1. Dr. Beth M. Frye Appalachian State University
Got Poetry?
Dr. Beth M. Frye
Appalachian State University
Frye and Trathen Appalachian State University

2. Frye and Trathen Appalachian State University
Informational Poetry
Writing informational acrostic poetry as a response to reading and researching in content areas provides a creative format for students to integrate and encode the knowledge they have learned.
Informational formula poetry may serve as an extension of a nonfiction unit of study in the classroom. Students may compose informational poetry to enhance their understanding of a content area unit of study (i.e., polar bears, ladybugs, pirates).
Frye and Trathen Appalachian State University

3. Frye and Trathen Appalachian State University
Why Formula Poetry?
Children compose poems successfully when they use poetic formulas (Tompkins, 2008). Formula poems tend to be brief and are often written with more ease than rhyming poems. They provide the freedom children often desire with punctuation, capitalization and syntax.
Even though children love to read Prelutsky and Silverstein, it is often difficult for them to write with a rhyme scheme. Children may create an illogical verse just for the sake of rhyme.
Formula poems provide a scaffold for students, but at the same time, provide students the opportunity to think flexibly and develop their ideas with careful and specific word choice.
Examples include: Acrostic, I POEM, Haiku, Concrete, Limerick, Cinquain, etc.
Frye and Trathen Appalachian State University

4. Instructional Scaffold for Formula Poems
Marinate children in the poetry!!!
Use the inquiry-based approach to help students DISCOVER the poetic form.
Discuss/Explain the poetic form; students should write a brief description of the form and continue to revisit.
Share a favorite poem as the “mentor poem” and focus on the pattern, form or characteristics of the poem. Read it MULTIPLE TIMES!!!
Collaboratively compose a poem. This is a critical step for students uncertain of what/how to write.
Compose poems independently!
Frye and Trathen Appalachian State University

5. Frye and Trathen Appalachian State University
Acrostic Silver Seeds by Paul Paolilli, Dan Brewer, Steve Johnson, and Lou Fancher
DAWN
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6. Informational Acrostic
ELEPHANTS
Ear-sails flap in a breeze. Leather limbs in rhythm Evenly swaying in step Plod slowly over Africa. Huge as a dinosaur, yet A tender soul from such Noble mammoth alumni. There is wonder abuzz, Staring into eyes so wise
Frye and Trathen Appalachian State University

7. Katie Blackburn’s 2nd Graders
DRAFT
REVISION
Ladybugs eat aphids
A ladybug is pretty
Disgusting smells come out when they are scared
Yellow when they come from pupa
Beetles are bugs
Up in the sky flying high
Gardens are where you find them
Ladybugs like aphids for lunch A ladybug is a hungry red lion with black spots Disgusting smells escape when they are frightened Yellow when young and fresh from pupa Beetles are beautiful bugs Up flying fast in the sky Green gardens are where they dine
Frye and Trathen Appalachian State University

8. 4th Graders Study Blackbeard…Arghhh
Brandishing swords and pistols.
Long black, black beard
Attacking ships without warning.
Clever, crafty, and quick with cannons.
Keeping captured ships.
Blackbeard’s fleet blockades Charleston.
Edward Teach is nearing his end.
Advances up the North Carolina coast.
Runs Queen Anne’s Revenge aground.
Dies a pirate’s death in pitched battle...head hung on the bow of Maynard’s ship.
Brawny buccaneer brandishing cutlass and pistols, braided beard afire
Longing for loot: gold doubloons and pieces of eight
Attacking ships along the Atlantic coast, adhering to the Articles of Agreement
Commandeering Concorde slave ship, converting with color and cannon: Queen Anne’s Revenge
Kidnapping for ransom, keeping alive a killer’s reputation: “Pirate King”
Brazenly blockading Charles Town harbor, without firing a single bullet
Edward Teach escaping to a gentleman’s life, enjoying a King’s Pardon
Abandoning life in Bath Town, advancing up the North Carolina coast to Ocracoke Inlet
Returning to captain a rowdy crew, ramming Adventure to meet his destiny
Dying a pirate’s death, devil’s mask, severed head hanging on the bow of Maynard’s ship.
Frye and Trathen Appalachian State University

9. Instructional Framework
Acrostic Poetry
Acrostic Poems: An Acrostic Poem makes use of a key name or phrase that is written vertically. Each line of the poem begins with a letter in the key word.
Instructional Framework
select mentor informational acrostic text—discuss the following:
What do you notice about all of these poems?
What is the subject of this (mentor text) poem? (content)
How is this poem written? (structure or presentation)
What kinds of words does the poem include? (descriptive language and word choice)
Now if you were to explain this kind of poem to a friend, what would you say? How would you describe it?
generate questions about poem’s topic using 5Ws and H,
read and research topic and answer questions,
write down factual information, vivid and descriptive words, and words and phrases that begin with the letters of the topic,
and integrate factual information with poetic language and compose poem (borrowing when needed from Word Resources).
Frye and Trathen Appalachian State University

10. Frye and Trathen Appalachian State University
Assessment
Poetic form
Process approach: plan, draft, revise, edit, publish
Sensory language-poetic devices
Factual Information
INFORMATIONAL Acrostic Rubric
_____Is written as an Acrostic poem
_____Includes precise and interesting words
_____Provides readers with a sense of wonder about the topic
_____Includes factual information about the topic
_____Includes artistic representation
_____Includes planning activity
_____Demonstrates considerable effort
_____Includes list of references
Frye and Trathen Appalachian State University