← Poetry Activity Book — Listen, My Children
Grades 4–5 reading level
Poetry Activity Book — Listen, My Children
Adapted with AI from the original open resource by Core Knowledge Foundation. Nothing is invented — only the reading level changes.
Unit 4
Listen, My Children
Poems for Fourth Graders
Activity Book
GRADE 4 — Core Knowledge Language Arts®
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All Rights Reserved.
The names "Core Knowledge Language Arts™," "CKLA™," "Core Knowledge®," "Core Knowledge Curriculum Series™," "Core Knowledge History and Geography™," and "CKHG™" all belong to the Core Knowledge Foundation.
Any other brand names shown in this book are used only to help explain and teach. They belong to their own owners.
Thank you to the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation for helping make the Listen, My Children Teacher Guide possible.
We also want to thank Dr. Emily Chiariello and Dr. Ebony Thomas for reviewing this guide. Their ideas and suggestions made this book even better. Thank you also to Robin McClellan and the teachers and coaches of Sullivan County.
This free unit adds extra material to the main CKLA program made by the Core Knowledge Foundation. It is not part of the CKLA books you can buy from Amplify. As teachers try out this unit and share feedback, Amplify and Core Knowledge will think about adding it to future editions of CKLA.
Activity Page 1.1
Name: _______________ Date: _______________
Vocabulary for "The Fog" and "The Rhinoceros"
- fog (noun) — a low cloud of mist that forms near the ground (page 11)
- harbor (noun) — a safe part of a body of water, close to land, where boats can be protected (page 11)
- haunch (noun) — the part of the body that includes the hip and upper thigh; more than one is called "haunches" (page 11)
- homely (adjective) — not attractive; plain-looking (page 14)
- beast (noun) — an animal that is not a human (page 14)
- feast (noun) — a large, fancy meal (page 14)
- farewell (noun) — a way of saying goodbye and wishing someone well (page 14)
Activity Page 1.2
Name: _______________ Date: _______________
Free Verse Poetry: Planning
Directions: Use the chart below to brainstorm ideas for your free verse poem (a poem that does not have to rhyme or follow a set pattern). Then write your poem on Activity Page 1.3.
Activity Page 1.3
Name: _______________ Date: _______________
Free Verse Poem
Activity Page 2.1
Name: _______________ Date: _______________
Vocabulary for "Clarence" and "A Tragic Story"
- commercial (noun) — an advertisement for selling a product or service; more than one is called "commercials" (page 15)
- bleach (noun) — a chemical that makes something whiter or brighter (page 15)
- stylish (adjective) — following what's popular in fashion right now (page 15)
- cavity (noun) — a hole in a tooth caused by decay; more than one is called "cavities" (page 15)
- scold (verb) — to speak to someone in an angry or harsh way (page 15)
- sage (noun) — a wise person (page 17)
- handsome (adjective) — attractive or good-looking (page 17)
- muse (verb) — to think carefully about something for a long time; past tense is "mused" (page 17)
- curious (adjective) — interesting because it is unusual or strange (page 17)
- stout (adjective) — thick and sturdy (page 17)
Activity Page 2.2
Name: _______________ Date: _______________
List pairs of rhyming words you find in "Clarence" and "A Tragic Story."
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Activity Page 2.3
Name: _______________ Date: _______________
Poem with a Rhyme Scheme: Planning
Directions: Use the chart below to brainstorm pairs of rhyming words for your poem. A rhyme scheme is the pattern of rhymes in a poem. Write your poem's topic in the center circle. Write pairs of rhyming words in the smaller circles. Then write your poem on Activity Page 2.4.
Activity Page 2.4
Name: _______________ Date: _______________
Poem with a Rhyme Scheme
Activity Page 3.1
Name: _______________ Date: _______________
Vocabulary for "Things" and "Life Doesn't Frighten Me"
- shore (noun) — the land where a large body of water meets the ground (page 10)
- sandhouse (noun) — a small structure built out of sand at the beach, made just for fun and not meant to last (page 10)
- frighten (verb) — to make someone afraid (page 30)
- counterpane (noun) — a cloth cover for a bed; a quilt (page 30)
- charm (noun) — an object believed to bring good luck (page 31)
Activity Page 3.2
Name: _______________ Date: _______________
Focus on the Poet: Maya Angelou
Where and when the poet was born:
________________________________________________________________________
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What I find interesting about the poet:
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Other poems by this poet:
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Activity Page 3.3
Name: _______________ Date: _______________
Poem with Repetition: Planning
Directions: Use the chart below to brainstorm words or lines you can repeat in your poem. Repetition means using the same word or line more than once. Write your poem's topic in the center circle. Write words or lines you might repeat in the smaller circles. Then write your poem on Activity Page 3.4.
Activity Page 3.4
Name: _______________ Date: _______________
Poem with Repetition
Activity Page 4.1
Name: _______________ Date: _______________
Vocabulary for "Dreams"
- fast (adverb) — tight (page 13)
- barren (adjective) — not able to support life or growth (page 13)
Activity Page 4.2
Name: _______________ Date: _______________
Focus on the Poet: Langston Hughes
Where and when the poet was born:
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Original licensed under CC BY-NC-SA. This adaptation is provided free by OER.ai.