Freeing the Elwha (Calling the Salmon Back to the Elwha: Poems for the Adventurous Anadromous)
- Grade Level:
- Sixth Grade-Eighth Grade
- Language Arts, Literature, Performing Arts, Poetry, Writing
- Two Class Periods
- Group Size:
- Up to 36
- National/State Standards:
- Washington State Standards:
EALR 5: SOCIAL STUDIES SKILLS Component 5.2
EALR 1: Component 1.6, EALR 2: Component 2.2, Component 3.1
OverviewHow can asking someone or something to respond to a request help to build understanding?
In this lesson students will write a "question and answer" poem that uses two voices, one to call the salmon back to the River and the other to respond to the caller. Students will perform their poems.
- Computer/internet access
- Question and Answer Poems
- Student pages (printable handout)
- Reflection Journal (printable handout)
Review the Essential Question, introduce the Guiding Question.
Review the life cycle of salmon and the salmon associated with the Elwha River. Tell the students that once the dams have come down salmon are expected to return to the Elwha River. Tell them they will write a question and answer poem asking the salmon to come back to the River. Tell the students that question and answer poems don't have to rhyme, but they are structured in that there is a question then an answer. Have the students look at the poems provided. They range from the simple, to the silly, to the complex. Point out the question and answer structure of the poems.
Reflection Journal pages (rubric included)
Question and Answer Poem (rubric included)
Student Page completion