Following the path set up at serendipity we have a read it, discuss it, and do it approach to poetry that we try to do on Fridays. When ever we get the chance, though, we do plug it in during the week. All the kids get something very cool from poetry so it's well worth the effort to do more than once a week.
What we use
R is for Rhyme (carried by our library...yay!)
Poetry for the Young People series
Serendipity P is for Poetry site
B is for Ballads
We concluded with Mr. Henry W. Longfellow as our featured poet
What we read
selected poems from the Poetry for Young People series
Paul Revere's Ride
The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere
Hiwatha and Megissogon
Evangeline
What we did
looked at this video on blacksmiths
researched historical background
lots of notebooking, reading, and listening
What we discussed
the historical context of Longfellows work
how the era of his day showed in his writing
the social conscience of slavery and war waved heavily on his soul
Next time:
C is for Cinquain
- poet: Henry W. Longfellow & Edna St. Vincent Millay
- poetry concept: stanza, internal rhyme, emjambment
- poetry type: Cinquain
