Things to Do > Computer Resource Center > Electronic Curricula

Community Poems

Download Project (88kb PDF, includes samples)

Subject: Reading, Writing and Art
Age Level: All ages

Performance Standards Information
Writing: E2d
Literature: E5b

Activity Goals

• Encourage creativity and writing using computers
  
• Provide opportunities for children to work individually as well as in small groups.
  
• To publish children’s work regularly

Skills children will learn from the activity

• Children will learn how to use software programs such as Microsoft Word, KidPix, Microsoft Publisher and other graphics programs through a hands-on activity.
  
• Children will practice their writing and graphic design skills.
  
• Children will examine how illustration and text work together to communicate with an audience.

Materials needed

• Appropriate Software: Microsoft Word, Microsoft Publisher, Adobe Photoshop, KidPix
  
• Pencils
  
• Paper
  
• Computers (no more than 2 children on a workstation)
• A common meeting area
• Floppy Disks (if computers are not connected through a server)
• Zip Disks (if a zip drive is available )

Prerequisites

• Children should be familiar with how to use KidPix.
• Children should be able to write basic sentences.
• Children must be informed of computer room rules.
• Children must know how and where to save their work.
• The rules of the computer room

Discussion

1. Have students gather around a table or in a circle.
   
2. Have a brief discussion about what a community poem is. A great way to start the discussion would be to have the students define what they think a “community” is. A common example might be, “A community is a group of people that live in the same neighborhood.” When defining what a community poem is, use the definitions from the students to help make the connection, “A community poem is when the kids from J. Hood Wright, who all use the rec. center, share some of their ideas and opinions with the same starting line.”
3. Model the process with a starting line like “If I could change the world…” and then complete it with your own opinion. Then have the children continue the poem with their own additions. For example, the first person to start might say, “If I could change the world, I would make sure that each child received the best education possible.” The next in turn might say, “If I could change the world, all kids would have a safe place to play.” And it would continue until each child had contributed a line.

The Writing Process

The children will then break out and write their ideas down on paper. This is especially important to those centers with fewer computers. It will give the coordinator time to check all of the machines, as well as the spelling and syntax of the students’ writing. Writing a draft first allows for students to experience revisions as part of the writing process, and it saves computer time. This means that the students can focus on the “fun part” of designing the picture to go with their part, and more of the children can cycle through.

The Design Process

When the children get onto the computers, the best place to start is on KidPix because you have the option of incorporating text and art on the same page. KidPix also provides children with the tools to be successful artists even if they “can’t draw.” One thing to keep in mind, when saving a KidPix drawing, YOU MUST PAINT TEXT TO BACKGROUND IN ORDER FOR IT TO SHOW UP IN PUBLISHER. This option is found in TOOLS (but it is only in the Deluxe version). However, there are also other graphics programs such as Bryce and Photoshop that will allow students to work on graphics programs that are downloaded from the Internet, scanned in, or are original creations. While it takes a bit more work to do the layout, the results are well worth the work.

Tips for laying our the poem

1. When laying out the poem, we use Adobe PageMaker. While giving each child’s piece a full page in the newsletter is nice, it also takes up more space in the newsletter and more memory. Using half a page has just as strong an impact. Another option might be to use a combination of full page and half page layouts.
2. Have all of the members of the center contribute to the poem and hang their contributions throughout the center.
3. Themes can vary according to special events are holidays that are happening in the center. This is a great activity for a sports themed newsletter or during Summer Fun to build a sense of community within each of the centers.

The student produces a narrative procedure that

• Engages the reader by establishing a context, creating a persona, and otherwise developing reader interest.
• Makes use of appropriate writing strategies such as creating a visual hierarchy and using white space and graphics as appropriate
• The student produces work in at least one literary genre that follows the conventions of the genre.

Extension Activities

• Have all of the members of the center contribute to the poem and hang their contributions throughout the center.
• Themes can vary according to special events are holidays that are happening in the center. This is a great activity for a sports themed newsletter or during Summer Fun to build a sense of community within each of the centers.