Poetry Unit
Poetry Unit
Cassel – 2004
Over the next few weeks you will be writing many different kinds of poetry.
At the end of the entire unit, you will work bind your poetry together in an
interesting way (requirements below) to create your own poetry book.
Poems you will create:
1. “If I Were in Charge of the World” Copy Change – 10 points
2. Acrostic (2 poems: 1 is your name) – 10 points
3. Synonym (2 poems) – 10 points
4. Opposite (2 poems) – 10 points
5. Rhyming List Poem…Ten Little… - 10 points
6. List Poem- 10 points
7. Free Verse (using at least one of the poetic devices listed) – 20 points
8. Extra poem about one of your classes – 10 points
Final Project Guidelines:
1. Create interesting title page that includes: your name, an illustration, and a title. (10 points)
2. Include all the poems from this unit in the order listed above. (90 points)
3. You should have at least five illustrations in addition to the cover. (10 points)
4. Bind together in some way: Report folder, ribbons tied through 3 hole punch, Kinko’s plastic binding, etc. (5 points)
5. Evaluate yourself on every poem written and quality of final project. (5 points)
TOTAL : 120
1. Copy Change: You will find a copy of the poem “If I Were in Charge of the World.” On the back of the sheet is a planner for your version of the poem. You are changing the copy (the words) to make the poem your own.
2. Acrostic: You will write two acrostic poems. One poem will use your name as the anchor letters. The other poem’s subject is your choice. Some ideas are family members, teachers, class names, any other unique idea you have. Focus on WORD CHOICE – that’s what makes these poems so interesting.
▪ The first letter of each line must come from the title or subject of your poem.
▪ You can write your acrostic poem as a list, with a different item on each line.
▪ OR, you can write your poem as a sentence or two that continue through the poem.
▪ Make sure you have selected items that capture the essence of your subject.
3. Synonym (2 poems): These are descriptive poems that are made of words that mean the same thing. You may find a thesaurus a very handy tool for this assignment. WORD CHOICE is the focus in this poem also.
▪ Very descriptive
▪ Is made of one couplet (two line, poetry paragraphs.) No more, no less.
▪ The first line contains three or four synonyms (or descriptive words) for the subject.
▪ The second line either tells how you feel about the subject (for example, “This old trash can won’t be forgotten”) or describes the subject a little more (“They will haunt if they can”)
▪ Each line generally has seven or eight syllables arranged in a way that gives each poem a rhythm when read aloud.
4. Opposite (2 poems): These are short descriptive poems that describe something by using its opposite.
▪ It is about opposites.
▪ It’s made of couplets, so it can be two, four, six, eight, or more lines long. (Four lines is a good length)
▪ The first line is frequently, though not always, a question: What is the opposite of ?
▪ If the poem opens with a question, the rest of the poem answers that question.
▪ Like all good poems, a good opposite illustrates with specific details.
5. Ten little… : This is a rhyming poem. You will use the model to create your own poem about ten little somethings. Some ideas are hamsters, kittens, pigs, robbers, rodents, students, crazy drivers, or soccer players.
• The poem is made up of couplets
• The first line of each couplet begins with a number; the second line ends with that number minus one.
• The second line begins with One.
• In the first line, a group of some sort does something.
• In the second line, something happens to one member of the group, and as a result, there is one fewer. These two parts of the line are joined by the conjunction and.
• (Number) little ______________ _________ing __________ (rhymes with number minus one)
One _____________________ and then there were (number minus one).
6. List Poems: There are MANY types of list poems that one can write. Your list poem will need 10-20 lines. These poems will NOT rhyme, but should focus on WORD CHOICE to make them entertaining. Many list poems are FUNNY! Look at the examples and the ideas and write your own original poem. Some ideas include:
← How to Survive In My House During the Holidays
← What I Really Wanted for Christmas & What I Actually Got
← My Favorite Things to Do
← Ways to Annoy My Little Brother
← How to Survive Mrs. Cassel’s class
← The Best Places to visit in the World (& Why)
7. Free Verse : For this poem you will want to choose a topic that is important to you. Use good WORD CHOICE to add details and take out unnecessary word.
• Does not have to rhyme
• Does not have to have a specific rhythm
• Has no specific length
• Makes use of figurative speech
• Your free verse poem must be at least seven (7) lines and use two (2) kinds of figurative language.
• Metaphor – suggests a similarity between two things
The road snakes around the mountain.
• Simile – highlights the comparison between two things using like, as, resembles, etc.
The stars in the night sky were like sparkling diamonds.
• Personification – giving human characteristics to things which are clearly not human
The outboard motor cleared its throat.
• Alliteration – repeating words with the same beginning sound
Thomas tied two turnips to two tall trees.
• Assonance – Using identical vowel sounds, like the o sound in words like roses and golden or the e sound in sleep and green.
The golden roses shone under the sun
• Consonance– Using the same final consonant sound
Drip, drip. Look up. Drip, again.
• Imagery – using vivid, descriptive words to conjure up an image
The car sped. - The flashy, yellow, mustang streaked like a bullet along the highway.
• Onomatopoeia – using words that sound like what they mean
He slurped his soup.
• Hyperbole – using exaggeration to make a point
Make me a sundae a mile high.
Line Break reminders
▪ It is logical to break after a sentence or phrase.
▪ You might want to emphasize a word or phrase by putting it at the end of a line.
▪ Line breaks can be in place of punctuation.
▪ A line break in an unexpected place can help create surprise or humor or irony in a poem.
▪ Line breaks may be part of the shape of a poem.
8. Extra poem about one class - Your classes are good subjects for any poem. This last poem is to be in the style of your choosing about one class that you have this year.
Acrostic Poems
Tarzan
Tan
Athlethic
Resourceful
Zooms
Assertive
Nimble
Emma
Eager to learn
Makes time to read
Marvelous artist
Adores her white poodle
Mrs. Cassel
Mad… as in crazy.
Rants and Raves,
So her students will listen.
Can’t stop teaching,
Always happy to listen,
Sucker for candy and presents,
Seeks happiness and peace in her life.
Eager for learning,
Longs for students that want to learn too!
If I were in Charge of the World
By Judith Viorst
If I were in charge of the world,
I’d cancel oatmeal,
Monday mornings,
Allergy shots, and also
Sara Steinberg.
If I were in charge of the world,
There’d be brighter night-lights,
Healthier hamsters, and
Basketball baskets forty-eight inches lower.
If I were in charge of the world,
You wouldn’t have lonely.
You wouldn’t have clean.
You wouldn’t have bedtimes.
Or “Don’t punch your sister.”
You wouldn’t even have sisters.
If I were in charge of the world,
A chocolate sundae with whipped cream and nuts would be a vegetable.
All 007 movies would be G.
And a person who sometimes forgot to brush,
And sometimes forgot to flush,
Would still be allowed to be
In charge of the world.
If I were in Charge of the World
By _____________________ with thanks to Judith Viorst
If I were in charge of the world,
I’d cancel____________________________,
____________________________________,
_____________________________, and also
____________________________________.
If I were in charge of the world,
There’d be ___________________________,
(Adjective Noun)
____________________________________, and
(Adjective Noun)
____________________________________.
If I were in charge of the world,
You wouldn’t have _____________________.
You wouldn’t have _____________________.
You wouldn’t have _____________________.
Or __________________________________.
You wouldn’t even have ________________.
If I were in charge of the world,
A ______________________ would be ________________________.
________________________ would be ________________________.
And a person who sometimes ___________________________ (rhyme),
And sometimes forgot to ___________________________(rhyme),
Would still be allowed to be
In charge of the world.
Synonym Poems
Rancid
Sour, Musty, putrid, rotten
This old trash won’t be forgotten.
Earth
World, planet, one-mooned globe
To other planets we send probes
Ghost
Spirit, goblin, bogeyman
They will haunt you if you can.
Οπποσιτε Ποεμσ
What is the opposite of new?
It might be stale gum that’s hard to chew,
Or it could be wrinkled and gray;
Most old people are that way.
The opposite of flower
Can easily be told within an hour.
It isn’t leaves, a stem, or petals,
But big fat blobs of ugly metal.
What’s the opposite of kind?
A goat that butts you from behind.
The opposite of chair
Is sitting down with nothing there.
Rhyming List Poem
Ten Little Schoolchildren
Ten little schoolchildren standing in a line
One opened her mouth too far and then there were nine.
Nine little schoolchildren trying not to be late
One missed the school bus then there were eight.
Eight little schoolchildren in the Seven-Eleven
One twisted an ankle and then there were seven.
Seven little schoolchildren trying out some tricks
One went a bit too far then there were six.
Six little schoolchildren hoping teacher won't arrive
One flicked a paper dart and then there were five.
Five little schoolchildren standing by the door
One tripped the teacher up and then there were four.
Four little schoolchildren longing for their tea
One was kept in after school and then there were three.
Three little schoolchildren lurking by the loo
teacher saw a puff of smoke then there were two.
Two little schoolchildren think that fights are fun
One got a bloody nose and then there was one.
One little schoolchild playing in the sun
whistle blew, buzzer went, then there were none!
Ten Little Fishies
Ten little fishies swimming near a line,
One got caught, and then there were nine.
Nine little fishies looking for a mate,
One gave up, and then there were eight.
Eight little fishies looking for heaven,
One wandered off, and then there were seven.
Seven little fishies eating a Twix,
One finished too quickly, and then there were six.
Six little fishies playing near a beehive,
One got stung, and then there were five.
Five little fishies going on a tour,
One got lost, and then there were four.
Four little fishies swimming near a tree,
One jumped up and then there were three.
Three little fishies waiting for their cue,
One went to early, and then there were two.
Two little fishies trying to have fun,
One didn't want to, and then there was one.
One little fishy eating a cinnamon bun,
A shark came by, and then there were none
List Poems
How to Survive Last Period, Fridays, and the Day before Vacation.
• Try to construct a pyramid out of old gum.
• “Accidentally” drop the heaviest book in class on the floor.
• See how many pencils will stick to the ceiling tiles.
• Try to make a pea-shooter out of your pen.
• Use that pea-shooter to hit everyone in class with spitballs.
• Fantasize about you being the star of your favorite TV show.
• Act like you are choking on an eraser.
• Stare at the person next to you for 20 minutes.
• Blurt out, “No, I will not make out with you.”
• Throw erasers at other people across the room.
• Try to knock off the teacher’s toupee with pencils.
• Try to tip over the teacher’s cup with erasers.
• Make funny noises.
• Make funny faces at people.
• Have a staring contest with your friend across the room.
The Great Outdoors
A bumble bee with a stinger
A deer with a rack
A bird that's a singer
A horse with a knack
A dog with its collar
A cat that meows
A rooster's loud holler
A farm with some cows
A polar bear with its fluffy fur
A raccoon in its tree
A parrot that's mature
A dolphin in the sea
A giraffe with a long neck
An elephant with big ears
A woodpecker about to peck
A cheetah a zebra fears
A worm digging in a hole
A gazelle grazing in the savannah grass
A bug digging in the coal
A kangaroo we pass
A stubborn mule refusing to move
A sea snail walking across the beach
A bear getting in its groove
A worm slithering in a peach
A bear in a daze
A donkey with a hairy tail
A boy in a corn maze
Free Verse
Baseball
Big baseball bats broken by Ben
Big baseballs bouncing backward
The bats were hurt
They had a broken heart
The baseballs were crying
They bounced so much they were black and blue
The fields were laughing at such a funny sight
Rain
Drip, drip. Look up. Drip, again.
Splash goes the rain when it hits my face.
A drip runs down my face and off my nose.
The rain runs to the ground, to freedom.
It runs down sidewalks and streets,
Soaking everything in its way.
Evaporating, only to fall again.
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