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← Poetry Activity Book — Listen, My Children

Grades 6–8 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.

K–12–34–56–89–12

Unit 4
Listen, My Children
Poems for Fourth Graders
Activity Book
GRADE 4 Core Knowledge Language Arts®

Unit 4
Listen, My Children
Poems for Fourth Graders
Activity Book
GRADE 4
Core Knowledge Language Arts®

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Core Knowledge Language Arts™, CKLA™, Core Knowledge®, Core Knowledge Curriculum Series™, Core Knowledge History and Geography™, and CKHG™ are trademarks (official names and symbols) that belong to the Core Knowledge Foundation.

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Listen, My Children Teacher Guide was made possible with support from the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation.

We would also like to thank Dr. Emily Chiariello (http://www.chiariello-consulting.com/) and Dr. Ebony Thomas (http://scholar.gse.upenn.edu/thomas) for reviewing this Teacher Guide. Their ideas and suggestions for resources and changes made this guide much better. We also thank Robin McClellan and the teachers and coaches of Sullivan County.

This free educational resource (OER) is meant to be used alongside the main CKLA program created by the Core Knowledge Foundation. It is not currently part of the official CKLA print program sold by Amplify. However, as teachers try out this unit in their classrooms and share feedback, Amplify and the Core Knowledge Foundation will think about whether to include it in future versions of the CKLA program.

Activity Page 1.1

Vocabulary for "The Fog" and "The Rhinoceros"

  1. fog, n. — a low cloud made of tiny water droplets that forms near the ground (page 11)
  2. harbor, n. — a part of a body of water, close to land, that keeps boats safe and protected (page 11)
  3. haunch, n. — the part of the body that includes the hip and upper thigh (haunches) (page 11)
  4. homely, adj. — not attractive (page 14)
  5. beast, n. — an animal that is not a human (page 14)
  6. feast, n. — a large, fancy meal (page 14)
  7. farewell, n. — words used to wish someone well when saying goodbye (page 14)

Activity Page 1.2

Free Verse Poetry: Planning

Directions: Use the graphic organizer below to brainstorm (come up with) ideas for your free verse poem—a poem that does not follow a set rhyme or rhythm pattern. Then write your finished poem on Activity Page 1.3.

Activity Page 1.3

Free Verse Poem

(space provided for writing)

Activity Page 2.1

Vocabulary for "Clarence" and "A Tragic Story"

  1. commercial, n. — an advertisement for selling a product or service (commercials) (page 15)
  2. bleach, n. — a chemical that makes something whiter or brighter (page 15)
  3. stylish, adj. — following current fashion trends (page 15)
  4. cavity, n. — a hole in a tooth caused by decay (cavities) (page 15)
  5. scold, v. — to speak to someone in a harsh or angry way (page 15)
  6. sage, n. — a wise person (page 17)
  7. handsome, adj. — attractive or good-looking (page 17)
  8. muse, v. — to think carefully about something for a long time (mused) (page 17)
  9. curious, adj. — interesting because it is unusual or strange (page 17)
  10. stout, adj. — thick and sturdy (page 17)

Activity Page 2.2

List pairs of rhyming words that you find in "Clarence" and "A Tragic Story."

  1. ___________________________
  2. ___________________________
  3. ___________________________
  4. ___________________________
  5. ___________________________
  6. ___________________________
  7. ___________________________
  8. ___________________________
  9. ___________________________
  10. ___________________________

Activity Page 2.3

Poem with a Rhyme Scheme: Planning

Directions: Use the graphic organizer below to brainstorm pairs of rhyming words for a poem that follows a rhyme scheme (a pattern of rhymes). Write the topic of your poem in the center circle, and write pairs of rhyming words in the smaller circles around it. Then write your poem on Activity Page 2.4.

Activity Page 2.4

Poem with a Rhyme Scheme

(space provided for writing)

Activity Page 3.1

Vocabulary for "Things" and "Life Doesn't Frighten Me"

  1. shore, n. — the land where a large body of water meets the ground (page 10)
  2. sandhouse, n. — a small structure built out of sand at the shore, made just for fun and not meant to last (page 10)
  3. frighten, v. — to make someone afraid (page 30)
  4. counterpane, n. — a cloth cover for a bed; a quilt (page 30)
  5. charm, n. — an object believed to bring good luck (page 31)

Activity Page 3.2

Focus on the Poet: Maya Angelou

Where and when the poet was born:
_______________________________________________

What I find interesting about the poet:
_______________________________________________

Other poems by this poet:
_______________________________________________

Activity Page 3.3

Poem with Repetition: Planning

Directions: Use the graphic organizer below to brainstorm words or lines you could repeat in your poem. Write the topic of your poem in the center circle, and write words or lines you might repeat in the smaller circles. Then write your poem on Activity Page 3.4.

Activity Page 3.4

Poem with Repetition

(space provided for writing)

Activity Page 4.1

Vocabulary for "Dreams"

  1. fast, adv. — tight (page 13)
  2. barren, adj. — not able to support life or growth (page 13)

Activity Page 4.2

Focus on the Poet: Langston Hughes

Where and when the poet was born:
_______________________________________________

What I find interesting about the poet:
_______________________________________________

View the original resourceMore English / ELA →

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