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Grades 4–5
5 Sessions: 90 Minutes Each
Poetry
Projects

Rare Air / Aire Raro

by Brandan Pierce, 826michigan
In this project, students explore poetry as a way of explaining and defining the world around them via the people, places, and events that make up their life.
Download Includes
Lesson Instructions
2 Instructor Writing Examples
5 Student Writing Examples
What Your Students Will Learn

Explore the various forms of poetry that created Rare Air/Aire raro, a book of poetry by fourth-graders at Roberto Clemente Learning Academy in Detroit. Students will reflect on their community, relationships, and experiences in life to create a series of poems that vividly capture their observation of the world around them.

What Your Students Will Produce

Students will produce a series of poems that connect themselves to their world through observing and describing their neighborhoods, relationships, and memories.

Student Writing Samples

Grades 4–5
Writing
WrestleMania 21-1

by Brayan Luna, 826michigan

Poetry

In this poem, a student vividly recounts watching The Undertaker perform a signature chokeslam on WrestleMania. Written in Spanish and English.

Grades 3–4
Writing
Memories Through the Ages

by Keila S.O., 826michigan

Poetry

An “I Am From” poem about growing up in Detroit.

Grades 3–4
Writing
My House/Mi casa

by Fatima, 826michigan

Memoir
Poetry

A list poem about a beautiful room and a beautiful family in both English and Spanish.

Grades 3–4
Writing
Delicious Pepperoni Pizza / Pizza de Pepperoni Deliciosa

by Alexa, 826michigan

Poetry

A poem that tastes like pepperoni pizza.

From This Publication

Rare Air / Aire raro is 826michigan's Young Author's Book Project for the 2015–2016 school year written by the fourth-grade students of Ms. Lowe's class at Roberto Clemente Learning Academy in Detroit and it is FULL of firsts for us. It is the first YABP written in Detroit. The first YABP of poetry. And the first that is completely bilingual (English and Spanish). With a foreword by inaugural poet Richard Blanco, and introduction by volunteer and retired teacher Sandy Karolak, Rare Air / Aire raro is full of exceptional and charming poems on family, neighborhood, and memories. Poems were translated into Spanish by students, family members, and volunteers to allow for students to share their voices with their community. So join fourth-grade writers of Roberto Clemente Learning Academy in feeling the rare air in this beautiful book of bilingual poetry. A bilingual collection of poetry written by fourth graders at Roberto Clemente Learning Academy in Detroit.

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Informational
Memoir
Narrative
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Projects
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