PERPLEXING POETRY 

(a poetic spy mystery)

by JERI LYNN WHITE

Poems hide in the bottom of shoes.  

We have to live to find them.

-Naomi Shihab Nye

Introduction

It seems that the sinister villain Fun E. Pun has struck again.

This time he has broken into the local library and stolen the

most prized poems.  Luckily Agent Alliteration is on the

case.  No one will escape justice.

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Task

Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to help Agent Alliteration find the stolen poetry.  On your search you will:

  Make a MiniBook about the Poetic Elements

  Find 5 poems you like written by other poets

  Write and choose 5 poems of your own you want to publish

  Create your own poetry book with your own poems and the ones you find                                               

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Process

1.  Create a Poetic Elements MiniBook.  Find the definitions of these poetic elements.

Alliteration
Metaphor
Onomatopoeia
Personification
Repetition
Rhyme
Rhythm
Simile

•  Record this information in your MiniBook which we made in class.  The first page should be a title page.  Then have one element for each page.

• On each page you should have   

                1.  The name of the poetic element.

                2.  The definition of the poetic element.

                3.  Write an example of the element.

                4.  Draw a picture to represent that element.

                5.  Color and decorate the MiniBook.

• You can find this information at these websites:

GLOSSARY OF POETIC TERMS

LITERARY TERMS

ANOTHER GLOSSARY OF POETIC TERMS

2.  Search for 5 poems you like written by other poets.

You can find this information on the Internet at the following websites or use print resources in the classroom.  When you find a poem you like, copy it down in your journal.  Remember to write down the poet's name and where you found the poem.

POET'S CORNER

KIDZ PAGE

THE INTERNET POETRY ARCHIVE

POETRY4KIDS

SHELL SILVERSTEIN I

SHELL SILVERSTEIN II

SHELL SILVERSTEIN III

THE SCHOOL POETRY PAGES

ISLMC POETRY FOR CHILDREN

3.  Write and choose 5 of your own poems you want to publish.

Visit the following websites for ideas to write your own poetry.  Also visit the poetry stations located throughout the classroom.  We will be writing poems as a class as well.  You can choose any of these poems for your poetry book.  Write as many poems as you can and choose your best ones!!!

POETRY4KIDS

HAIKU WRITING

POETRY PALS

LEXICAL FREE NET
(This is a thesaurus, rhyming dictionary, etc.)

RHYMING DICTIONARY

DICTIONARY

THESAURUS

4.  Publish your own poetry book using the poems you wrote and the ones you found.  Further instructions will be given later.  This part of the quest will be done in class.

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Evaluation

POETIC ELEMENT MINIBOOK RUBRIC

POETRY BOOK RUBRIC

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Conclusion

CONGRATULATIONS!!!  
You have helped Agent Alliteration capture the dubious crook, Fun E. Pun.  All the poems are now safely secured in your own poetry book.

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TEACHER INFORMATION

For complete lesson plans using this webquest access my web page, Jeri Lynn White

MINIBOOK INSTRUCTIONS

1. Fold an 81/2'' x 11'' piece of paper in half hotdog style.

2. Fold the paper into fourths.

3.  Then unfold the paper and refold it in half hamburger style.

4.  Now cut up the center of the fold halfway.  Only cut one of the sections; not all the way to the edge of the paper.

5.  Now refold the paper hotdog style.  Holding the two ends of the paper push towards the center.  This will make the two center pieces of paper squeeze out.

6.  Finally, wrap the ends of the paper around creating small book.

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POETRY BOOK INSTRUCTIONS

SUPPLIES

            1 piece of construction paper              10 pieces of plain white paper 
                                                                                    (will hold 10 poems) 
            Hole puncher                                           3 pieces of string
            Pen and pencil                                        Markers for decoration

 
STEPS FOR CONSTRUCTING BOOK

            1.  Fold the construction paper hamburger style.  Be sure the edges are straight.  Crease on the fold.

            2.  Fold each of the pieces of white paper hamburger style.  Make sure these edges are straight also.  Crease on the fold of each sheet.

            3.  Place the folded white paper inside of the folded construction paper.  BE SURE THE FOLDED EDGE OF THE WHITE PAPER IS FACING THE OUTSIDE OF THE CONSTRUCTION PAPER! This way you will not write on the backside of any pages. 

             4.  Carefully punch three holes on the folded edge of the construction paper going through the white paper as well.  Space the holes evenly along the edge.

 STEPS FOR WRITING IN YOUR BOOK

             1.  Now that your book is basically constructed, take the white paper out of the construction paper. 

             2.  Follow the directions for each page.  Unfold each sheet to make it easier to write on.  You should write on only half of the page at a time.  I suggest using pencil to begin with and then going over it with a pen.  Remember to use blue or black ink except for on the cover where you can use your markers.  You may want to put a piece of paper with lines on it behind the white paper so you will write straight.

                         COVER- (construction paper)-Use markers to write a TITLE and YOUR NAME on the front.  Then decorate the front cover neatly.

                         TITLE PAGE-(first sheet of white paper)-Write the TITLE of your book and YOUR NAME again. 

                         COPY RIGHT PAGE-(back side of the first sheet of white paper)-Write the YEAR, the PUBLISHER'S NAME, and the PLACE OF PUBLICATION at the bottom of this sheet. 

            TABLE OF CONTENTS-(second sheet of white paper)-Title this page TABLE OF CONTENTS.  Then under the title list the titles of each of your poems in the order they will appear in the book.  Remember to add the author's name if it is someone other than you.  You will need to put page numbers on this page when you are sure of the correct page number for each poem.

                         POEMS-(beginning with the third sheet of white paper)-Neatly write in blue or black ink each of your poems.  Each poem should be on the front or back of its own sheet.  This should be done as neatly as possible, taking care to leave room so each poem will fit on one page.  If you must use more than one page, please see me for assistance.  You can also go back and decorate the page.  You can draw your own illustrations or use pictures from magazines.  Remember this is your final copy, so don't make any mistakes!!!

                         BLANK BACK SHEET-The last back side of the white paper should be blank. 

                         BACK COVER-(construction paper)-This should be blank as well unless you want to decorate it neatly.

             3.  Remember to put each page in the correct order in your book. 

             4.  After you have written on the pages, align the holes in the white paper and construction paper and place the yarn through the holes.  Tie a bow in the yarn.  Do not tie the yarn so tight that your book will not open.

             5.  CONGRATULATIONS!!!  You have now finished publishing your very own poetry book.  Look back through your book and check for any mistakes you might have made.  This is a large part of your grade this six weeks. 

             6.  Turn your book into me and make sure that I mark your name off the list to show you have given me your book.  I will grade your poetry book using the poetry book rubric.  

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POETRY STATIONS

I have created poetry stations to place around the room.  I have a different kind of poem at each station.  I used form poems at these stations because they are easier to explain.  I have typed up the instructions on how to write each kind of poetry and placed an example at each station.  In the past I have allowed a certain amount of time at each station, but with this poetry quest, I plan to let the students work on their own.  

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STUDENT CHECKLIST

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CREDITS

A big round of applause needs to go to these people because they can actually create this amazing computer stuff, not just borrow it!

Clip Art Lines:
clipartconnection.com

Background:

Midi Music:

www.geocities.com/Athens/Parthenon/1317/bond.html

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