Lesson Topic: Word Portraits (Name Poems)
Grade Level: 2nd Grade
Teacher of Lesson: Ms. Caravia
Approximate Time: 45 Minutes
Date of Lesson: Nov. 5, 1997

Objectives:

1. Students will begin to learn more about poetry and show their understanding about specific types of poems by writing their own (Comprehension).
2. Students will reflect on themselves and incorporate different facts about themselves in a poem (Application).
3. Students will review and identify what an adjective is and they will brainstorm for adjectives that describe themselves (Analysis).
4. Students will demonstrate their abilities to work independently and they will show their creativity in writing (Comprehension).

Materials:

1. White construction paper
2. Black marker
3. Optional: Thesaurus, books, or magazines for word ideas
4. Optional: For older students, more construction paper to cut out large capital letters (one for each letter in their first names).
5. Crayons or markers

Procedures:

1. Point out to children that their names tell others who they are (a name is a small way of describing a person).
2. Review what an adjective is (describes a noun).
3. Have children think of adjectives that describe themselves
   * their personalities
   * things they like to do
   * special or unique abilities they have
   * what they like to think about
   * how they look
   * how they like to dress
   (Brainstorm with the students....give them ideas).
4. Explain to the students what a word portrait is (using each letter of their first and/or last name to find a word or words that describes them).
5. Show the students different examples:
   (e.g. L lively
   (e.g. M usically talented
   I interesting
   S. wimmer
   N neat
   C aring
   D determined
   A nxious about graduating
   A athletic )
   R esponsible
   A dores friends and family
   (e.g. T errific
   V ery excited about teaching
   O pen
   I ntelligent
   B eautiful
   A lways on task
   Y oung )
6. Encourage students to use more than one word, but it not a problem if the students use one word descriptions (depends on the students).
7. Pass out the white sheets with their names written vertically (already having the names on the papers is optional).
8. After the students have written their name poems, allow them to add color to their poem through illustrations, borders, etc. Encourage the students to add pictures related to their poems.
9. Add the poems to the students' writing books.

Evaluation of Student Learning:

1. Observe the students as they brainstorm for adjectives. Do they remember what adjectives are? What types of adjectives to they think of (simple or more complex)?
2. Did the students use more than one word for each line of their name poem?
3. Observe the students as they illustrate their name poems. Do any of their illustrations relate to what they wrote?