Minds On
Exploring happiness
Explore the following audio clip and text of a poem:
“When I am Happy”
Student Success
Think-Pair-Share
What ideas or images formed in your mind while exploring the poem?
If possible, discuss with a partner.
Action
What does happy mean to you?
Poetry uses descriptive language that can help us create ideas and images in our mind. However, every person will create different ideas and images in their mind.
What you already know, or your prior knowledge, will change the way you experience different oral texts.
Think about the poem from our Minds On activity and answer the following questions:
- Did you connect to the author’s description of happiness?
- How do you feel when you are happy?
- Do you connect being happy to a certain place, to a group of people, or to eating a type of food?
Discuss your answers with a partner if possible, or record your answers using a voice recorder, speech-to-text, or writing tool.
Using our prior knowledge
Now that we have explored a poem about happiness and expressed how we feel when we are happy, let’s explore a poem about another feeling.
Explore the following audio clip and text of another poem:
“When I am Excited”
Think about how you feel when you get excited. What do you do?
Complete the Being Excited Brainstorming Web in your notebook or using the following fillable and printable document. You can also use a method of your choice.
Press the ‘Activity’ button to access Being Excited Brainstorming Web.
When you are finished brainstorming, answer the following question:
- What is an example of something that makes you feel excited?
Discuss your answer with a partner if possible, or record your answer using a method of your choice.
Consolidation
Recording our ideas
Review your Being Excited Brainstorm Web from our Action activity and use your ideas to complete the sentence: “When I’m excited…” Record two or three complete sentences.
Complete the When I’m Excited Sentences Table in your notebook or using the following fillable and printable document. You can also use a method of your choice.
Press the ‘Activity’ button to access When I’m Excited Sentences Table.
Communication and presentation strategies
Let’s review our communication and presentation strategies from a previous learning activity.
Press each of the following Communication and Presentation Strategies to access a description of how these strategies can help a presenter:
When a presenter is expressive with their voice, it is called changing your intonation.
When a presenter adjusts their volume by speaking more loudly or more quietly, or adjusts their speed by speaking more quickly or more slowly, it can make their message clear and help the audience understand the presenter’s feelings.
When a presenter uses body language, gestures, and facial expressions, it can make their message clear and help the audience understand the presenter’s feelings.
When a presenter uses adjectives, it can catch the audience’s attention, make the presenter’s descriptions more accurate, and help make their message clear.
When a presenter uses diagrams, graphic organizers, charts, props, and instruments, it can catch the audience’s attention and help make the performer’s message clear.
Presenting our sentences
Now present your When I’m Excited Sentences to a partner if possible, or review the recording of your When I’m Excited Sentences.
When you are finished sharing or reviewing your sentences, respond to the following question:
- How are your When I’m Excited Sentences similar or different to the “Say How You Feel” poem from our Action activity?
Record your response using a method of your choice.
Comparing sentences
If possible, find a partner and compare your sentences. Are your experiences of feeling excited similar or different?
Reflection
How do you feel about what you have learned in this activity? Which of the next four sentences best matches how you are feeling about your learning? Press the button that is beside this sentence.
I feel…
Now, record your ideas about your feelings using a voice recorder, speech-to-text, or writing tool.