Poet Research
Poet Research
Course(s)/Subject(s): English
Grade Level(s): 8
Key Words: Research/Poetry/Technology
Developer(s) Name: Helen Higgins Vance
School: Washington Irving Middle School
Attached Files:
poetry newsletter
Poetry Weblinks
Approximate Time Frame: 10-12 days of class time
Materials/Equipment Needed: Media Center, Computer Lab
Description of Lesson (includes context): After classroom
lessons on the reading and interpretation of poetry, note-taking, and
correctly citing works, students will work in pairs to research the
life and poetry of a selected poet. Students will use ProQuest and
Poetry Links as well as traditional media center materials for their
research. Students will organize their notes and will use the
acquired information to create a newsletter about their poet and
his/her poetry in the computer lab.
1. What is the objective of this lesson?
FCPS POS Standards: Students read and write a variety
of forms.
Students use strategies to construct meaning when working with
language.
Students adapt their language to communicate.
Students respond critically to ideas in written and spoken
language.
Students use language processes to acquire, organize, and communicate
information.
Students enjoy and appreciate language and literature.
FCPS POS Benchmarks: 8.1-1; 8.1-2; 8.1-4; 8.3-1; 8.3-2;
8.4-1; 8.4-3; 8.5-1; C/T8.1, C/T8.2; C/T8.3; C/T8.4
FCPS POS Indicators: Refer to SOL for the State of
Virginia, pages 70-71.
VA SOL(s) (including Computer/Technology): 8.2; 8.3; 8.4;
8.5
2. What will we examine as evidence of students’
knowledge and/or skill?
Product(s): Students will submit notes, printouts,
newsletter drafts, and final copy of their poet newsletters.
Performance(s): Students will present their final newsletters
to their classmates.
Students will have their newsletters displayed.
3. What exactly will the students and teacher do during
the lesson?
Directions to students for proceeding with the lesson:
- Students will become familiar with the assignment attachment
and follow the note-taking skills taught in class.
- Students will use traditional sources and electronic sources
of information in the media center.
- Students will organize their notes.
- Students will write a draft.
- Students will prepare their newsletter in the computer
lab.
- Students will revise and edit their newsletters prior to
printing.
- Students will orally share their newsletters with the
class.
- Students will have their newsletters
displayed.
Directions to teacher/administrator using the lesson?
- Students need to be familiar with ProQuest .
- Students need to have a note-taking and organization of notes
lesson.
- Students need to have read and analyzed poetry prior to
research.
4. Students need to know how to write a Works Cited.
4. What options in presentation(s) and/or response(s)
are suggested in order to provide the opportunity for all students to
demonstrate achievement of the benchmark(s) and indicator(s)?
Students will need to have a copy of ClarisWorks 4.0 The Word
Processor: Basics and Beyond for “Creating a
Newsletter” at their computer stations.