Middle 5 min 20 min 10 min | II Vocabulary builder (GW) 1. Teacher arranges students into three groups. Each group will need table space. Teacher tells students that each group will create a word chart and gives each group one piece of A4 format paper and two markers. Differentiation Reading, writing, and speaking abilities are balanced among the groups. It is recommended to put students into groups in such a way that in each group there are students with strong reading, writing and speaking abilities. 2. Teacher asks one group of students to think about the current season, and write a list of words or phrases that depict things (nouns) that are indicative of it. For example, during winter, responses might include snow, ice, thunder, bare tree branches, and pine trees. During spring, responses might include flowers, buds, new leaves, and ducklings. 3. Teacher asks another group of students to chart words that will describe the season (adjectives). For example, during summer, responses might include hot, boiling, sizzling, and bright. During autumn, responses might include crunchy, brown, and dying. 4. The third group will write words that are actions for the season (verbs). Examples might be swim for summer, skate for winter, bloom for spring, or fall for autumn. 5. Teacher gives students time to generate as many words as they can on one piece of chart paper. When the three word charts are complete, teacher posts them onto the whiteboard so that all students can review all charts. Some words may be added to (or deleted from) each chart. Note: in the activity described above students use their prior knowledge. The level of vocabulary can vary according to the class. The words provided here are just an example. 6. Teacher tells students that they will use the word charts in a poetry-writing activity. III Writing (GW) 1 Students will work independently to write their own haiku, using words from the charts to help them generate ideas. Teacher makes sure that students understand that the word lists are for reference and ideas and encourages them to use their own words if they think of something that is not on the charts. Differentiation Teacher circulates among students to answer and ask questions. As students write particularly interesting phrases, teacher encourages them to keep doing it. 2 Having finished writing their poems students copy them onto A3 format papers and illustrate them. IV Presentation and peer assessment (GW) (FA) Students swap their papers and assess each other using the Haiku evaluation rubric. | http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/lesson-plans/seasonal-haiku-writing-poems-39.html A4 format papers and markers A3 format papers, coloured pencils or felt-tip pens Appendix 1 (the Haiku evaluation rubric) |