Lesson 3: Geography and Poetry
Getting Started
Today you will read poems about the culture and the geography of the Southeast region of the U.S., and you will write two of your own poems.
Stuff You Need
- My America: A Poetry Atlas of the United States by Lee Bennett Hopkins
- R is for Rhyme: A Poetry Alphabet by Judy Young
- blank paper
- journal
Ideas to Think About
- What techniques do poets use to make their poems more interesting?
Things to Know
- In an acrostic poem, each line begins with a letter in the word that is the subject of the poem.
- Poets often select themes from nature as the subject of their poems.
Skills
- Describe a variety of regions in the United States. (SS)
- Locate, in absolute and relative terms, major landforms, bodies of water, and natural resources on a map. (SS)
- Describe and compare physical and cultural characteristics of the regions. (SS)
Introducing the Lesson
Explain to your child that today he will explore themes of nature within poetry. Poets often capture the natural relationships and interactions within their poems.
Materials: My America: A Poetry Atlas of the United States by Lee Bennett Hopkins
Read the section of poems about the Southeast U.S. in My America: A Poetry Atlas of the United States.
Questions
- Which poem did you enjoy the most? Why? Answers will vary.
- What did you learn today about the Southeast region of the U.S.?Answers will vary.
- Record your favorite line from a poem you read today. Answers will vary.
- What famous Americans were mentioned in the poems in this section?Boone (Daniel) and Booker T. Washington (your child may also mention the literary character Huckleberry Finn)