in the World (& Why) 7. Free Verse : For this poem you will want to choose a topic that is important to you. Use good WORD CHOICE to add details and take out unnecessary word.
Does not have to rhyme Does not have to have a specific rhythm Has no specific length Makes use of figurative speech Your free verse poem must be at least seven (7) lines and use two (2) kinds of figurative language. Metaphor – suggests a similarity between two things The road snakes around the mountain. Simile – highlights the comparison between two things using like, as, resembles, etc. The stars in the night sky were like sparkling diamonds. Personification – giving human characteristics to things which are clearly not human The outboard motor cleared its throat. Alliteration – repeating words with the same beginning sound Thomas tied two turnips to two tall trees. Assonance – Using identical vowel sounds, like the o sound in words like roses and golden or the e sound in sleep and green. The golden roses shone under the sun Consonance– Using the same final consonant sound Drip, drip. Look up. Drip, again. Imagery – using vivid, descriptive words to conjure up an image The car sped. - The flashy, yellow, mustang streaked like a bullet along the highway. Onomatopoeia – using words that sound like what they mean He slurped his soup. Hyperbole – using exaggeration to make a point Make me a sundae a mile high.
Line Break reminders . It is logical to break after a sentence or phrase. . You might want to emphasize a word or phrase by putting it at the end of a line. . Line breaks can be in place of punctuation. . A line break in an unexpected place can help create surprise or humor or irony in a poem. . Line breaks may be part of the shape of a poem.
8. Extra poem about one class - Your classes are good subjects for any poem. This last poem is to be in the style of your choosing about one class that you have this year.
Acrostic Poems Tarzan Emma Mrs. Cassel Tan Eager to learn Mad… as in crazy. Athlethic Makes time to read Rants and Raves, Resourceful Marvelous artist So her students will listen. Zooms Adores her white poodle Assertive Can’t stop teaching, Nimble Always happy to listen, Sucker for candy and presents, Seeks happiness and peace in her life. Eager for learning, Longs for students that want to learn too!
If I were in Charge of the World By Judith Viorst If I were in Charge of the World By ______with thanks to If I were in charge of the world, Judith Viorst I’d cancel oatmeal, Monday mornings, If I were in charge of the world, Allergy shots, and also I’d cancel______, Sara Steinberg. ______, ______, and also If I were in charge of the world, ______. There’d be brighter night-lights, If I were in charge of the world, Healthier hamsters, and There’d be ______, Basketball baskets forty-eight inches lower. (Adjective Noun) ______, and If I were in charge of the world, (Adjective Noun) You wouldn’t have lonely. ______. You wouldn’t have clean. You wouldn’t have bedtimes. If I were in charge of the world, Or “Don’t punch your sister.” You wouldn’t have ______. You wouldn’t have ______. You wouldn’t even have sisters. You wouldn’t have ______. Or ______. If I were in charge of the world, You wouldn’t even have ______. A chocolate sundae with whipped cream and nuts would be a vegetable. If I were in charge of the world, All 007 movies would be G. A ______would be And a person who sometimes forgot to brush, ______. And sometimes forgot to flush, ______would be Would still be allowed to be ______. In charge of the world. And a person who sometimes ______(rhyme), And sometimes forgot to ______(rhyme), Would still be allowed to be In charge of the world.
Synonym Poems
Rancid Sour, Musty, putrid, rotten Ghost This old trash won’t be forgotten. Spirit, goblin, bogeyman They will haunt you if you can. Earth World, planet, one-mooned globe To other planets we send probes The opposite of flower Can easily be told within an hour. What is the opposite of new? It isn’t leaves, a stem, or petals, It might be stale gum that’s hard to chew, But big fat blobs of ugly metal. Or it could be wrinkled and gray; Most old people are that way. What’s the opposite of kind? A goat that butts you from behind.
The opposite of chair Is sitting down with nothing there.
Two little schoolchildren think that fights are fun Rhyming List Poem One got a bloody nose and then there was one.
Ten Little Schoolchildren One little schoolchild playing in the sun Ten little schoolchildren standing in a line whistle blew, buzzer went, then there were One opened her mouth too far and then there none! were nine.
Nine little schoolchildren trying not to be late Ten Little Fishies One missed the school bus then there were eight. Ten little fishies swimming near a line, Eight little schoolchildren in the Seven-Eleven One got caught, and then there were nine. One twisted an ankle and then there were Nine little fishies looking for a mate, seven. One gave up, and then there were eight. Seven little schoolchildren trying out some tricks Eight little fishies looking for heaven, One went a bit too far then there were six. One wandered off, and then there were seven. Six little schoolchildren hoping teacher won't arrive Seven little fishies eating a Twix, One flicked a paper dart and then there were One finished too quickly, and then there five. were six. Five little schoolchildren standing by the door Six little fishies playing near a beehive, One tripped the teacher up and then there were four. One got stung, and then there were five.
Four little schoolchildren longing for their tea Five little fishies going on a tour, One was kept in after school and then there One got lost, and then there were four. were three. Four little fishies swimming near a tree, Three little schoolchildren lurking by the loo One jumped up and then there were three. teacher saw a puff of smoke then there were two. Three little fishies waiting for their cue, One little fishy eating a cinnamon bun, One went to early, and then there were A shark came by, and then there were two. none Two little fishies trying to have fun, One didn't want to, and then there was one. List Poems
How to Survive Last Period, Fridays, and the Day before Vacation.
Try to construct a pyramid out of old gum. “Accidentally” drop the heaviest book in class on the floor. See how many pencils will stick to the ceiling tiles. Try to make a pea-shooter out of your pen. Use that pea-shooter to hit everyone in class with spitballs. Fantasize about you being the star of your favorite TV show. Act like you are choking on an eraser. Stare at the person next to you for 20 minutes. Blurt out, “No, I will not make out with you.” Throw erasers at other people across the room. Try to knock off the teacher’s toupee with pencils. Try to tip over the teacher’s cup with erasers. Make funny noises. Make funny faces at people. Have a staring contest with your friend across the room. The Great Outdoors A giraffe with a long neck An elephant with big ears A woodpecker about to peck A bumble bee with a stinger A cheetah a zebra fears A deer with a rack A bird that's a singer A worm digging in a hole A horse with a knack A gazelle grazing in the savannah grass A bug digging in the coal A dog with its collar A kangaroo we pass A cat that meows A rooster's loud holler A stubborn mule refusing to move A farm with some cows A sea snail walking across the beach A bear getting in its groove A polar bear with its fluffy fur A worm slithering in a peach A raccoon in its tree A parrot that's mature A bear in a daze A dolphin in the sea A donkey with a hairy tail A boy in a corn maze
Free Verse
Baseball Rain
Big baseball bats broken by Ben Drip, drip. Look up. Drip, again. Big baseballs bouncing backward Splash goes the rain when it hits my face. The bats were hurt A drip runs down my face and off my nose. They had a broken heart The rain runs to the ground, to freedom. The baseballs were crying It runs down sidewalks and streets, They bounced so much they were black and blue Soaking everything in its way. The fields were laughing at such a funny sight Evaporating, only to fall again.