LESSON SIX: Always Allow Alliteration (Part Two)

 

LESSON DESCRIPTION

Working in small groups, students create alliterative text and analyze why or why not words used are examples of alliteration.  To apply learning, students draw a classmate’s name and write a sentence about that person using alliteration. 

 

GRADE-LEVEL EXPECTATIONS

o              R2B  The student will identify author’s use of rhythm, rhyme, and alliteration in poetry and prose, with assistance.

 

LESSON MATERIALS

Sources of Literature

o        “There’s A Zoo in Room 22” by Judy Sierra

o        “Timothy Tunny Swallowed a Bunny” by Bill Grossman

 

Supplies 

o        Nursery rhymes and tongue twisters

o        Prose with alliteration

o        Paper

o        Writing utensils

 

Handouts provided

o        Student copies of Alliteration

 

Words to know

o        alliteration

 

FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT

Students draw a classmate’s name and write a sentence about that person using alliteration.  Students must include at least three alliterative words in their sentence.  Once completed, students draw a picture to illustrate their sentence.  For examples, see http://devotion.brookline.mec.edu/classes/Yee/alliterationpoems/.  Student work is assembled in a class booklet for everyone to enjoy. 

 

Suggestion

Remind students that what they write needs to have a positive connotation. 

 

 

LEARNING ACTIVITIES

 

1.              Continue reading a variety of literature that contains alliteration in poetry, nursery rhymes, tongue twisters and prose such as “There’s a Zoo in Room 22” by Judy Sierra (poetry) and “Timothy Tunny Swallowed a Bunny” by Bill Grossman (poetry). 

 

Suggestion

If literature is not readily available, use tongue twisters and nursery rhymes.

 

Questions

for

Students

Do you enjoy listening to this kind of literature?  Explain why.

 

 

2.              Discuss and lead an activity on how to brainstorm words that alliterate.  Stress that positive words need to be used.  After an allotted time, compose a sentence with students using the generated words.  For example, Mr. Mike made music mowing mushrooms.

 

Questions

for

Students

Is alliteration the repetition of letters or sounds?

How could this sentence be illustrated?  Explain.

 

 

Suggestion

Think of a good sentence ahead of time  to help prompt the students.

 

3.              Put students in groups of three or four.  Each group is assigned a letter to be brainstormed together to generate a group of alliterative words for that letter.  The group then composes a sentence using their set of alliterative words.  Collect and display the sets words and sentences around the room for students to use as a resource.

 

Questions

for

Students

Do you find this activity to be easy or hard? 

What makes it easy or hard?

Why do you think authors use alliteration in writing?  Explain.

 

Suggestions

Facilitate for understanding of alliteration.

Provide an allotted amount of time.