Last updated: August 25, 2019
Lesson Plan
Interacting With Yorktown Through Poetry
- Grade Level:
- Upper Elementary: Third Grade through Fifth Grade
- Subject:
- Literacy and Language Arts,Social Studies
- Lesson Duration:
- 60 Minutes
- Common Core Standards:
- 5.L.1, 5.L.3, 5.L.3.a, 5.L.3.b, 5.L.4, 5.L.4.c, 5.L.5, 5.L.5.a, 5.L.5.c, 5.L.6
- State Standards:
- English Standards for Learning for Virginia Public Schools - 2017
English 5.1
English 5.3
English 5.4
English 5.6
English 5.7 - Thinking Skills:
- Remembering: Recalling or recognizing information ideas, and principles. Understanding: Understand the main idea of material heard, viewed, or read. Interpret or summarize the ideas in own words. Creating: Bring together parts (elements, compounds) of knowledge to form a whole and build relationships for NEW situations.
Essential Question
What are the important ideas of the Revolutionary War/Siege of Yorktown?
Who are the important persons of the Revolutionary War/Siege of Yorktown?
How can poetry demonstrate what I’ve learned?
Objective
English 5.1
English 5.3
English 5.4
English 5.6
English 5.7
Background
Knowledge:
• Previous knowledge of the Revolutionary War
Skills
• General understanding of close reading (character analysis, plot diagram, setting)
• Understanding of Acrostic Poems, Blackout Poetry and Ekphrasis Poetry.
Preparation
The following video links are specific to Blackout Poetry.
This video chooses the words first: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKpVgoGr6kE
This video draws pictures first:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zf6k8aW2Toc
• The World Turned Upside Down: George Washington and the Battle of Yorktown by Richard Ferrie
• The Battle of Yorktown by Dennis B. Fradin
• The Surrender of Cornwallis by Ann Heinrichs
Materials
Materials necessary to the completion of Acrostic Poetry Lesson
Download Acrostic Poetry Lesson Plan Materials Part 1
Materials necessary to the completion of Acrostic Poetry Lesson
Download Acrostic Poetry Lesson Plan Materials Part 2
Materials necessary to the completion of Blackout Poetry Lesson
Download Blackout Poetry Part 1
Materials necessary to the completion of Blackout Poetry Lesson
Download Blackout Poetry Part 2
Materials necessary to the completion of Blackout Poetry Lesson
Download Blackout Poetry Part 3
Materials necessary to the completion of Blackout Poetry Lesson
Download Blackout Poetry Part 4
Materials necessary to the completion of Blackout Poetry Lesson
Download Blackout Poetry Part 5
Materials necessary to the completion of Blackout Poetry Lesson
Download Blackout Poetry Part 6
Materials necessary to the completion of Blackout Poetry Lesson
Download Blackout Poetry Part 7
Materials necessary to the completion of Blackout Poetry Lesson
Download Blackout Poetry Part 8
Materials necessary to the completion of Blackout Poetry Lesson
Download Blackout Poetry Part 9
Materials necessary to the completion of an Ekphrasis Poetry Lesson
Download Ekphrasis Poetry Part 1
Materials necessary to the completion of an Ekphrasis Poetry Lesson
Download Ekphrasis Poetry Part 2
Materials necessary to the completion of an Ekphrasis Poetry Lesson
Download Ekphrasis Poetry Part 3
Materials necessary to the completion of an Ekphrasis Poetry Lesson
Download Ekphrasis Poetry Part 4
Materials necessary to the completion of an Ekphrasis Poetry Lesson
Download Ekphrasis Poetry Part 5
Materials necessary to the completion of an Ekphrasis Poetry Lesson
Download Ekphrasis Poetry Part 6
Materials necessary to the completion of an Ekphrasis Poetry Lesson
Download Ekphrasis Poetry Part 7
Materials necessary to the completion of an Ekphrasis Poetry Lesson
Download Ekphrasis Poetry Part 8
Materials necessary to the completion of an Acrostic Poetry Lesson
Download Acrostic Poetry Lesson Plan Materials Part 3
Materials necessary to the completion of Blackout Poetry Lesson
Download Blackout Poetry Part 10
Materials necessary to the completion of Ekphrasis Poetry Lesson
Download Ekphrasis Poetry Part 9
Procedure
For Acrostic Poetry
1. Read through the material on the Battle of Yorktown.
2. As a class or in small groups, summarize the text and identify the important people. Describe what they did during the war and during the Siege of Yorktown.
3. Together or individually, have students complete the Dots Chart. They may use their readings to help them. The instructor has a completed copy and can assist as needed with ideas.
4. Using the Dots Chart to help them, students will use one of the provided worksheets to complete the acrostic poem. The instructor should make sure to emphasize that the poem does not need to rhyme.
a. Younger students may be instructed to use drawings or verbally explain to clarify their poems.
b. Older students should be expected to write each line as a complete sentence.
For Blackout Poetry
1. Introduce/recall the major events of the American Revolution. Focus particularly on the end of the war (Battle of Camden, South Carolina – Siege of Yorktown)
a. There are several text titles located in the Resources and Technology that can help with details of this time period.
2. Brainstorm thematic ideas that were important during that time. Create a word web for students to use to help them.
3. Transition over to discuss the procedure for reading difficult texts. Consider using the vocabulary graphic organizer that is attached with this unit.
4. Have them watch the two videos demonstrating how to create blackout poetry. In between videos, you can discuss interests/concerns that they might have about this poetry style.
5. Give students only a quarter of the document that they will be creating blackout poetry with. Have them practice one style, then the other way of creating blackout poetry.
6. After students have created 4 – 5 poems, have them choose their best and write a short reflection about the Siege of Yorktown and poetry.
For Ekphrasis Poetry
1. Start a discussion about the purpose of art in society. Point out that artwork is often created in order to evoke a certain feeling in its viewers and that not all viewers see/feel the same thing.
2. Show the artwork slides. Have students silently take a minute or two to write down what comes to mind/how they feel when they look at the art.
3. After looking at “The Landscape with The Fall of Icarus.” Have students describe the picture and how they see/view it.
4. Introduce Ekphrasis poetry and its purpose of adding a new view on old poetry. Read William Carlos Williams’ “Landscape with the Fall of Icarus” while students look at the painting again.
5. Discuss how this alters their perception of the poem.
6. Together, create an Ekphrasis poem on one of the visuals that they have already seen.
7. Provide students with famous artwork during the time period of the Siege of Yorktown. Have them silently journal their view of the artwork.
8. Together discuss their viewpoints; then have students choose one work to create an ekphrasis poem.
9. Using the handouts to help generate ideas, students can write a free form poem.
Supports for Struggling Learners
- Students have the option to read the materials individually, or hear them read out loud.
- • Students have the option to complete the brainstorming activity (Dots Chart) individually or with a group.
- Many parts of this lesson can be completed in small groups or whole group.