Daffodowndilly by A.A. Milne Included: A brief excerpt from the poem and rigorous question set activities promoting higher level-thinking development

Tier 1 poetry selection Jacob’s Ladder Goals & Objectives Habits of Mind

She wore her yellow sun-bonnet, She wore her greenest gown; She turned to the south wind And curtsied up and down She turned to the sunlight And shook her yellow head, And whispered to her neighbour: “Winter is dead.”

Students will be able: Ladder A A1 Sequencing-To list in order of importance specific events or plot summaries A2 Cause and Effect-To identify and predict relationships between character behavior and story events, and their effects upon other characters or events. A3 Consequences and Implications-To predict character actions, story outcomes, and make real-world forecasts. Ladder C C1-Literary Elements-To identify and explain specific story elements such as character, setting, or poetic-device. C2-Inference-To use textual clues to read between the lines and make judgments about specific textual events, ideas, or character analysis. C3-Theme/Concept-To identify a major idea or theme common in the text. Ladder F F1: - Understanding Words – to identify and explain the meaning of figurative language or new vocabulary within the context of a story or poem. F2: - Thinking About Words – to analyze the use of words within the context as related to the theme of a text. F3 - Playing With Words – to accurately apply figurative language and new vocabulary to newly created contexts

Habits of Mind Working Interdependently Thinking about Thinking (metacognition) Innovating, Creating, Imagining Refer to Jacob’s Ladder Story Table for Ladder A, C & F Thinking Questions.

Tier 2 Rigor (Discussion) High Level Strategies with Ladder A, C & F Questions

Discussion Strategies: Think-Pair-Share, Write-around, 3-4 Podcast slides (Pixie, Frames). Choose 2 of 3 questions below to complete. A1 — Illustrate, in order or sequence, the actions the little girl in the poem makes. A2 — If you were the neighbor and the girl whispered to you what she did in the poem, what effect would that have on you or what reactions would you have? C1 — The use of colors to help bring images to life were used in this poem. Make a chart of 8 colors and what image or feelings each of those colors brings to you. Compare charts with your classmates. C2 — What can you infer about the girl’s feelings? Draw the girl as described in the poem. F1 — Find the rhyming words in the poem. Use those same words in another poem.

Tier 3 Rigor (Discussion) High Level Strategies with Ladder A, C & F Questions

Discussion Strategies: Think-Pair-Share, Write- around, 3-4 Podcast slides (Pixie, Frames). Choose 2 of 3 questions below to complete. A3 — Sunlight and wind are both mentioned in the poem. What implications can you make about those being experienced and seen by the author and the girl? C3 — Find 2 or 3 more poems about the same subject matter as this poem. Is there a common theme in all of the poems? F2 — Determine the setting of the poem. How would the poem be different in a different setting such as a large city? F3 — Pick a season& use colors to help portray it. Describe images of yourself within the writing.

Tier 4 Reflections/Relevance

Choose one of the writing ideas to complete. Be creative. 1. Using this poem as a model write a poem about the coming of a season or a special event. The last line should be the season or special event. 2. Using the poem as a model, write a poem from someone or something else’s view point. Example is if the poem is from the sun’s view point. Suggested project strategies: Write a podcast script; create a puppet show; develop a PSA; a PowerPoint presentation; write and be an actor in a skit; write a persuasive speech and give before the class.