Minds On
Notice and wonder
Brainstorm
What do you notice?
What do you notice about the poem?
What do you think is the meaning of the title of the poem?
Action
Words that rhyme
You may have noticed that the Minds On poem contained rhyming words.
Authors use rhyming words to create a rhythm and flow in their poems. Rhyming words share the same or similar endings.
Can you determine which of the following words are a rhyming set? Determine the rule for each set.
Press ‘Hint’ to reveal how to determine a rhyming set.
Brainstorm
Brainstorm sorting rules
After sorting the words, think about the rule that all words followed. Then, formulate a sorting rule for each group of words.
Complete the Sorting Rules activity in your notebook or using the following fillable and printable document.
| Words | Sorting Rule |
|---|---|
| dice, mice, rice | |
| hat, bat, sat | |
| lock, sock |
Press the ‘Activity’ button to access Sorting Rules.
Activity
(Open PDF in a new window)
Press ‘Answers’ to reveal all sorting rules for the words.
dice, mice, rice
Sorting Rule #1: The word ending is “ice.”
hat, bat, sat
Sorting Rule #2: The word ending is “at.”
lock, sock
Sorting Rule #3: The word ending is “ock.”
Once we understand the sorting rule for a set of rhyming words, we can use that as a reading strategy to explore new vocabulary.
Let’s return to the poem “Ations” by Shel Silverstein.
Identify the words in the poem that share the same ending. Next, explain the sorting rule. You may choose to create a list, an audio clip, or highlight the words in the worksheet below to record your work.
Complete the Ations Rhyming Words activity in your notebook or using the following fillable and printable document.
Press the ‘Activity’ button to access Ations Rhyming
Words.
Activity
(Open PDF in a new window)
"Ations" by Shel Silverstein
Student Success
Think-Pair-Share
If possible, work with a partner to answer the following questions: Do you notice anything about the way the poem is structured? Is there a pattern?
Press ‘Answers’ to reveal the poem and answers to the questions you've dicussed.
Ations by Shel Silverstein
If we meet and I say, “Hi,”
That’s a salutation.
If you ask me how I feel
That’s consideration.
If we stop and talk awhile.
That’s a conversation.
If we understand each other,
That’s communication.
If we argue, scream and fight,
That’s an altercation.
If later we apologize,
That’s reconciliation.
If we help each other home,
That’s cooperation.
And all these ations added up
Make civilization.
(And if I say this is a wonderful poem,
Is that exaggeration?)
The rhyming words all share the ending “ation.” That might be why Shel Silverstein gave the poem the title “Ations.”
At the end of every second line of the poem, there is a rhyming word, which introduces a word that describes that type of communication.
Presenting the poem
The poem has a rhyming word at the end of every second line. This creates a rhythm in the poem. Consider how you could recite or express the poem to emphasize the rhythm.
For example, you could change your tone or slow your pace for each rhyming word. Or perhaps you might choose to raise the volume of your voice, or use visual aids or props.
Review the presentation and communication strategies below, and choose a few strategies you would like to use.
Press the name of each presentation strategy to check their definitions.
Put it together
The poem discusses different ways that we communicate. Now that you have considered which presentation strategies to use to present the rhythm and rhyme in the poem, let’s think about how to express the meaning of the poem.
How could you use body language, facial expression, gestures, tone, and/or visual aids or props to express each example of communication?
For example,
“If we meet and I say, “Hi,”
That’s a salutation.”
How could you represent a salutation? You could wave, smile, use open body language, and/or a happy tone.
Go through the rest of the verses and decide how you would like to use different presentation strategies to present the poem. Next, it’s time to practice!
Consolidation
Let’s present
It’s time to present the poem “Ations” by Shel Silverstein! You may present the poem aloud to a partner, if possible, or create an audio clip or description.
Student Success
Think-Pair-Share
What kinds of strategies did you use in your presentation? How did they help to communicate the rhyme in the poem? How did they help you communicate the message of the poem?
Note to teachers: See your teacher guide for collaboration tools, ideas and suggestions.
Reflection
As you read through these descriptions, which sentence best describes how you are feeling about your understanding of this learning activity? Press the button that is beside this sentence.
I feel…
Now, record your ideas using a voice recorder, speech-to-text, or writing tool.
Learning goals
We are learning to…
- analyze oral texts, and explain how specific elements help us to understand their meaning
Success criteria
We are able to…
- identify rhyme in a poem, and explain how that helps us to understand the poem
- present the poem “Ations” by Shel Silverstein using different presentation and communication strategies