What Florida History Means to Me

What Florida History Means to Me

Lesson by: Elizabeth Stevens
Subject Area: Language Arts & Social Studies (Poetry and Florida History)
Grade Level: 4th Grade
Time: 1-2 week project
(about 30 minutes a day)

Objective: Students will learn about free verse poetry. Using that knowledge and their background knowledge of Florida history they will create their own free verse poem. The students will create a presentation of that poem with the audience being their classmates. Students will record themselves reading the poem, choose appropriate pictures and music to go along with their presentation.

SSS:
LA.4.6.4.1 use appropriate available technologies to enhance communication and achieve a purpose
LA.4.4.1.2 write a variety of expressive forms that employ figurative language, rhythm, dialogue, characterization, plot, and/or appropriate format
LA.4.5.2.5 make formal and informal oral presentations for a variety of purposes, audiences and occasions, demonstrating appropriate language choices, body language, eye contact, gestures and appropriate use of available technologies
SS.A.6.2.3 knows the significant individuals, events, and social, political, and economic characteristics of different periods in Florida’s history

Note: This lesson would be appropriately used towards the middle or end of a 4th grade year. The knowledge of Florida history is necessary to create a meaningful poem and presentation. Knowledge of Movie Maker or iMovie and Audacity or Garage Band is also required. The use any of can be taught along with this lesson but the intention is to already have the skills.

Necessary Tools/Equipment:
* Microsoft Word/Appleworks Document
* Audacity/Garage Band
* Internet Access (for gathering of photos and music clips)
* Internal microphones/ headsets with mics (for reading of poem)
* Digital Cameras
* Paper/pencil (if desired for rough draft)
* Take pictures of chocolate and eating chocolate (about 10 pics)
* Projector for modeling and presentations

Activity:

Introduce Free Verse Poetry to students. It is poetry that is written without proper rules about form, rhyme, rhythm or meter. YAY! No Rules! ?
Tell students that the writer makes his/her own rules and decides how the poem should look, feel and sound. Free verse poetry expresses how you feel.
Model how to write a free verse poem with students. Whole group write a paragraph entitled “What Chocolate Means to me”. Use ideas from all students.
Tell students that now you’re going to turn that paragraph into a free verse poem. Go back and break the paragraph into lines. (Not necessarily by sentence!!)
As you do this, revise the lines until they look, feel and sound right to YOU (in this instance it will be whole group/us)
Encourage thoughts and ideas from the class but lead them into creating shorter, more meaningful lines.
As a group, re-title the poem to fit what has been created.
Now it’s their turn! In groups, have students brainstorm thoughts or ideas they remember from Florida history.
Tell students to think about how Florida history has affected or what it means to them. Their ideas don’t have to be exact data, but leaning more towards thoughts and ideas.
Students need to open up a new document or may use paper/pencil to write a paragraph. The paragraph should be entitled, “What Florida History Means to Me”. (Based on your students, decide what or how long a paragraph should be.)
Once done with their paragraph, students need to go back into the document and break the paragraph into lines.
Remind them as they do this to revise the lines until they look, feel, and sound right to them.
Students need to re-title their new poem.

Have students create a folder on their desktop entitled Poetry Project. This is where they will keep their poem, photos, and music for their presentation.

Model how to create a presentation! Tell students that now they are going to collect pictures to fit or go along with their poem.
Using the poem written about chocolate, open already taken photos of chocolate. Open up a new iMovie (or Movie Maker) project and title it Poetry Project. Remind students how to import photos.
Read the poem aloud to students. As a class, decide what order the pictures should be in to best fit the poem.
Now it’s their turn! Direct students in using available digital cameras to take pictures of the "Florida" that is around them. For time restraints and lack of cameras you may also direct students to http://fcit.usf.edu/florida/photos/photos.htm. Tell them that this is the ONLY place for them to download photos from for their project.
Students need to collect 10-20 photos that they feel fit with their poem.
Once photos are collected, students will open up their own iMovie (or Movie Maker) project, title it Poetry Project and import their photos.
Students will then begin to put their photos in order.

Model how to record poem! Tell students that now they are going to record themselves reading their poem.
Using the poem written about chocolate, open up a new Audacity or Garage Band Project entitled Poetry Reading.
Remind students how to record. Either choose a student or read to record the class written poem about chocolate.
Once recorded fix any pauses or imperfections. Remind students that the recording will be going into a finished project, so if they need to they should re-record the poem if necessary.
When the poem is the way the class wants it…Model how to add music! Tell students that now you are going to add music that fits the poem for background. Modeling, take them to www.freeplaymusic.com.
Remind students about copyright rules- they must acknowledge the music they choose.
Terms and Agreement Section 5(b)(2) If you are using Freeplay Music for: Educational, Non-Commercial use (this is limited to student use on school grounds for in classroom projects-non-broadcast)
Then Freeplay Music’s compositions and recordings may be used without a fee.
Model choosing appropriate music- 30 second clips MP3.
Manipulate music so that the poem can be heard clearly and the music is soft in the background. Remind students who their audience is.
SAVE!
Now it’s their turn! Give students time to record their poem and add music. Their poetry recording and music file should be no longer than 3 minutes!!

Model putting it all together! Going back to the iMovie or Movie Maker project, import the music file from Audacity or Garage Band.
As a class, decide if the order of photos still fits. Put the photos to the poem/music. Remind students that they can manipulate the length of time a photo is shown. Model adding transitions to the photos.
SAVE!
Create a TITLE slide!
Create a credits slide!
Make any adjustments to the project! SAVE AGAIN!
Now it’s their turn! Have students begin putting their project together. Be sure to walk around the room to help students with finishing their project!
REMIND THEM TO SAVE- EVERY 5 MINUTES!


Choose a day to present the projects. When students present, they need to reflect on their project after their poem is shown (2 minutes). Their total presentation should be 5 minutes long.