Big Ideas Discussion: To show understanding of this text scholars must articulate that the speaker enjoys imagining being many different things, but above all enjoys being herself.
Craft and Structure Focus: Repetition
Highlight the poet’s repetition of the phrase, “I’m a…”
Discuss how the author uses repetition to show that the speaker imagines she can be many different things, but above all, wants to be herself.
Understanding the Big Idea: Scholars complete a bubble map graphic organizer identifying the big idea and the evidence that supports it.
Note: During the first two weeks, model using the bubble map to determine the main idea and fill it in together as a class. Once scholars know how to use the graphic organizer have them complete it themselves to assess their level of understanding.
Day 2 Focus: Responding to Literature in Writing
Title: “By Myself” (Poem)
Question: What does the speaker do when she’s by herself?
Sample answer: When she’s by herself, the speaker closes her eyes and imagines being all different kinds of things.
Lines 3–12 list all the things the speaker imagines herself as.
For example, she imagines herself as “a twin,” “a loaf of brown bread,” and “anything I care to be.”
Day 3 Focus: Read and Understand the Text
Title: “Oak Leaf Plate” (Poem)
Big Ideas Discussion: To show understanding of this text scholars must articulate that the speaker is using her imagination to create a meal from things found in nature.
Craft and Structure Focus: Repetition
Highlight the poet’s repetition of the phrase, “ ___for ___” to show how objects found in nature become things used for a meal.
Discuss how the author uses repetition to show how the speaker is using his imagination to transform objects.
Understanding the Big Idea: Scholars complete a bubble map graphic organizer identifying the big idea and the evidence that supports it.
Note: During the first two weeks, model using the bubble map to determine the main idea and fill it in together as a class. Once scholars know how to use the graphic organizer have them complete it themselves to assess their level of understanding.
Day 4 Focus: Responding to Literature in Writing
Title: “Oak Leaf Plate” (Poem)
Question: What is the speaker doing with the sand, mud, sticks, and stones?
Sample answer: The speaker is using the sand, mud, sticks, and stones to play, imagining that she is preparing food for a meal.
For example, the speaker imagines using “sticks” and “stones” for “bread” and “meat.”
She also imagines using “sand for salt” and “mud for pie,” as well as drinking “tea” out of an “acorn cup.”
Week 2
Day 1 Focus: Read and Understand the Text
Title: “The Tree and the Pool” (Poem)
Big Ideas Discussion: To show understanding of this text scholars must articulate that all the characters are resistant to change, but no one can escape the changes that come as time passes.
Craft and Structure Focus: Repetition
Highlight the poet’s repetition of the phrase, “I don’t want…”
Discuss how the author uses repetition to emphasize that none of the living things or objects in the poem want to change from their current state.
For example, the pool doesn’t want to freeze, the night doesn’t want to end, and the kite doesn’t want to fall.
Understanding the Big Idea: Scholars complete a bubble map graphic organizer identifying the big idea and the evidence that supports it.
Note: During the first two weeks, model using the bubble map to determine the main idea and fill it in together as a class. Once scholars know how to use the graphic organizer have them complete it themselves to assess their level of understanding.
Day 2 Focus: Responding to Literature in Writing
Title: “The Tree and the Pool” (Poem)
Question: Why does the poet end with the line, “‘You must do what I say,’ said Time.”
Sample answer: The poet ends the poem with this line to show that no one can avoid change over time.
The poet suggests that no matter how much people complain, “to change is a crime,” they can’t avoid change.
Instead, all people, plants, animals, and objects have to do what Time says.
Day 3 Focus: Read and Understand the Text
Title: “Hello and Good-by” (Poem)
Big Ideas Discussion: To show understanding of this text scholars must articulate that things come and go with time, following predictable patterns.
Craft and Structure Focus: Repetition
Highlight the poet’s repetition of the words, “hello” and “good-by.” Discuss how the repetition of “hello” and “good-by” in the first stanza helps us visualize a swing going back and forth.
In the end, the poet repeats these words to show that just like a swing moves back and forth, there are always patterns of change over time, such as the weather and seasons.
Understanding the Big Idea: Scholars complete a bubble map graphic organizer identifying the big idea and the evidence that supports it.
Note: During the first two weeks, model using the bubble map to determine the main idea and fill it in together as a class. Once scholars know how to use the graphic organizer have them complete it themselves to assess their level of understanding.
Day 4 Focus: Responding to Literature in Writing
Title: “Hello and Good-by” (Poem)
Question: What is this poem mostly about?
Sample answer: This poem is mostly about how things come and go with time, following patterns.
For example, just like a swing goes back and forth, weather changes from rainy to sunny.
Similarly, when the seasons change and winter comes, birds will always migrate.
What Else Do I Need?
Shared Text Selections:
Poem: “By Myself” from Honey, I Love and Other Poems by Eloise Greenfield
Poem: “Oak Leaf Plate”from The Llama Who Had No Pajama by Mary Ann Hoberman
Poem: “The Tree and the Pool” from The Puffin Book of Utterly Brilliant Poetry
by Brian Pattern
Poem: “Hello and Good-by” from The Llama Who Had No Pajama by Mary Ann Hoberman
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