My own lyrics

Okay, so now you have shared, discussed, pondered, and thought about some favorite lyrics.  Now I want you to write your own song lyrics.  If you are musical, you can even set them to music, but this is optional since I don't expect everyone to have that special gift (I do not!).  If you do not know how to set the lyrics to music, then you have a second option.  After printing your lyrics, decorate them with images that are either hand drawn or with images you find from magazines or the Internet.

Songs are poetry?

Do you realize that song lyrics are actually poetry set to music?  What are your favorite song lyrics?  Bring a copy of them into class to share.  If you have a copy of the song on your iPod or on a CD bring it to class to share.

I personally, enjoy the song, "If I Die Young," by The Band Perry.  I immediately realized that they had taken their idea from another poem that I love, "The Lady of Shalott," by the famous poet, Alfred Lord Tennyson.  When I watched their music video, sure enough, at the end of the video, they showed that poem!  You can check it out in this youtube video here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NJqUN9TClM

For homework, answer the following questions about the song lyrics you chose (type) and don't forget to bring the lyrics and your answers to class.

1. What is the name of the song?  Who is the artist who wrote/performed it?
2.  What are your favorite lines from the song?  Why?
3.  Do you like the way the lyrics are performed by the artist or would you perform the lines in a different way?  Using different instruments?  Explain.

EXTRA CREDIT:    WATCH THE VIDEO (IF I DIE YOUNG) AND TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK IT MEANS?  WHAT IS THE THEME?  YOUR ANSWER SHOULD BE A COMMENT ON THIS POST.

Favorite toy or animal?

How many of you had a or have a favorite toy or stuffed animal from childhood?  I remember mine.  His name was Gimmer.  He was a glow-worm whose face lit up when I squeezed his body.  I took him everywhere I went, but sadly, we left him in a hotel one summer on a family vacation and I never saw him again.  As a child, that left quite an impression on me because I considered "Gimmer" my friend and companion.

For homework, find a favorite toy or stuffed animal.  If you can't find your absolute favorite from childhood you can bring in a second favorite or you can find a picture online of the toy and bring it into class.  Next class, we will be doing story hour outside with my narration of "The Velveteen Rabbit" followed up by time for you to share stories about your favorite childhood "friend."  This will lead us into a short story activity we will be doing soon.

Group Activity

Each group will be assigned a poetic form (ie. sonnet, ode, limerick, haiku etc).  As a group, you will research this poetic form and find examples of that form in poems by other writers.  Then, as a group, you will create a 15 minute lesson plan to teach this form to your peers.

Expectations:

-Provide a handout which includes the following: the rules/form of the poem, an example of the poem type,  and a little history explaining the origin of the poem.  Handout should be visually pleasing and easy to read.  It should be proofed for spelling and grammar errors so that it appears professional.
-Get the students involved with your lesson by asking and responding to questions
-Get students to attempt the poetic form either in their journals as individuals or with one other peer.

-Everyone in the group must also submit an original poem in the form you selected.  If you have selected a poem form that is 5 or fewer lines you must write three poems in that form (ie. haiku or limerick).  You must share one of your poems with the class during your presentation.

Extras:  You may also include a power point presentation or other forms of multi-media if you wish.

Self-Reflection

What does it mean to be self-reflective?

Here is one explanation:

"Take a moment to think about what this sentence on self reflection means for you.

It is talking about how we perceive ourselves and our surroundings - how we fail to see that life reflects us back to ourselves.
Because we keep on looking out the windows, many of us take forever to realize that we are looking at ourselves mirrored back to us by others and by the events of our life.
This saying about self reflection helps us to become empowered.
If we see that our negative feelings towards others are reflecting back to ourselves our own sense of negativity then we can do something to help ourselves forward. By continuously looking out the window and putting the 'blame' on others we fail to utilize all the power in the moment.

Changing our perception of the problem by seeing the reality as it is reflected by us and to us, brings empowerment, change, discovery and consciousness.
As we learn to look for that reflection in the mirror rather than to project our senses outwards we gain a sense of responsibility for our own lives. Our authentic self begins to shine through." 

I believe self-reflection is essential for coming to know oneself.  Writers are typically very self-reflective people--people seeking to know themselves and usually through that self-knowledge make a difference in other's lives.  

Today I'm going to ask you to self-reflect.  Who are you?  Imagine you are describing yourself to someone who has no knowledge of you whatsoever.  How do you describe yourself to that person in just a couple of pages?  What defines you as YOU?  The more seriously you take this assignment the more rewarding.  You will have the opportunity to add to this reflection throughout the semester as you reflect more.  By the end of the semester, this will be the most significant piece you produce.  A piece I want you to have to reflect upon as you grow older.   


Who we are looking for is who is looking ~St. Francis of Assisi

Recipe Project

Using our descriptive writing powers, we will create a class recipe book. For this assignment, you will:

1.  Pick a family recipe that you've enjoyed over the years.
2.  Re-write it using descriptive adjectives.  List the ingredients descriptively.
3.  Then very clearly but descriptively include a set of directions for how to make the recipe.  You don't need to "overdo" the number of adjectives.  Use just enough to get the makers mouth watering!!

Next, make the recipe and take photographs of the process that way you can include visuals with the steps. Design your recipe page(s) to be visually pleasing and easy to read.  All of your recipes will be laminated be made into a book so that each of us can have a copy of the recipes.

On the day that the books are given to you, you will bring the food and we'll share in a great feast!

Journals to improve sentences!

Food Journal:
Pick 3 foods. For each one, write a sentence that describes the food in such a way that makes it sound awful.
[For example: Food=Potato chips: 
The dripping grease of the chips sat in my stomach like a glob ofplaydough.]

Desert Journal:
Write a mouth-watering description of your favorite dessert.
[For example, Chocolate Layer Cake has Moist but fluffy layers joined together with thick, rich icing.

Menu Journal:  
Write the menu for your ideal meal. Use at least one adjective for each food.
[For example: Tossed salad with ranch dressing; Stuffed baked potato with sour cream on the side; Hot garlic bread; Baked chicken with mushroom sauce; Steamed, buttered asparagus; Chocolate cheesecake; Frothy hot chocolate]


Source: http://smallworldathome.blogspot.com/2009/01/smallworlds-wordsmithery-powerful-words.html