Grades 3–5
Poetry
VideosIn addition to working as the Program Director at 826 MSP, Cristeta is an audio producer, journalist, and writer. As a writer of color, she values the amplification of fellow voices to bring greater equity to the storytelling landscape. When she gets to share stories that impact her community–like how neighborhood parks matter in the fight for social justice, or the impact of racial profiling of African immigrants in police reports–that work makes her feel part of something bigger than herself.
You will learn how the physical shape of a poem can impact its meaning, tone, and beauty.
In poetry, form refers to a poem’s structure or shape. Generally, a poem is recognized by shorter blocks of text, called stanzas, which are made up of individual lines. In this lesson, you will analyze how different visual elements affect a poem’s meaning, and then write a visual poem of your own.
STEP 1
First, watch the video and follow along with the Mentor Text on page 1 of the Meaning From Shape—Handout After you’ve watched the video, answer the question at the bottom of page 1.
STEP 2
Next, you will analyze how the poem’s shape affects the meaning, tone, and beauty of the poem. Tone refers to the overall mood or vibe of the poem. Answer the reflection questions found on page 2 to complete this step.
STEP 3
Now it’s your turn! In this step, you will write a simple poem that...
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