Exploring Courage and Poetry

Target Curriculum: Computer/Technology

Target Grade: 2

SOLs: C/T.GR5.2   E/W.2.8  
Time: 30-45 minutes

Objective:
As the Elementary Counselor for Ladysmith Primary, my goal is to help each child become an efficient and effective learner. My lessons reach across the curriculum. This particular lesson teaches about courage, poetry, rhyming words and computer skills.

Purpose:
Using Kid Pix software and the "Itsy Bitsy Spider" the student will be able to visualize the way poets have used the arrangement of words to heighten the impact of their poetry (i.e. rhyming pattern). Students will also understand the courage it took for the spider not to give up but keep trying to be successful.

Materials:
Kid Pix software
A copy of the words from the Itsy Bitsy Spider to give each student
A dictionary
The Itsy Bitsy Spider book
Smartboard
individual computers

Procedure:
1. Write the word "poem" on the smartboard and ask students to read it to you.
2. Read the definition of the word "poem".
3. Remind the students that they have been listening to poetry since Kindergarten (nursery rhymes).
4. Have students tell you some rhymes they remember.
5. Read the story "The Itsy Bitsy Spider".
6. Show verse 1 on the smartboard and read the verse together.
7. Focus on the rhyming words at the end of the line and circle the pairs with the smartboard pens. Reiterate that all poems do not have to rhyme.
8. Discuss the courage of the spider and how he never gave up. Sometimes in school, things get hard and we must keep trying to be successful.
9. Give each student a copy of the poem and now send them to individual computers to create a picture that goes with the poem and use the letter keys to place the rhyming words on their picture.
10. Challenge students to bring to class with them next week a short poem of their own.

Observations:
1. Students love the smartboard and the ability to interact with it.
2. Whole group directed instruction can be done and modeled for individual instruction later.
3. Students get very excited using the technology that touches all modalities.

Conclusions:
Evaluation comes through the finished product that is produced and questions to check for understanding of the concept of courage.

Extension:
Have children generate lists of rhyming words.
Have children create their own original poems to illustrate with Kid Pix.
Publish a poetry collection.
Have a poetry sharing and invite parents.

Class Discussion Questions:

What are rhyming words?
What do words that rhyme have in common?
What is a poem? Does it have to rhyme?
What is courage and how did the spider demonstrate it?
What can we learn from the spider?