This Lesson's Title:

Four Metaphor Poetry

stretchiiiing a metaphor four times to build a poem

This lesson was built for WritingFix after being proposed by NNWP Teacher Consultant Holly Esposito at an SBC-sponsored inservice class.

The ideal "mentor text" that can be used when teaching this on-line lesson is the picture book Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge by Mem Fox. Before writing, students should listen to and discuss the writing style of this book's author.

Click here to view this book at Amazon.com.

If you are a Washoe County teacher, click here to view this book's availability at the county library.

Three-Sentence Overview of this Lesson:

Inspired by Mem Fox's four metaphors for memory in her story about Wilfrid Gordon, this writing prompt asks students to think of an original abstract noun.  Students will brainstorm details as they come up with ideas for four metaphors for their abstraction.  Finally, students will assemble their four metaphors into an original poem. Teachers: Click here to see the entire lesson plan.

6-Trait Overview for this Lesson:

The focus trait in this writing assignment is idea development; extended metaphors require details, and details are what idea development starts with.  The support trait in this assignment is word choice; carefully-chosen verbs, adjectives, and nouns are the tools that will assist writers in crafting their four-metaphor poems.