Informational Poetry
Genre Definition
Poetry is a piece of writing that is written in a sort of rhythmical way. Informational Poetry is a type of poetry that presents true stories and facts. They tend to use similies and metaphors. They are not so straight forward like your textbook, were it just tells you what happen. Informational poetry uses descriptive words to help you see or feel what happened, as if you were there. Common topics for informational poetry include events in history and facts about nature.
Classroom Use
Writing Activity: First, explain that scientists write briefly and straight to the point, but poets use more describing words and metaphors. During writing time, have students play the role of the "Poet" and give them a sentence that the "Scientist" would say. Then they must turn whatever the Scientist has said into a more descriptive piece of writing, like a poet would.
Speaking & Listening Actvity: Do an activity where you read an informational poem to your class. As you read, have students draw what they are visualizing. The teacher in the video below uses iPads, which is a great way to keep students engaged and not looking for a new crayon every couple of minutes, if you have the resources. After you finish reading the poem, have students share out and discuss their ideas and drawings.
Selection Process
When selecting informational poems to use with your class, make sure to pay attention to the poem's language. Oftentimes poems use figurative language, such as metaphors, similes, and idioms. Young students, struggling readers, and ELL students may have a hard time comprehending what is being said in the text if too much figurative language is being used. I think poems that use repitition, rhythm, and rhyme make fun read alouds and students enjoy them. Also, look for alliteration and other literary devices that will engage the listener as you read.
Texts that I Recommend
Summary: Heroes and She-roes is a book of poems about people who are considered to be heroes from our history. This includes people like Martin Luther King Jr., Hellen Keller, Rosie the Riveter, etc. This book could be a great way to tie English Language Arts concepts to Social Studies. It provides a different approach to learning history than what's found in most textbooks.
Text Features: Aside from the poems on each page, there are also dates of when the event occurred, the location, and a brief summary of the event. The illustrations are big and well done. The font is small.
Book Reviews: "Both the famous and the unknown are celebrated in the 21 rhyming poems in this collection, which is illustrated with full-page, smiling oil portraits." --Booklist
APA citation: Lewis, J. (2005). Heroes and She-roes. New York City, NY: Dial Books.
Grade Level: 3-7
Read aloud grade band: 2-3
Support: It may be best to split this book up by page and not read it straight through like a story book. Elementary students may find it hard to comprehend or feel overwhelmed with the amount of information provided on each page. It's always a good idea to inspire students to be great. So take advantage of the good character qualities expressed throughout this book and discuss what it means to be a hero.
Summary: This is a book of poems about Mexico and the Mexican culture. The poems provided are in English on one page and in Spanish on the other.
Text Features: This book includes a table of contents and glossary which are helpful. The font is small. It contains beautiful illustrations that represent typical mexican culture and customs.
Book Reviews: "Johnston regales the senses with idyllic scenes of streets lined with a rainbow of adobe houses, with the scent of roses growing in coffee cans and lilies in chile jars, and with the sounds of fields of corn shaking quietly in the warm wind. The overall impression is one of sunbaked cheerfulness, warmth, and color ably reinforced by Sierra's pastel-tinted artwork." --Horn Book
APA citation: Johnston, T., & Sierra, F. (1996). My Mexico: México mío. New York, NY: Putnam's Sons.
Grade level: K-3
Support: Support for ELL students is already provided through this book with the use of english and spanish. The glossary could come in very handy for translating/building english vocabulary. It may be necessary to provide some background knowledge to non-ELL students about different languages and countries.
