White Bird: A Poetic Journey Through Story
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White Bird: A Poetic Journey Through Story

Grade 6English5 days
In this 6th-grade English project, students embark on a poetic journey through the novel "White Bird," transforming its story and emotions into a collection of poems. The project aims to deepen students' understanding and connection with the characters and themes of the novel through poetic interpretation. Students will compare and contrast the experience of reading the novel with experiencing its poetic adaptation, analyzing how this transformation impacts a reader's overall experience and comprehension of the story.
PoetryWhite BirdEmotional ConnectionThematic InterpretationLiterary AnalysisCreative Writing
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Inquiry Framework

Question Framework

Driving Question

The overarching question that guides the entire project.How can we, as poets, transform the story and emotions of 'White Bird' into a collection of poems that deepen our understanding and connection with the characters and themes, and how might this poetic interpretation impact a reader's experience of the story compared to the original novel?

Essential Questions

Supporting questions that break down major concepts.
  • How can poetry capture the emotions and events of 'White Bird'?
  • In what ways does writing poetry enhance understanding and connection with the characters and themes in 'White Bird'?
  • How does the process of creating poetry deepen our emotional response to the story of 'White Bird'?
  • How does transforming events and emotions of 'White Bird' into poetry impact the reader's experience and understanding of the story compared to reading the novel?

Standards & Learning Goals

Learning Goals

By the end of this project, students will be able to:
  • Compose poems inspired by "White Bird" that capture key emotions and events.
  • Deepen understanding of characters and themes through poetic interpretation.
  • Compare and contrast the experience of reading the novel versus experiencing its poetic interpretation.
  • Enhance emotional connection to the story through poetry writing.
  • Transform events and emotions from "White Bird" into impactful poems.
  • Analyze how poetic interpretation affects a reader's experience of the story compared to the original novel

Common Core Standards

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.6.7
Primary
Compare and contrast the experience of reading a story, drama, or poem to listening to or viewing an audio, video, or live version of the text, including contrasting what they "see" and "hear" when reading the text to what they perceive when they listen or watch.Reason: Directly aligns with the project's goal of comparing the experience of reading the novel to experiencing its poetic interpretation.

Entry Events

Events that will be used to introduce the project to students

Visual Verse: Poetry Inspired by Imagery

Present students with a series of powerful images or illustrations inspired by 'White Bird.' Each image captures a specific emotion, event, or symbolic element from the story. Students choose one image that resonates with them and write a short free-verse poem in response, capturing the essence of the image and its connection to the novel. These initial poems serve as a starting point for their larger poetry collections.

Artifact Analysis: Unveiling White Bird's Secrets

Students receive a mysterious package containing artifacts related to characters or events from 'White Bird.' Each artifact includes a cryptic poem or excerpt that hints at a deeper story. Students work in groups to analyze their assigned artifact, decipher the poem's meaning, and connect it to the broader themes of the novel, sparking curiosity and setting the stage for their own poetic interpretations.
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Portfolio Activities

Portfolio Activities

These activities progressively build towards your learning goals, with each submission contributing to the student's final portfolio.
Activity 1

Theme Weaver: Mood Boarding 'White Bird'

Students will select a central theme from 'White Bird' (e.g., courage, friendship, loss) and create a mood board. This involves gathering images, colors, and words that evoke the emotional tone of their chosen theme. They will then write a short reflection explaining their choices and how they connect to the novel.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Choose a central theme from 'White Bird.'
2. Gather images, colors, and words that evoke the emotional tone of the theme.
3. Create a physical or digital mood board.
4. Write a short reflection explaining your choices and their connection to the novel.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA physical or digital mood board accompanied by a written reflection.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAligns with CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.6.7 by having students start thinking about the core elements of the text and how they can be translated.
Activity 2

Echoes of the Text: Passage to Poem

Students will select a key passage from 'White Bird' that resonates with them. They will then create a short poem inspired by the passage, capturing its essence and emotional impact. After writing their poem, they will write a short analysis comparing and contrasting their poem with the original passage, focusing on how they used poetic devices to convey similar or different meanings.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Select a key passage from 'White Bird.'
2. Write a poem inspired by the passage.
3. Write a short analysis comparing and contrasting the poem with the original passage.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA paired passage from 'White Bird' and student-created poem, accompanied by a comparative analysis.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsCovers CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.6.7 by having students make direct textual comparisons between the original text and their emerging poetic interpretations.
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Rubric & Reflection

Portfolio Rubric

Grading criteria for assessing the overall project portfolio

White Bird: Poetry Portfolio Rubric

Category 1

Theme Weaver: Mood Board

Assessment of theme selection, emotional evocation, and reflection quality in the mood board activity.
Criterion 1

Theme Selection

Selection of theme and its relevance to the novel

Exemplary
4 Points

Theme choice is insightful and deeply connected to the core messages of 'White Bird.' Demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of the novel's themes.

Proficient
3 Points

Theme choice is appropriate and clearly connected to 'White Bird.' Demonstrates a good understanding of the novel's themes.

Developing
2 Points

Theme choice is somewhat connected to 'White Bird,' but the connection is not always clear. Demonstrates a basic understanding of the novel's themes.

Beginning
1 Points

Theme choice is vague or weakly connected to 'White Bird.' Demonstrates a limited understanding of the novel's themes.

Criterion 2

Emotional Evocation

Effectiveness of visual and textual elements in evoking the emotional tone of the theme

Exemplary
4 Points

Mood board elements (images, colors, words) powerfully evoke the emotional tone of the chosen theme, demonstrating exceptional attention to detail and emotional resonance.

Proficient
3 Points

Mood board elements effectively evoke the emotional tone of the chosen theme, demonstrating strong attention to detail and emotional resonance.

Developing
2 Points

Mood board elements somewhat evoke the emotional tone of the chosen theme, but some elements may be inconsistent or lack impact.

Beginning
1 Points

Mood board elements weakly evoke the emotional tone of the chosen theme. There is little attention to detail or emotional resonance.

Criterion 3

Reflection Quality

Clarity and insightfulness of the written reflection

Exemplary
4 Points

Reflection provides deep insights into the theme choice and its connection to 'White Bird.' Demonstrates sophisticated critical thinking and self-awareness.

Proficient
3 Points

Reflection clearly explains the theme choice and its connection to 'White Bird.' Demonstrates effective critical thinking and self-awareness.

Developing
2 Points

Reflection provides some explanation of the theme choice and its connection to 'White Bird,' but lacks depth or insight.

Beginning
1 Points

Reflection provides a minimal explanation of the theme choice and its connection to 'White Bird.' Lacks critical thinking and self-awareness.

Category 2

Echoes of the Text: Passage to Poem

Assessment of passage selection, poem quality, and comparative analysis in the passage-to-poem activity.
Criterion 1

Passage Selection

Relevance and impact of the selected passage from 'White Bird'

Exemplary
4 Points

Passage selection is exceptionally relevant and impactful, demonstrating a keen understanding of the novel's key moments and themes.

Proficient
3 Points

Passage selection is relevant and impactful, demonstrating a good understanding of the novel's key moments and themes.

Developing
2 Points

Passage selection is somewhat relevant, but the impact on the overall theme is not clear. Demonstrates a basic understanding of the novel.

Beginning
1 Points

Passage selection is weakly relevant or lacks impact. Demonstrates a limited understanding of the novel.

Criterion 2

Poem Quality

Quality and creativity of the poem inspired by the passage

Exemplary
4 Points

Poem is exceptionally creative, demonstrating a sophisticated use of poetic devices and capturing the essence of the original passage with unique insight.

Proficient
3 Points

Poem is creative and well-crafted, demonstrating a strong use of poetic devices and capturing the essence of the original passage effectively.

Developing
2 Points

Poem shows some creativity but may lack refinement or depth. Poetic devices are used inconsistently.

Beginning
1 Points

Poem lacks creativity and demonstrates a limited understanding of poetic devices. Fails to capture the essence of the original passage.

Criterion 3

Analysis Quality

Depth and insightfulness of the comparative analysis

Exemplary
4 Points

Analysis provides profound insights into the similarities and differences between the poem and the original passage. Demonstrates exceptional critical thinking and interpretive skills.

Proficient
3 Points

Analysis clearly explains the similarities and differences between the poem and the original passage. Demonstrates effective critical thinking and interpretive skills.

Developing
2 Points

Analysis identifies some similarities and differences but lacks depth or insight. Demonstrates basic critical thinking and interpretive skills.

Beginning
1 Points

Analysis provides a minimal comparison and lacks critical thinking and interpretive skills.

Reflection Prompts

End-of-project reflection questions to get students to think about their learning
Question 1

How did transforming specific elements of 'White Bird' into poetry impact your personal understanding and connection to the story's themes and characters?

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