Animal+Research+&+Acrostics


 * Animal Acrostics - Poetry and Research **(NFMT p. 23-26)

After reading, students will create acrostic poetry and highly focused research reports around an essential question. (Focus on a topic such as sea life, birds, land mammals, etc.) Let students know the intended product (class book) and intended audience (other students, parents).

Day 1
 * Collect a set of books on the topic. Premark pages with colored sticky notes based on big ideas.
 * Groups read together and come up with the point or big idea the author was trying to make and an essential question the author would have asked before writing.
 * Chart the results (see p. 24).

Day 2
 * Students browse books to find a new topic. Once a topic is chosen, they read multiple books on that topic.
 * Write an acrostic poem about their choice to get familiar and comfortable with the topic.
 * Write a small paragraph extending the information presented in the poem without looking at the books. (Students are less likely to copy from the book if they know they have to remember.)

Day 3
 * Students look at books again to find the big idea/point that they want to make. Check the big idea with me.
 * Reread 3-4 texts to find information to support the big idea.
 * Create a draft paragraph using previously written material and book resources.

Day 4
 * <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 19px;">Revise, edit, and create a final draft. They will also include a picture.