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Creating a Personality Poem with Positive Adjectives

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Activity Website:

https://www.wordclouds.com/

Tech Product/Equipment:

Computer and projector, Mobile devices for students

Activity Description

Source: https://www.wordclouds.com/ (License: Protected by Copyright (c) [i.e. screenshot])

Students will create a Personality Poem along with a word cloud which is uploaded to Padlet and commented on by others.

Preparation

Previously teach vocabulary words on the document Positive Personality Adjectives.
Make sure students have access to the Internet
Create a Padlet for students to upload their work.
Download and print the Positive Personality Adjectives.
Review the words on the page

How-To

Pass out the adjective handout. Students should look up adjectives until they find three that fit their personalities.
Have students make a word map for the three adjectives. Here is a sample word map (pdf) from ReadWriteThink.
Have students create poems in a word processor or as a text message on their phone. Use the model in the handout.
Copy and paste the text into the Wordsalad app.
Save the file to the Camera Roll on an iPad/iPhone device) or to the Gallery on an Android device.
Then have students upload the image to your class Flickr account.

Teacher Tips

After students upload their Word Clouds to Padlet, have them comment on each other's work.

More Ways

Students can use this app to understand the main idea of a paragraph or reading. Just cut and paste a document from the Web into the app, and the most common words will be the largest, revealing the main idea.

Program Areas

ABE: Adult Basic Education
ESL: English as a Second Language
ASE: High School Equivalency Preparation

Levels

Intermediate Low
Intermediate High
Advanced
All Levels
Intermediate
High

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Warm-up

Engagement

Note: Prior to doing this activity, please teach the Positive Personality Adjectives to your class using direct instruction. This is a project that students will complete to show that they have learned at least five of them.

Brainstorm a list of positive personality adjectives that your class remembers and write the words on the board. See if students can remember the meaning as well.

Introduction

Tell the students that they will be writing a poem and creating a visual for that poem using the list of Positive Personality Adjectives previously studied.

Presentation

Engagement

1. Pass out the Personality Adjectives handout if students don't already have it.

2. Have the students look up definitions of the words that they don't remember until they find at least 3 adjectives that describe themselves (e.g. "adaptable, shy, easygoing").

3. Have students write down the definitions and sample sentences for each of these words on a Google Doc or a piece of paper. Encourage them to use an English/English dictionary to find the definitions.

Practice

Engagement Enhancement

Have students get into pairs or small groups (either in the classroom or in a breakout room) and teach their partner(s) their words and describe why each adjective reflects their personality.

Presentation

Engagement

Explain that the students will be writing poetry. Show the students the sample poem. Review it with them.

Practice

Engagement Enhancement

Divide students into pairs and have them read the sample poem to each other.

Presentation

Engagement Enhancement

Share the Name Poem Formula with the class. With the whole class have students identify which parts of the sample poem go with each line of the formula.

Practice

Engagement Enhancement Extension

Have each student write their poem based on the formula using pen and paper or a word processor.

Presentation

Engagement

Now we are ready to make the word cloud. This will be the visual for their poem. Model the following activity with the sample poem for the class. Have students follow along with you with their poem as you go.

1. Go to wordclouds.com

2. Click on Wordlist and have students select "extract words from text."

3. Have students copy the text into their clipboards with command C (Mac), control C (PC) or Push and hold on the phone.

4. Have students delete the word means. (It appears 3 times)

5. Have students click "Apply".

6. The word cloud will have a color, font and pattern which can be changed.

7. The following toolbar allows students to edit their visuals. Since there are many ways to change their visual, I suggest that the students only work on the shape. It is easy to get lost in all the changes.

8. There are hundreds of shapes to choose from. I suggest that you have the students search for a certain shape that resonates with their poem. For my sample poem, I chose the sun. Here is what my word cloud looks like:

9. Show students how to save their image by clicking on "File, Save As". There are two ways to save their image. SD (Standard Definition) and HD (High Definition). I suggest Standard Definition as it is smaller.

Practice

Engagement Enhancement Extension

1) Help students complete their Word Clouds and save them.

2) Show students how to log on to the Padlet account. Have students upload their visuals onto the Padlet.

3) Have students read their poem to the class and ask the class to make positive comments on the image.

Evaluation

Have students complete the exercise and hand in their poem.

Application

Extension

Show students that word clouds are just another kind of visual organizer that they can use in their readings.

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Writing
- CCR Anchor 5 - Develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach.
- CCR Anchor 6 - Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing and to interact and collaborate with others.
- CCR Anchor 8 - Gather relevant information from multiple print and digital sources, assess the credibility and accuracy of each source, and integrate the information while avoiding plagiarism.
Speaking and Listening
- CCR Anchor 2 - Integrate and evaluate information presented in diverse media and formats, including visually, quantitatively, and orally.
- CCR Anchor 4 - Present information, findings, and supporting evidence such that listeners can follow the line of reasoning and the organization, development, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
- CCR Anchor 5 - Make strategic use of digital media and visual displays of data to express information and enhance understanding of presentations.
Language
- CCR Anchor 1 - Demonstrate command of the conventions of English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.
- CCR Anchor 2 - Demonstrate command of the conventions of English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.
- CCR Anchor 3 - Apply knowledge of language to understand how language functions in different contexts, to make effective choices for meaning or style, and to comprehend more fully when reading or listening.
- CCR Anchor 4 - Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases by using context clues, analyzing meaningful word parts, and consulting general and specialized reference materials, as appropriate.
- CCR Anchor 5 - Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings.
- CCR Anchor 6 - Acquire and use accurately a range of general academic and domain-specific words and phrases sufficient for reading, writing, speaking, and listening at the college and career readiness level; demonstrate independence in gathering vocabulary knowledge when encountering a word or phrase important to comprehension or expression.

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Creating a Personality Poem with Positive Adjectives

Details

Activity Description

Preparation

How-To

Teacher Tips

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