Welcome Activity Funny Faces: Working with Graphic Organizers

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Welcome ActivityFunny FacesWorking with
Graphic Organizers

• Prof. Myrna Monllor/
• Prof. Helen Domenech
• Summer Institute 2007

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Pre-Writing ActivityObjectives

• Getting to know each other
• Use a descriptive graphic organizer
• (figure)
• Practice the four language skills
• Use individual creativity

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InstructionsI

• You will receive a Funny Faces document which you
  will use to represent yourself.
• Feel free to adapt the features so that they show
  who you are.
• Color and decorate as you wish.

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Instructions 2

• Surround the drawing with nouns, verbs,
  adjectives and phrases which describe you
  physically and as a person, describe how you
  feel, what you like, what you dislike.
• Give your drawing a title, the title should
  reflect who you are, without mentioning your name

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Guided Writing ExerciseWriting a Biopoem
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Guided Writing
What is it? Teacher presents a structured lesson and supervises as students write. Teacher also teaches a writing procedure, strategy or skill.
What for? To scaffold a writing experience, to introduce different types of writing activities
How much support? The teacher provides the structure, but the students do the thinking and writing
Which activities? Class collaborations, class ABC Books, Formula Poems
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Writing the BiopoemGrade level (any)

• Objectives
• Get to know each other
• Introduce you to poetry writing
• Use descriptive words
• Learn to play with words
• Discover your voice

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Prewriting Activities

• Share a poem with the same or similar theme
• Poet by Veronica Cunningham/Chicano writer
• Fernández, Roberta. (ed) In Other Words
  Literature by Latinas of the United States.
  Houston, Texas Arte Público Press, 1994.
• Read poem aloud
• Discuss what attracts the attention of the reader

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Poet by Veronica Cunningham

• i am not a quiet poet.
• i want to know Truths.
• Hear the reason of Dreams
• Hear the wonder of Questions
• I want
• to hear words that travel Heart
• into the World
• That reflects the lights
• and darks
• Escaped, or allowed
• Disguised or naked
• Words
• Reaching your sense of Words
• Truth or lies, real or trusted
• Poetry is language
• The language of Our Lives

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Bio Poem Model 1
Line 1 Your first name Line 2 Who
is...(Descriptive words that describe you) Line
3 Who is brother or sister of... Line 4 Who
loves...(three ideas or people) Line 5 Who
feels...(three ideas ) Line 6 Who
needs...(three ideas) Line 7 Who gives...(three
ideas) Line 8 Who fears...(three ideas) Line
9 Who would like to see... Line 10 Who
shares... Line 11 Who is... Line 12 Who is a
resident of... Line 13 Your last name
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Biopoem Model 2

• LINE 1 first name
• LINE 2 two adjectives describing yourself
• LINE 3 Sibling of /Mother (Father) of /Wife
  (Husband) of
• LINE 4 Lover of (name two things)
• LINE 5 Who fears (name two things)
• LINE 6 Who would like to see (name two
  things)
• LINE 7 Resident of
• LINE 8 last name

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My Poem

• Myrna
• Pleasantly plump
• Wife, Mother,Daughter, Sister, Teacher, Student
• Lover of film and travel
• Who hates violence and injustice
• Who wishes you peace and happiness
• Who lives in Guaynabo
• Monllor-Jiménez

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Writing the Biopoem

• Provide students with enough time to write their
  poem
• In groups have students read their poems to each
  other. Each group will select a person who will
  read his/her poem in the Authors Chair.
• Each student will prepare his/her poem for
  publishing. Each student will find creative ways
  to present his/her poem for a Gallery Walk.

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Variations

• Because the bio-poem is formula, it can be
  changed or adapted to different levels
• Children can also write a bio-poem about another
  classmate, an admired person, a historical
  figure, a story character, etc.

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Example A Story Character

• First name Snow White
• Four traits Beautiful, giving, loving, unhappy
• Related to The Queen, her wicked stepmother
• Cares deeply for The seven dwarfs
• Who feels Safe in the forest
• Who needs The love of a prince
• Who givesLove to the seven dwarfs
• Who would like to see Goodness throughout the
  kingdom
• Resident of The forest

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Variations on Funny Faces

• Select a partner, preferably a person whom you
  have not met
• Introduce yourselves and have a brief
  conversation in English
• You will then select the funny features that will
  represent your new friend

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• Draw and color your friend
• Interview your partner using the suggested guide
  questions ( you may include additional questions)
• Create a piece of writing to describe your new
  friend (Biography, Descriptive Essay, Article,
  Poem, Letteretc.)
• Introduce your new friend to the class and share
  your piece of writing

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Guide Questions

• What is your name? What is the story of your
  name?
• Name the animal inside you. Explain your choice.
• Theres an object inside your heart. What is it?
  Explain its significance.

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• Theres a word written on your forehead. What is
  it? Explain.
• Theres a person in your mind. Who is it? Why is
  the person significant in your life?
• Tell me a sound you love. Tell me a sound you
  hate.
• Tell me a smell you love. Tell me a smell you
  hate.

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• What is your favorite time of day? Why?
• Tell me something you remember from your
  childhood.

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References

• Educators Reference Desk Lesson plan by Lisa
  Kermes
• Email lisamkermes_at_yahoo.com
  School/University/Affiliation University of
  Pittsburgh at Johnstown http//www.eduref.org/cgi
  -bin/printlessons.cgi/Virtual/Lessons/Language_Art
  s/Writing/WCP0067.html