This Lesson:

Special Place Poems

writing individual setting poems that can be linked together to be read as a whole-class poem

This lesson was sent to WritingFix by Louisiana middle school teacher Michelle Bozeman, who used WritingFix's lesson template and shared back with our site. Thanks, Michelle!

The intended "mentor text" to be used when teaching this on-line lesson is the picture book A Quiet Place by Douglas Wood. Before writing, students should listen to and discuss the writing style of this book's author.

Check out A Quiet Place at Amazon.com.

If you are a Washoe County teacher, click here to search for this book at the county library.

Four-Sentence Overview of this Lesson:

The writer will imitate the poetic style of the setting descriptions in Douglas Wood’s A Quiet Place. Using figurative language techniques like simile, personification, and sensory images, the writer will develop a short poem about a setting inspired by our interactive setting generator or a special place from their own lives. Practicing idea development and application of figurative language will help the writer create unique, precise descriptions that can be later used in descriptive prose lessons. When finished, your poet's individual pieces can be easily linked together as one large class poem. Teachers: Click here to see the entire lesson plan.

6-Trait Overview for this Lesson:

The focus trait in this writing assignment is word choice; using sensory images, simile and metaphor, and personification can enhance the image a reader receives.   The support trait in this assignment is idea development; drafting and revising memorable and specific details should be the "take away" goal of each writer.