Language Arts: Poetry

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    Background Activity: Characteristics of Poetry

    Students reread or re-watch the two poems. Afterward, they share with each other the characteristics of poetry they found in the poems. 

    Visit the Apple App Store to find Texas Heroes app. 

    Texts:

    • Texas Heroes: Deaf Smith and Emily West app (Allow students to explore the “Read” mode and “Watch” mode.) Visit the Apple App Store to find Texas Heroes app. 

    Activity 1: Word Endings in English-based Poetry

    Much poetry is in written or spoken English rhyme. It means the words sound the same.

    One way to know if a poem rhymes is to see if the words have similar endings. This activity will use word endings to teach about rhyming words.

    word endings in poetry worksheet

    Word Endings in Poetry


    Activity 2: Word Endings in the English poem “Revolutionary Heroes: The Story of Deaf Smith and Emily West”

    Students apply their knowledge of word endings to identify similar word endings in excerpts from the poem.

    Word endings in deaf smith and emily west worksheet

    Word Endings in “Revolutionary Heroes: The Story of Deaf Smith and Emily West”

     

    Activity 3: Didactic Cinquain Poems, Non-Rhyming Poetry

     Not all poems rhyme but they still follow a pattern or a specific structure. The didactic cinquain is one example. Students use the worksheet to learn about and create their own Didactic Cinquain poem.

    Didactic Cinquain Poem worksheet

    Didactic Cinquain poem

    Digital Alternative:

    https://www.poem-generator.org.uk/didactic-cinquain/ where they can digitally create their poem through suggestions or input their own words.

     

    Activity 4: Five W Poems, Non-Rhyming Poetry

    This is another example of a non-rhyming poem. Students watch the video and then create their own 5 W poems.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISvXkKiZXk4

     

    Activity 5: Acrostic Poem

    If in the English text: Students write an acrostic poem about the Revolution, Santa Anna, Deaf Smith, or Emily West.

    If in American Sign Language: Students can choose to use classifiers or handshapes to create a poem about the Revolution, Santa Anna, Deaf Smith, or Emily West.

    Acrostic Poem Worksheet

    Examples with explanations. 

    Acrostic Poem Worksheet