This week we turn our attention outdoors to poems about all kinds of weather. Our sample poem for Week 9 is from Fourth Grade. It is by Susan Taylor Brown and is chock-ful of alliteration. Here's an excerpt.
When the Rain Falls
by Susan Taylor Brown
Clouds curl.
Thunder trembles.
Lightning leaps.
Coats cover.
Umbrellas unfold.
Wipers wave.
...
[Look for the rest of this poem on p. 195.]
Take 5
1. Read this poem aloud pausing briefly at the end of each line for extra emphasis. Talk with students about how poets like to “make up” words (like “plash”).
2. Share the poem again displaying the text of the poem if possible and invite students to say three lines together for greater volume and emphasis: Line 2 (Thunder trembles), Line 7 (Rivers rise), and Line 12 (Rainbows reappear).
3. For discussion: What are the best and worst things about a rainy day?
4. Sometimes poets like to use many words that start the same (alliteration) to add to the sound of the poem. Challenge students to notice the use of alliteration (in EVERY line) and talk about how the poet sequences the lines in a logical order. Read the poem aloud together again inviting students to choose their favorite line and chime in when that line appears.
5. Link this poem with “My Dog” by Charles Waters (1st Grade, Week 9) or look for All the Water in the World by George Ella Lyon.
For more Poetry Friday fun, go to Teacher Dance here.
How appropriate to have this as our Weather week, just as the East Coast prepares for a huge storm. My wipers will be waving, all right--hopefully saying GOODBYE to the storm!
ReplyDeleteI am so happy to have this poem of mine included in The Poetry Friday Anthology. Readers might be interested to know that this poem started out as a picture book but as I worked through many MANY revisions, eliminating all the unneeded words and focusing more on what I really wanted to say I realized what I actually had was a poem. Armed with that knowledge, I tackled the revisions differently and the result was this poem.
ReplyDeleteThis wonderful book just arrived...so now I shall be able to follow along and so will my students.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing a part of your book, Janet & Sylvia, & the teaching ideas. I see Janet is noticing that the weather poem is appropriate. I hope the storm lessens, but they are not saying it will.
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