“Onomatopoeia” and “Weather” by Eve Merriam Descriptive Poems “Onomatopoeia” and “Weather” by Eve Merriam

Descriptive Poem A descriptive poem can describe: A person, place, or thing - real or imaginary. An experience. (ie., playing in the rain) A feeling. (ie., security) An idea. (ie., patriotism) A natural occurrence. (ie., weather or seasons)

Descriptive Poem A good descriptive poem: Produces vivid mental imagery. Engages the mind. Seeks to be understood through a closer look. Stirs deeper feelings and connections to the subject. Leaves the reader with something to think about.

Descriptive Poem Rossetti & Dickinson’s poems focus on how things look Merriam’s poems focus on how things sound

Meet the Poet: Eve Merriam 1916 - 1992

Meet the Poet: Eve Merriam Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1916 Began reading and writing poetry when she was a young child Was fascinated with language and its sounds http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/eve-merriam

Meet the Poet: Eve Merriam "I find it difficult to sit still when I hear poetry or read it out loud. I feel a tingling feeling all over, particularly in the tips of my fingers and in my toes, and it just seems to go right from my mouth all the way through my body. It's like a shot of adrenalin or oxygen when I hear rhymes and word play."  http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/eve-merriam

Meet the Poet: Eve Merriam One of America’s most respected contemporary poets for children. Believed that poetry was meant to be read out loud and that people can only appreciate poetry when they hear it, rather than just read it. http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/eve-merriam

Meet the Poet: Eve Merriam Wrote poetry for both adults and children: There Is No Rhyme for Silver It Doesn’t Always Have to Rhyme The Inner City Mother Goose Catch a Little Rhyme Finding a Poem Rainbow Writing Out Loud

Meet the Poet: Eve Merriam Passed away in 1992 from cancer Inspired many people with her passion for poetic language Greatly enriched children’s poetry

Sound Experiences Pair and share - Brainstorm examples of objects and experiences that have sound associations. Create a class list. Jot down your favorite or most memorable sounds or sound/associations in your Reader’s Response Log(s).

What does water coming out of an old rusty spigot sound like? Onomatopoeia What does water coming out of an old rusty spigot sound like?

Student Learning Goal for Reading Today we will determine the meaning of literal and nonliteral words and phrases in poems by Eve Merriam.

Onomatopoeia By Eve Merriam The rusty spigot sputters, utters a splutter,                                    spatters a mattering of drops, gashes wider; slash splatters, scatters, spurts, finally stops sputtering and plash! gushes rushes splashes clear water dashes. From CATCH A LITTLE RHYME by Eve Merriam.  Copyright c 1966, 1994 Eve Merriam.  Used by permission of Marian Reiner. From CATCH A LITTLE RHYME by Eve Merriam.  Copyright c 1966, 1994 Eve Merriam.  Used by permission of Marian Reiner.

Onomatopoeia By Eve Merriam The rusty spigot sputters, utters a splutter,                                         From CATCH A LITTLE RHYME by Eve Merriam.  Copyright c 1966, 1994 Eve Merriam.  Used by permission of Marian Reiner. From CATCH A LITTLE RHYME by Eve Merriam.  Copyright c 1966, 1994 Eve Merriam.  Used by permission of Marian Reiner.

“Onomatopoeia” By Eve Merriam spatters a mattering of drops, gashes wider; slash splatters, scatters, spurts, finally stops sputtering                                         From CATCH A LITTLE RHYME by Eve Merriam.  Copyright c 1966, 1994 Eve Merriam.  Used by permission of Marian Reiner. From CATCH A LITTLE RHYME by Eve Merriam.  Copyright c 1966, 1994 Eve Merriam.  Used by permission of Marian Reiner.

“Onomatopoeia” By Eve Merriam and plash! gushes rushes splashes clear water dashes.                                         From CATCH A LITTLE RHYME by Eve Merriam.  Copyright c 1966, 1994 Eve Merriam.  Used by permission of Marian Reiner. From CATCH A LITTLE RHYME by Eve Merriam.  Copyright c 1966, 1994 Eve Merriam.  Used by permission of Marian Reiner.

Shades of Meaning Shades of meaning are the subtle differences between words, which reveal the deeper meaning of a text. Imagine each word – what do they mean? Walk, stroll, lumber

Onomatopoeia Sounds can represent experiences or objects. Words that mimic sounds are called onomatopoeia. They sound like what they describe and provide mental imagery. Can be derived from carefully chosen words with particular letters sounds, as well as sound words.

Applied Learning Readers Response Log(s): Partner or Individual Work: Refer back to the class list or favorite sound memories. Select one object or experience to describe. Brainstorm examples of words and sound associations to describe it. Include rhyming words, nonsense words, and/or onomatopoeia.

Applied Learning Word Work – Shades of Meaning: How does the water coming out of the spigot change over the course of the poem? Write examples of words that show shades of meaning within the poem. Small Group Reading: Read and discuss Eve Merriam’s poem, “Weather.”

“Weather” by Eve Merriam  

“Weather” by Eve Merriam Small Groups “Weather” by Eve Merriam  

“Weather” by Eve Merriam   Dot a dot dot dot a dot dot Spotting the windowpane. Spack a spack speck flick a flack fleck Freckling the windowpane. A spatter a scatter a wet cat a clatter A splatter a rumble outside. Umbrella umbrella umbrella umbrella Bumbershoot barrel of rain. Slosh a galosh slosh a galosh Slither and slather a glide A puddle a jump a puddle a jump A puddle a jump puddle splosh A juddle a pump a luddle a dump A pudmuddle jump in and slide! From CATCH A LITTLE RHYME by Eve Merriam.  Copyright c 1966, 1994 Eve Merriam.  Used by permission of Marian Reiner.  From CATCH A LITTLE RHYME by Eve Merriam.  Copyright c 1966, 1994 Eve Merriam.  Used by permission of Marian Reiner.