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Turkey Day!
Description:
Students will use resources in the library media center and on the Internet to learn about the early colonial custom of Thanksgiving and to locate poems on the topic. Next, students write their own poetry in the style of one poem located, using the knowledge gained during their research. This lesson is designed to help students achieve satisfaction in their research accomplishments through the presentation of a final project based on the work they have completed.
Goals & Objectives:
LIBRARY MEDIA SKILLS OBJECTIVES
The student will:
-use poetry indexes to find a poem about Thanksgiving.
-locate books about Thanksgiving and the early colonists to identify foods and customs of the time.

CURRICULUM OBJECTIVES:
This activity may be incorporated into a unit on the early colonists or early holiday celebrations in America.

MOTIVATIONAL OBJECTIVES:
The student will:
-become interested in the research process.
-understand the importance of information skills.
-experience increased confidence in research ability.
-achieve satisfaction in research accomplishments.
Materials & Sources:
Resource List
Sample Poem
 
Credits:
School Library Media Activities Monthly
Adapted for SOS by Kori Gerbig
School of Information Studies
Syracuse University

Sources:
School Library Media Activities Monthly
November 2002; 19:3; 13-14.
http://www.schoollibrarymedia.com
http://www.crinkles.com
 
Procedures:
INSTRUCTIONAL ROLES:
-The classroom teacher leads the activity as students celebrate Thanksgiving. Several sessions may be devoted to gathering recipes that might have been used by the early celebrants of the holiday. As part of the recipe gathering, students will identify what foods the early colonists had. With this knowledge, they may create their own versions of some of the more famous poems.


ACTIVITIES AND PROCEDURES FOR COMPLETION:
-Explain that often people use famous poems and change them slightly. Many students may be familiar with "Twas, the Night before Christmas" and the many other versions. Explain that students will use information they have gathered about the first Thanksgiving (food, recipes, dress, and customs) to make up their own poem based on a model. Share James Whitcomb Riley's “When the Frost Is on the Punkin.

-Discuss how the students might use the same poetic rhythm and form and substitute their own words.

-A poem that is related to food and dinner is Maude M. Grant's "A Thanksgiving Dinner". See the resource list and check the library media center collection for other poems students might enjoy.

-The library media specialist helps students with two kinds of research. The first is to find materials about the first Thanksgivings and how they were celebrated. The second is to find poetry examples related to Thanksgiving. Review or introduce poetry indexes and show how to move from a citation in an index to the poem within a book on the shelf.

-Students may work in pairs or small groups to complete their projects. When students complete their versions of a poem, they may make audiotapes of the original and their own for sharing with the entire class.

FOLLOW-UP:
-Students may illustrate their poems or have a choral read-along with other classmates.

Assessment:
-Each student will use poetry indexes to find Thanksgiving poems and will use materials to learn about the early colonial custom of Thanksgiving. Information located will be incorporated into a poem in the same style as a located poem. (Variety and sophistication depending on the level of the student).
Sources:
School Library Media Activities Monthly
November 2002; 19:3; 13-14.
http://www.schoollibrarymedia.com
http://www.crinkles.com

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Presented By: School Library Media Activities Monthly
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