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Aboriginal Curriculum Integration Project

English

Poetry Lesson

(Submitted by Heidi Wood - SD 41 Burnaby)

Poem: And My Heart Soars
Poet: Chief Dan George

Learning Outcomes

Students will:

Goal of the Lessons

  1. To allow the student to explore what is significant and important in their lives through text and visual representation.
  2. To build social responsibility through the use of the “Circle of Courage”

Activate Prior Knowledge

Question using Georgia Heard’s “Poet’s Toolbox"

Review the four directions of the “Circle of Courage” (Dr. Martin Brokenleg , Larry Brendtro, Steve van Bockern)

Predict/Questions/Interpret

Teachers ask students to consider the following questions while completing the poetry writing/reading tasks below:

Why is the natural world important? 
What senses can we use to describe nature?

To improve student awareness/understanding, teachers may conduct a KWL on climate and environment.

Task

Before Reading

Complete the cloze poem activity.
- Share/discuss student word choices

During Reading

Use a double entry journal page, on one half create a list of the adjectives, adverbs, nouns, verbs, etc. in the poem, on the other half create a list of the images using the five senses.

Beauty

Sight

Trees

Sight, smell, touch

Softness

touch

Fragrance

Smell, taste

Discuss what tools are being used.

What is the structure of the poem and how does it affect the rhythm of voice when it is being read aloud?

After Reading

Scramble the word lists from the double journal entry.  Using these words, create a poem that reaches the same senses as “My Heart Soars”.

Do not repeat any of the same lines, or words in the same order.

Maintain the flow of the poem by using the same structure and form.

Illustrate what you are trying to say.

Reminder

I like to follow this poem up with some short stories that help promote ideas around our role in nature and the environment.

Demonstrate Understanding
Word Scramble Poetry and Illustration – set the criteria with the students.

For example:  

(See Example and Pictures of student work)

Reflect on Learning

Extended Learning Activities

Using the questions in the activity from Georgia Heard’s,  Awakening the Heart, create a map of the heart (samples included).

Have student create and fill in their own Circle of Courage using ideas from their heart map.