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TITLE:    "An Irritating Creature" - a poetry lesson

AUTHOR:   Cathy D. McKenzie,  Parkside Elementary,
          Powell,  WY

GRADE LEVEL:   Appropriate for grades 3-4.

OVERVIEW:  This activity was developed as part of a poetry
unit.  It is designed to encourage students to think about
and evaluate the meaning of a poem.  It also encourages
students to be original and creative in their thinking.

OBJECTIVE(s):  Students will be able to:
1.   Read the poem "An Irritating Creature" silently and
     orally with a partner.
2.   Participate in a classroom discussion concerning the
     poem.
3.   Draw a picture of "the irritating creature"  (whatever
     that might be.)
4.   Share and explain their illustration to the class.

MATERIALS:  copies of the poem, drawing paper, crayons or
markers

ACTIVITIES:
1.   Read the poem orally to the class twice.
2.   Give each pair of students a copy of the poem to read
     silently and to each other.
3.   Discuss the poem - rhyming patterns, ambiguity, etc.
4.   Have each group list the many, different and unusual
     things "the irritating creature" could be.
5.   Have each student draw what they believe to be "the
     irritating creature".
6.   Share the illustrations with the class.

TYING IT ALL TOGETHER:  This is a fun activity which allows
students to interpret poetry freely and experience success
in their interpretations.  Hopefully, through this activity
the students will learn to think more about the meaning of
poetry and enjoy it more.

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