Biography Research Links

Click the following links to research your biography subjects:

Ducksters

Mr. Nussbaum

Fact Monster

Garden of Praise

Harcourt School

4 to 40

Biography Base

KidRex (You may use this like Google to search for information.)

Happy researching,

Mrs. Eads

Poetry Madness Championship Game!

Today we are finishing our Poetry Madness tournament!!

And the winner is....

For Final Four: Game 2

Ms. Derck's class... "Roger the Dog"

Mrs. Eads's class..."Roger the Dog"

For today's game:

Ms. Derck's class will read the poems "Roger the Dog" and "Dust of Snow".

Mrs. Eads's class will read the poems "Roger the Dog" and "Casey at the Bat".  

Remember to write your post in a Google Doc and paste it into the blog.  Make sure your name is on the post so I know which class to count the vote for.Type your comment and post on the blog. Answer the following questions:

• Who should win the championship?
• Why you connect to the poem.
• What you like about the poet's craft

Your comment will be disqualified if there are any spelling or grammatical errors. May the best poem win!

Final Four: Game 2

We are coming close to the end of our tournament! Today we will finish the final four!

And the winner is....

For Elite 8: Game4...

Ms. Derck's class... "Dust of Snow"

Mrs. Eads's class..."Casey at the Bat"

For today's game:

Ms. Derck's class will read the poems "Roger the Dog" and "How to Eat a Poem".

Mrs. Eads's class will read the poems "Roger the Dog" and "The New Suit".  

Remember to write your post in a Google Doc and paste it into the blog.  Make sure your name is on the post so I know which class to count the vote for.

Who do you think should win? Your response should include the following information:

• Which of the two poems you think should win and why?
• You must use at least 3 pieces of text evidence to support  your opinio
• Your response must be at least 5 complete sentences
• Sign your first name at the end of your post

Here is an example of proficient writing.

I chose the poem “Choosing Shoes,” by Ffrida Wolfe, because I like how she uses alliteration. For example, she says, “Dandy-dance-by-night shoes” and “Pretty pointy-toe shoes.” I also like it more because it has lots of interesting words and sounds like a kid’s rap song. Finally, I like it more because it is about having to find the shoe that you want out of millions.  “Choosing Shoes” is the clear winner!

May the best poem win!

Final Four: Game 1

We are coming close to the end of our tournament! Today we start the final four!

And the winner is....

For Elite 8: Game4...

Ms. Derck's class... "Do You Carrot All For Me?"

Mrs. Eads's class..."The New Suit"

For today's game:

Ms. Derck's class will read the poems "Dust of Snow" and "Life Doesn't Frighten Me".

Mrs. Eads's class will read the poems "Casey at the Bat" and "Choosing Shoes".  

Remember to write your post in a Google Doc and paste it into the blog.  Make sure your name is on the post so I know which class to count the vote for.

Who do you think should win? Your response should include the following information:

• Which of the two poems you think should win and why

• You must use at least 3 pieces of text evidence to support  your opinion

• Your response must be at least 5 complete sentences
• Sign your first name at the end of your post

Here is an example of proficient writing.

I chose the poem “Choosing Shoes,” by Ffrida Wolfe, because I like how she uses alliteration. For example, she says, “Dandy-dance-by-night shoes” and “Pretty pointy-toe shoes.” I also like it more because it has lots of interesting words and sounds like a kid’s rap song. Finally, I like it more because it is about having to find the shoe that you want out of millions.  “Choosing Shoes” is the clear winner!

May the best poem win!

Elite 8: Game 4

Now that you have read through all of the poems and chosen a winner to advance to the Elite 8, the pressure has mounted. Read the winners of Game 6 and Game 8.

And the winner is....

For Elite 8: Game 3...

Ms. Derck's class... Life Doesn't Frighten Me

Mrs. Eads's class...Choosing Shoes

For today's game:
Ms. Derck's class will read the poems "Do You Carrot All for Me?" and "How to Eat a Poem".

Mrs. Eads's class will read the poems "The Castle in the Fire" and "The New Suit".  

Remember to write your post in a Google Doc and paste it into the blog.  Make sure your name is on the post so I know which class to count the vote for.

Choose your winner based on the following criteria:

• Which poem's meaning is more important to you?
• What personal connection can you make?
• Which poet's craft do you enjoy more? Be sure to give examples.
• Poet's craft can include: repetition, imagery, personification, rhyme, alliteration, couplets, onomatopoeia, simile/metaphor, etc

 Make sure your answer is detailed and explains the three bullet points.

Here is an example of proficient writing:

I chose Choosing Shoes because it is a fun poem. For example,I liked how they were choosing from all different kinds shoes. 

I also liked this poem because I can make a connection.It is hard for me to chose what shoes I like best.

Finally I really liked this poem because it has poet's craft. For example, it had four quatrains and the rhyme scheme for each is AAAB. In each quatrain, the author talks about a different kinds of shoes. This is why I liked Choosing Shoes as the winner.

Elite 8: Game 3

Now that you have read through all of the poems and chosen a winner to advance to the Elite 8, the pressure has mounted. Read the winners of Game 5 and Game 7.

Ms. Derck's class will read the poems "Choosing Shoes" and "Life Doesn't Frighten Me".

Mrs. Eads's class will read the poems "Choosing Shoes" and " Some One".  

Remember to write your post in a Google Doc and paste it into the blog.  Make sure your name is on the post so I know which class to count the vote for.

Choose your winner based on the following criteria:

• Which poem's meaning is more important to you?
• What personal connection can you make?
• Which poet's craft do you enjoy more? Be sure to give examples.
• Poet's craft can include: repetition, imagery, personification, rhyme, alliteration, couplets, onomatopoeia, simile/metaphor, quatrain, etc

 Make sure your answer is detailed and explains the three bullet points.

Here is an example of a  proficient comment:

I chose The Falling Star as my favorite poem because I thought it had a deeper meaning. For example, I liked how it was about a special moment and you should not waste it.

I also liked this poem because I can make a connection. I really enjoy watching beautiful stars too.

Finally, I really liked this poem because it had poet's craft. For example, it had a rhyme scheme AABBCC. Also, the author used couplets in the poem. For example, "I saw a star slide down the sky. Blinding the north as it went by." 

This is why I chose The Falling Star as my favorite poem.

Elite 8: Game 2

Now that you have read through all of the poems and chosen a winner to advance to the Elite 8, the pressure has mounted. Read the winners of Game 2 and Game 4.

Today both classes will read "Roger the Dog" and "Who Has Seen the Wind". Make sue you put your name at the end of your post!  Otherwise, your vote will not count because I will not know which class to connect your vote with.

Choose your winner based on the following criteria:

• Which poem's meaning is more important to you?
• What personal connection can you make?
• Which poet's craft do you enjoy more? Be sure to give examples.
• Poet's craft can include: repetition, imagery, personification, rhyme, alliteration, couplets, onomatopoeia, simile/metaphor, etc

 Make sure your answer is detailed and explains the three bullet points.

Here is an example of advanced/proficient writing:

Mother to Son has a more important meaning to me because it is talking about a

woman who was probably a slave telling her boy that life isn't going to be easy and

I really think that goes close to my heart. And I feel bad for them.

My connection is with the poem, Casey at the Bat. I have been on a softball team before and struck out when my team really needed a hit.  I can imagine how the fans and the player feel when the game is over and they do not win.

I like Mother to Son's poem craft more because it rhymes better and the way it is

written sounds like the mother is from the South.For example, she says, "I'se been a-climbin' on" and "turnin' corners". I also enjoyed that the poem is a metaphor comparing life to a flight of stairs that is hard to climb.  The poet's mother encourages him to never give up but keep trying even though life is hard.

Elite 8: Game 1

Now that you have read through all of the poems and chosen a winner to advance to the Elite 8, the pressure has mounted. Both classes will read "Mother to Son" and "Casey at the Bat".

In Round 2, you need to choose your winner based on the following criteria:

• Which poem's meaning is more important to you?
• What personal connection can you make?
• Which poet's craft do you enjoy more? 
• Poet's craft can include: repetition, imagery, personification, rhyme, alliteration, couplets, onomatopoeia, simile/metaphor, etc.

 Make sure your answer is detailed and explains the three bullet points.

Here is an example of advanced/proficient writing:

Mother to Son has a more important meaning to me because it is talking about a

woman who was probably a slave telling her boy that life isn't going to be easy and

I really think that goes close to my heart. And I feel bad for them.

My connection is with the poem, Casey at the Bat. I have been on a softball team before and struck out when my team really needed a hit.  I can imagine how the fans and the player feel when the game is over and they do not win.

I like Mother to Son's poem craft more because it rhymes better and the way it is

written sounds like the mother is from the South.For example, she says, "I'se been a-climbin' on" and "turnin' corners". I also enjoyed that the poem is a metaphor comparing life to a flight of stairs that is hard to climb.  The poet's mother encourages him to never give up but keep trying even though life is hard.

Poetry Madness: Game 8

Read Game 8 poems. Answer each question below. Remember to explain WHY you chose the winner based on poet's craft (rhyme, line breaks, punctuation, simile/metaphor, word choice, repetition) AND your personal connection to the meaning. Don't forget to write with M.I.N.T.S.!

Your post needs to include the following:
1. What is the meaning of the first poem? (Summarize in one sentence)

2. What is the meaning of the second poem? (Summarize in one sentence)

3. Based on the criteria, which poem did you choose and WHY?

Poetry Madness: Game 7

Read Game 7 poems. Answer each question below. Remember to explain WHY you chose the winner based on poet's craft (rhyme, line breaks, punctuation, simile/metaphor, word choice, repetition) AND your personal connection to the meaning. Don't forget to write with M.I.N.T.S.!

Your post needs to include the following:1. What is the meaning of the first poem? (Summarize in one sentence)
2. What is the meaning of the second poem? (Summarize in one sentence)
3. Based on the criteria, which poem did you choose and WHY?


Here is an example of a proficient blog post:


The first poem, "Do you Carrot all for me?", is about someone expressing their feelings in vegetables.


The second poem, "The Castle in the Fire", is about a knight who saves a princess.


I picked "The Castle in the Fire" because it had more detail, it is a story, and it also has alliteration. For example,the author says, "Then, while we watch in wonder." The Castle in the Fire also had great imagery.  I could really picture the dragons guarding the castle and the knight saving the princess. It felt like a storybook to me. That's why I chose The Castle in the Fire.