Allen, AngelaProject 1: Interview, Profile and ReviewBudding journalists will interview a classroom visitor and each other, learn to observe, ask good questions, draw out anecdotes, take notes, notice details, pay attention, listen for good quotations, understand a lead, and write an organized, readable-- and hopefully -- fun piece. This drives home attention to accuracy as well as how to shape a story, and works best for older middle school kids, though fifth graders could do this part as well. If we have time we’ll put together a newspaper with everyone’s story (and we’ll come up with a name, which is always fun). Later in the week we'll view a short movie and then write a review, in the process learning how to write critically and think fairly. Writers will learn about creating a "writing persona" so that readers will trust you and look forward to reading more. Project 2: Poetry: Free and In Form Each day we will look at a different form and a poet who used that form--sonnet, pantoum, sestina, haiku--and then students will write a poem of their own. As well, we would explore free verse and free form poems. One day we would go "to the pines" (outdoors) and watch and write. There will be lots of prompts and word exercises. During the week students would learn about poetic forms and working within them, as well as expressing oneself through well-chosen words. We’ll incorporate pop culture in poems. Students will use a thesaurus and think through words meanings and nuances, and at the end of the week, we'll have an "open mic" poetry event. This lesson plan works best for elementary and middle school kids. About Angela: Until recently, Angela Allen had worked for daily newspapers for 25 years. Nosing around the Northwest, she wrote a nationally recognized food/wine column for The Columbian in Vancouver, WA, as well as reviewed restaurants and opera for much of that time. She has won numerous writing awards as well as National Endowment for the Arts grant to study music in New York City in 2005 with several other journalists. Since 2006, she has worked as a freelance journalist. Her love for music, fashion, visual arts, culture, poetry (she is working on a poetry manuscript), and life’s quirkiness keep up her writerly spirits. She lives in Portland. Visit Angela online at http://www.angelaallenwrites. |
