Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Fold-ables for Poetry Devices



I have found that poetry has a great deal of terms and I needed a way for students to be able to identify examples for the various types of devices to meet our objectives for our poetry unit.

The first thing I did was have students set up a tri-fold paper, so that the two outside columns meet in the middle. Then, they cut two lines in toward the middle on each of the outside columns, giving us six flaps. We began to review the the various devices. I chose to introduce/review: onomatopoeia, hyperbole, metaphor, simile, rhyme scheme and personification. . Each device was labeled and defined on the outside of the fold-able flaps.

Next, students read poem books for elementary aged students and various copies of poems that I found, to locate examples of each device. After identifying the device they wrote the device example on the inside of the matching flap and on the inside center they drew a literal picture of the device.




The students were very motivated during this lesson.However, they kept asking if they could make-up their own examples. I had to explain that the objective we were learning was how to identify and locate the various devices not create them. They were find after that. This gave me plenty of time to assist the students that struggle. Also. some students finished quickly and those students helped the ones that were less motivated. This helped to motivate them. 

Let me know what you think and if you try it out let me know how it goes! 

Thanks!






10 comments:

  1. So glad that I found another middle school teacher... I am your newest follower! :)

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  2. Seems like you quashed their creative impulses a little bit. Maybe they could have identified a device in a given poem AND made one up themselves.

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    1. No Quashing here. We were able to create our own poems using many of the devices. I appreciate your comment. Also, I love the premise of your Blog!
      Deane

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  3. Cute idea - I really like foldables! (Also-so glad I found your website, it's nice to see another middle school teacher out there! I am your newest follower.)
    Corrina
    Diary of a Sixth Grade Teacher

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  4. Thank you for visiting my blog, which then led me to yours! I also love foldables. Great to see other middle school teachers blogging!
    Andrea

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  5. Great idea...thanks for stopping by my blog too!
    Oh First Grade Friends

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    1. You are very welcome. I teach 6th and 8th grade reading, but I am always on the look out for excellent activities that can be used in the elementary after school program that I help run. So Thanks, Deane

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