Poet Research

Course(s)/Subject(s): English

Grade Level(s): 8

Key Words: Research/Poetry/Technology

Developer(s) Name: Helen Higgins Vance

School: Washington Irving Middle School


Attached Files:

poetry newsletter
Poetry Weblinks

Approximate Time Frame: 10-12 days of class time

Materials/Equipment Needed: Media Center, Computer Lab

Description of Lesson (includes context): After classroom lessons on the reading and interpretation of poetry, note-taking, and correctly citing works, students will work in pairs to research the life and poetry of a selected poet. Students will use ProQuest and Poetry Links as well as traditional media center materials for their research. Students will organize their notes and will use the acquired information to create a newsletter about their poet and his/her poetry in the computer lab.

1. What is the objective of this lesson?

FCPS POS Standards: Students read and write a variety of forms.
Students use strategies to construct meaning when working with language.
Students adapt their language to communicate.
Students respond critically to ideas in written and spoken language.
Students use language processes to acquire, organize, and communicate information.
Students enjoy and appreciate language and literature.

FCPS POS Benchmarks: 8.1-1; 8.1-2; 8.1-4; 8.3-1; 8.3-2; 8.4-1; 8.4-3; 8.5-1; C/T8.1, C/T8.2; C/T8.3; C/T8.4

FCPS POS Indicators: Refer to SOL for the State of Virginia, pages 70-71.

VA SOL(s) (including Computer/Technology): 8.2; 8.3; 8.4; 8.5

2. What will we examine as evidence of students’ knowledge and/or skill?

Product(s): Students will submit notes, printouts, newsletter drafts, and final copy of their poet newsletters.

Performance(s): Students will present their final newsletters to their classmates.
Students will have their newsletters displayed.

3. What exactly will the students and teacher do during the lesson?

Directions to students for proceeding with the lesson:

1. Students will become familiar with the assignment attachment and follow the note-taking skills taught in class.
   
2. Students will use traditional sources and electronic sources of information in the media center.
   
3. Students will organize their notes.
   
4. Students will write a draft.
   
5. Students will prepare their newsletter in the computer lab.
   
6. Students will revise and edit their newsletters prior to printing.
   
7. Students will orally share their newsletters with the class.
   
8. Students will have their newsletters displayed.
   

Directions to teacher/administrator using the lesson?

1. Students need to be familiar with ProQuest .
   
2. Students need to have a note-taking and organization of notes lesson.
   
3. Students need to have read and analyzed poetry prior to research.
   

4. Students need to know how to write a Works Cited.

4. What options in presentation(s) and/or response(s) are suggested in order to provide the opportunity for all students to demonstrate achievement of the benchmark(s) and indicator(s)?

Students will need to have a copy of ClarisWorks 4.0 The Word Processor: Basics and Beyond for “Creating a Newsletter” at their computer stations.