Lonely as a Cloud: Using Poetry to Understand Similes

Materials and Technology

Printouts

Websites

Preparation

 

MATERIALS AND TECHNOLOGY

• Willow branch or photo of a willow tree
  
  
• Ginkgo branch or photo of a ginkgo tree
  
  
• "A Red, Red Rose"
  
  
• Poetry books
  
  
• Mirrors of various sizes
  
  
• Dictionaries and thesauri
  
  
• Writing notebooks
  
  
• Writing and drawing tools
  
  
• Reflection journals/learning logs
  
  
• Chart paper
  
  
• Overhead projector and markers

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PRINTOUTS

• Simile Poem Brainstorm
  
  
• "Willow and Gingko"
  
  
• Self-Assessment Task Sheet

 

 

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WEBSITES

• Said What: Similes
• Giggle Poetry
• Poetry4kids.com

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PREPARATION

1.	Gather an assortment of poetry books and literature samples using similes. A few example poems are listed under Resources, but you may choose other selections from your personal, classroom, school, or public libraries.
2.	Place mirrors around the classroom.
3.	Create book bins for every three or four students in your class with at least one dictionary and one thesaurus per bin. You may also want to include a few poetry books in each book bin.
4.	If you have classroom computers with Internet access, bookmark the simile poems listed in the Resources section, as well as Said What? Similes.
5.	Make one copy of "Willow and Ginkgo" and the Self-Assessment Task Sheet for each student. You may also want to make one copy of the Simile Poem Brainstorm sheet for each student.
6.	Make overhead transparencies of "Willow and Ginkgo" and "A Red, Red Rose" or write these poems on chart paper.
7.	If possible, find a willow branch and a ginkgo branch to bring in for display. If not, bring in photographs of these types of trees (online images are listed in the Resources section). Keep these materials out of sight until the middle of Session 1.

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