Poetry and the Planets
Created by Michelle Mountain


ID #: 2456

Subject Area: Science
Grade Level: 5

Lesson Summary
This online interdisciplinary WebQuest, designed by Joel Sommer Littauer, connects science with language arts. At the conclusion, students will have created a poem that compares scenes from outer space with scenes on the earth. A grading rubric and links to all necessary resources are included. Students will need a working knowledge of PowerPoint to complete this activity.

Learning Objectives and Computer Functions
This lesson plan uses 0 objectives.

Problem
Problem Nature
This lesson combines the sciences and the humanities. It enables students to research a science phenomenon (the solar system) and create and entirely new way to view it's relationship to earth.

Problem Data
located

Notes on Using Data
Data will be made available through pre-selected and marked websites available on the schools computers. All computers in the building have internet access. Because the project is a webquest, students can also acces it from a home computer. The students will not need to do internet searching on their own for this project. Print resources will also be made available. Students will search the library catalog to locate those resources. Students can save their data individually then share and merge their findings with other group members. Data will be saved in student folders on the schools network or on individual floppy disks.

Problem Statement
Your school has decided to put together an expo which combines the sciences and the humanities. You and your team (four students) have volunteered to construct a presentation marrying poetry to the planets. You call your project POETRY AND THE PLANETS.

Your contribution to the expo will consist of a PowerPoint presentation showing:

NASA space photos
photos of earth scenes which, given some imaginative thinking, can be compared to the space photos;
a poem comparing the scenes using similes and metaphors;
a musical theme appropriate as background to the slide presentation.

Data Manipulation
Instructions
The learner used computers at level

Integration Strategies
beginner

Organization Strategies
Catagorize in order to compare. Look at things like size, temperature, distance form the sun, number of moons, distinguishing characteristics.

Elaboration Strategies
Choose music that will further enchance the comparisons between Earth and another object in the solar system. "When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie..." is an example.

Results Presentation

Each team will create a PowerPoint presentation showing:

NASA space photos
photos of earth scenes which, given some imaginative thinking, can be compared to the space photos;
a poem comparing the scenes using similes and metaphors;
a musical theme appropriate as background to the slide presentation. You may also include photos of other space objects that enhance and compliment your poetry. Presentations should include at least 5 slides. The first slide should be a title slide with the names of all team members included.

Activities
 Activities Before Using the Computer
1. Locate print resources about the solar system
2. Brainstorm ideas/choose comparisons
3. Establish prior knowledge about solar system
4. Establish prior knowledge about similes and metaphors
5. Establish ground rules for group

Strategies to develop students' attitudes towards the problem, motivation, and overall mindfulness:
1.Share poetry using similes and metaphors
2.Use photographs of seemingly different things to practice comparing and contrasting.
3. View a video on the solar system
4. View examples of Powerpoint presentations and evaluate strengths and weaknesses.

 

Activities While Using the Computer
Students will work at the computer groups

Group Information:
Poet(all students contribute):writes a poem which employs similes and metaphors to verbally establish a relationship between scenes in space and scenes on the earth.

CG (Computer Graphics) person: finds space scenes with data and scenes on earth which can be compared, for example, a NASA photo of Jupiter, a gas planet, and a photo of London shrouded in fog.

Music Researcher: finds musical themes which can be incorporated into the PowerPoint presentation file to be played as background music. Gustav Holst The Planets, the song That's Amore: When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie . ., the Disney Theme When you wish upon a star . . . and the song A foggy Day in London Town are among selections the musical researcher might choose.

Project Director: writes the PowerPoint presentation incorporating the poem written by the poet (with input from everyone), the graphics found by the graphics person and the music found by the music researcher.

 

Activities After Using the Computer
1. After searching for photographs they can begin to choose the most appropriate to compare and contrast
2. Write their poem
3. Listen to music to enchance their presentation
4. Create a storyboard that will lay out their Powerpoint presentation.

Supporting Activities
1. Look at print resources to compliment and add to electronic resources.
2. Locate music that would work with their presentation
3. Work on the poem
4. Use digital camera to take photos that would enhance their presentation.

Assessment
Students will be assessed by means of:

Included in the assessment:
A rubric that defines each group role will be used as the assessment piece. Both students and teacher will complete the rubric. Because students will rotate roles the group will receive one grade. Scores will range from Beginning (1) to Exemplary (4). A copy of the rubric is attached. This will be given to students before they begin the project. Students will be assessed on the final presentation. Class participation and group work coordination will also be taken into consideration during evaluation.




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