Science in a 17-Syllable Setting

Science, poetry, and short stories. You might not ordinarily put those three together in the same sentence, let alone in the same curriculum. Here is a suggestion that could be used in your language arts or science classroom.


On a recent drive at dusk from North Carolina into Tennessee, I saw beautiful gray clouds that resembled feathers. They reminded me of arrows and as night descended, I began playing with the image, wondering how I could use it in a poem. Since I couldn’t get beyond the clouds themselves, I thought it might make a good haiku. Here is the first result:

Gray feathered clouds

shot from hidden bow. Puncture

blood-red dying sun.

In Teaching the Story I discuss how setting should help create a story’s mood. The same can be applied to poetry. Since I used a metaphor and compared the clouds to an arrow, the verb “puncture” followed which led to the creation of a dramatic, violent setting with an ominous mood.

Could I change that mood? Here is the second haiku:

Gray feathered clouds

line rose-kissed skyscape. Blue

hills embrace twilight.

I started with the same prompt but instead of a setting which reflected war and destruction; I created a soft, romantic mood by using the image “rose-kissed skyscape,” and using personification by suggesting that the hills “embrace” the twilight. The haiku format forced me to choose verbs and adjectives which enhanced each specific mood.

Since I didn’t take a picture of the clouds, when I decided to write this blog I googled “gray clouds + feathers” to search for an illustration. Although I didn’t find a picture of the clouds that streamed over the Smokey Mountains, I discovered that these clouds are called cirrus virtebratus—and were an identifiable subspecies of Cirrus clouds.

Photo by Michael Grossman, taken in Germany

Suddenly, my interest in clouds sky-rocketed (forgive the pun!) and I began wondering about other clouds outside the car window. Science exploration had begun.

You can do the same. Use a visual prompt in your classroom, either from pictures your students bring in or from a website like Google images. Exercise muscle words, play with verbs, and brainstorm moods.

Science, poetry, and short stories. Why not?

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Love to Learn

The title of this homeschool conference says it all. Don't all educators-- both home and public-- wish that their students would "love to learn?"

The student and adult participants who came to my two workshops last Saturday demonstrated this desire. I was pleased that several attendees learned how to use muscle words (click on this link and select "download now" for the handout) at my first session, "Jazz Up Your Writing," and then applied these skills when they wrote descriptive paragraphs in the second session, "Learn from the Masters." Time was short but participants wrote FAST and imaginative characters and sensory settings bloomed as a result of quick collaboration.

When I wasn't teaching, I spoke with parents about Maupin House books,

and shared table space with Triangle Education Assessments.

Debbie Thompson, founder

If you are a home educator in need of testing materials, I would encourage you to check out their resources.

Carolyn Justice, tester

One of their books is A Concise Guide for Homeschool Families Planning For High School, which Carolyn wrote.

By the end of the day young entrepreneurs had set up space next to us and demonstrated innovative uses of duct tape. With colorful and designed tape they made and sold wallets purses, tiaras, and flip-flops. Now, here are two creative kids showing their love for learning--on the spot!

 

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Vivid Verbs at Work

This sign is posted at the Ft. Fisher Aquaraium . During a recent visit with my two granddaughters I snapped a picture to share with all of you. Some folks really know how to exercise muscle words!

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NCCAT Teachers Exercise Muscle Words

If you've been to one of my writing workshops you know that when it comes to learning Show, Don't Tell writing and revision, I get teachers up out of their seats in this kinesthetic activity.

If you want to try it in your classroom, first teach the "Muscle Words":
- vivid verbs
- specific nouns
- image-driven adjectives
- similes, metaphors, & personification
- onomatopoeia & alliteration

Then, assign an exercise to each one and voila! you have your own version of Exercising Muscle Words. This is a great way for students (and teachers!) to remember words which will jazz up their writing.Technorati Tags:
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