Lindsey Lundberg: The Definition of a Crossover

Grade Level: 

5th grade

 

Common Core:

Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative language such as metaphors and similes.

 

What will students do?

Students will write several poems of a life event. They should build off of these poems so all the poems are connected to that one life event. If the student runs out of ideas on poems to write about the event, they can write it from a different perspective (ex: friend, teacher, relative).

After writing each poem about the event, include a vocabulary word. Then write a poem based off that vocabulary word. Define the word in the poem and give examples of its use in context of your life. For examples, use the format of “As in: _____ (vocab word)”. You can tie this into their spelling tests by using the spelling words as the vocabulary words.

 

What part of the school year do you imagine this taking place?

I would imagine this would be done midway through the poetry lesson. With students being aware of poetry already, they can worry less on formatting and more on content.

 

What materials are needed?

The book The Crossover.

 

Goals for the activity?

I’m hoping my students will use the activity to expand their vocabulary while also expressing themselves. I think poetry is a great way for students to express events in their lives without explaining it head on. You can use metaphors that make sense to you and have the reader interpret it the way they’d like. It kind of takes the pressure off of being vulnerable about life events.