Presenting Our Poetry 
                                                                           By:  Greg Brown

Project at a Glance :

This project will encourage students to present their individual or group poetry to a “public” audience in a way that communicates effectively. 
       
Driving Question:

How does poetry communicate effectively? How can poetry brighten the lives of our community?              

Standards:

• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.7.2  Analyze the main ideas and supporting details presented in diverse media and formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally) and explain how the ideas clarify a topic, text, or issue under study.
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.7.3. Delineate a speaker's argument and specific claims, evaluating the soundness of the reasoning and the relevance and sufficiency of the evidence.
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.7.4  Present claims and findings, emphasizing salient points in a focused, coherent manner with pertinent descriptions, facts, details, and examples; use appropriate eye contact, adequate volume, and clear pronunciation.
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.7.5  Include multimedia components and visual displays in presentations to clarify claims and findings and emphasize salient points.
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.7.6  Adapt speech to a variety of contexts and tasks, demonstrating command of formal English when indicated or appropriate. (See grade 7 Language standards 1 and 3 here for specific expectations.)

Team / Culture Building:
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Entry Event:

Stakeholders:

• Students
  
• Teachers
  
• Parents
  
• Administrators associated with Spring Lake Middle School.

Empathy Building:

Inquiry / Need to Knows:

• ​ Students will build knowledge by reviewing the goals of the audience in a public presentation. The class will review successful poetry presentations through viewing online poetry jams. 
• Students will review poetry presentations and brainstorm ways to successfully present their work. ​​

Incubation:

• Students brainstorm often in 7th grade ELA. They will use sticky notes to come up with as many ideas as possible.
  
• Students will  draw out solution ideas.

Checking in:

• The teacher will check in with the students/ work groups daily during the investigation and incubation process. Students will be asked to check-in with survey responses and exit tickets. In addition, they will be asked to pitch their findings to other small groups. ​

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Solution Building:

•  Students will begin to develop ideas, by completing a presentation proposal for their project. This proposal includes what tools they will use to present their ideas, what they will be presenting, and how they plan to be sure it communicates clearly. ​

Critique and Revision: 

Authentic Audience:

•  The audience will be their classmates who are also sharing their poetry, and understand the role of effective communication. In addition the audience will be parents, other teachers, and administrators who are available to view the presentations. 

Final Presentation:

•  Students will give a short performance of their poem for one or multiple voices. 
• They will also share the elements of effective presentation that they incorporated into their presentation.  Their presentation will include a one minute explanation or demonstration of their work and learning.
• They will be given a clear rubric that includes all that is needed for the presentation.
•  Students will choose to present one of their works, or one of a favorite author, or work with a small group presenting a poem for multiple voices. 
• Students will provide feedback to other students and vote for effective presentations. 

Click here ​for teacher's full plan.

​Reflection and Feedback:

Check out the teachers Journey through PBL on Padlet . . .

Meet the Educator:
Greg Brown is a middle school English teacher with Spring Lake Middle School in Spring Lake, MI. 

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