The Power of Words: Poetry as Social Action Monday, October 8 th 2012 Welcome travelers! Enter the classroom silently. Retrieve your binders or any other supplies before the bell rings. You will not be able to leave your seats once the bell rings. Be prepared to begin reading silently.

Reminders Final Letter to Judges and BP 1 due Wednesday. Both are to be typed. The library is open before school, during lunch, and after school. There are no excuses for your final to not be typed. If you have a problem with printing, you may your final to Ms. Cohen. Vocabulary Enrichment Due Weds. Vocabulary Quiz Weds.

What is poetry? Listen to the spoken word performance by Gina Loring entitled “Somewhere There is a Poem.” Listen with a purpose: How does she define poetry? What does she connect poetry to? Stop and Jot! On a Separate sheet of paper draft your own definition of poetry. What is poetry? How can it be used? How can it be adapted? Does it have any limitations?

Class Share Snowball and Expectations Sharing of peer’s answers Student volunteer to record

Poetry as Social Action: Unit Goals 1) Effectively analyze the meaning of different poems 2) Write poetry to express ourselves and advocate for ourselves and communities 3) Share our poems in a final portfolio, a class coffeehouse, and a formal submission to a literary magazine

Class Goal Relevancy

Today’s Objectives SWBAT evaluate poetry through listening to “spoken word” and analyzing a poem of their choosing to create a working definition of poetry as a genre. Our journey…

“Introduction to Poetry” As we are listening, follow along with your copy of the poem. Be sure to look for the use of any metaphors and for Collins’s purpose in writing this poem. What is he trying to portray to his readers? Circle any figurative language examples. Underline any unfamiliar words. Take notes in the margins to clarify purpose.

“Introduction to Poetry”

Partner Share With a partner discuss the meaning and use of figurative language in the poem. Definition of poetry Reading strategies

“Charlie Howard’s Descent” Reading with a purpose: Pacing and organization of the poem Social Action connection Objects take on new meanings

Student Discovery Group Work Expectations: No more than four people in each group Each member of the group will have a specific role based on Ms. Cohen’s assignment Count off Low Voice Level Remain in your seats and raise your hand if you need anything. Do not call out. Any not following of directions will result in our consequence system and possible removal from activity.

Student Discovery As a group you may choose one of the following topics: Poetry as a tool of the Civil Rights Movement Poetry as a form of commemoration of the Holocaust Poetry as an Expression of Identity Poetry as a Form of Social Critique Send one group representative to the front to retrieve your poem and article Read the biography of the poet Read the poem Prepare for presentation

Student Discovery Requirements: Find two literary devices in the poem and explain how they add to the meaning and reader’s understanding of the poem Identify the “social issue” being discussed in the poem Create a definition of poetry and a visual representation of that definition based on your poem. Draw visual and write definition of poetry on construction paper. Make sure work is neat and appealing. Be prepared to present to the class.