Color of Silence: Sensory Imagery in Pat Mora's Poem

  Classroom Resource Information  

Title:

Color of Silence: Sensory Imagery in Pat Mora's Poem

URL:

http://readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/lesson-plans/color-silence-sensory-imagery-1104.html

Content Source:

ReadWriteThink
Type: Lesson/Unit Plan

Overview:

This classroom resource is an engaging lesson plan from ReadWriteThink that allows students to explore how writers use sensory imagery as a literary device to make the text more meaningful for the reader.  The lesson begins with the students using all of their senses to describe known objects such as pasta, chocolate, or grapes. Students first feel and listen to the object, in a bag, before taking it out of the bag to look at, smell, and taste it. They then use at least three senses to write a poem about the object they've described.  Next, they evaluate how this literary device functions in Pat Mora's poem “Echoes.” As students read this poem, they look for sensory images and write an explanation of how these images contribute to the meaning of Mora's poem. Finally, students think about how sensory images work in their own poems and then make appropriate revisions to their work.  The resource includes links to student interactives and printable handouts.

Content Standard(s):
English Language Arts
ELA2021 (2021)
Grade: 6
R1. Utilize active listening skills during discussion and conversation in pairs, small groups, or whole-class settings, following agreed-upon rules for participation.
English Language Arts
ELA2021 (2021)
Grade: 6
R4. Utilize a writing process to plan, draft, revise, edit, and publish writings in various genres.
English Language Arts
ELA2021 (2021)
Grade: 6
4. Describe the use of literary devices in prose and poetry, including simile, metaphor, personification, onomatopoeia, hyperbole, tone, imagery, irony, symbolism, and mood, and indicate how they support interpretations of the text.
English Language Arts
ELA2021 (2021)
Grade: 6
7. Produce clear, coherent narrative, argument, and informative/explanatory writing in which the development, organization, style, and tone are relevant to task, purpose, and audience, using an appropriate command of language.

a. Write narratives incorporating key literary elements, including characters, plot, setting, point of view, resolution of a conflict, dialogue, and sensory details.

b. Write informative or explanatory texts with an organized structure and a formal style, incorporating a focused point of view, a clear purpose, credible evidence, and technical word meanings.

c. Write an argument to convince the reader to take an action or adopt a position, stating a claim and supporting the claim with relevant, well-organized evidence from credible sources.
English Language Arts
ELA2021 (2021)
Grade: 6
9. Participate in collaborative discussions about literary devices and elements found in prose and poetry.
English Language Arts
ELA2021 (2021)
Grade: 7
R1. Utilize active listening skills during discussion and conversation in pairs, small groups, or whole-class settings, following agreed-upon rules for participation.
English Language Arts
ELA2021 (2021)
Grade: 7
R4. Utilize a writing process to plan, draft, revise, edit, and publish writings in various genres.
English Language Arts
ELA2021 (2021)
Grade: 7
4. Evaluate literary devices to support interpretations of literary texts using textual evidence, including simile, metaphor, personification, onomatopoeia, hyperbole, imagery, tone, symbolism, irony, and mood.
English Language Arts
ELA2021 (2021)
Grade: 7
7. Produce clear, coherent narrative, argument, and informative/explanatory writing in which the development, organization, style, and tone are relevant to task, purpose, and audience, using an appropriate command of language.

a. Write narratives to convey a series of events incorporating key literary elements, establishing a clear purpose, using narrative techniques (dialogue, pacing, description, and reflection), and sequencing events coherently (chronological and/or flashback).

b. Write informative or explanatory texts with an organized structure and a formal style to examine ideas or processes effectively while developing the topic and utilizing appropriate transitions, precise vocabulary, and credible information or data when relevant.

c. Write an argument to defend a position by introducing and supporting claim(s), acknowledging alternate or opposing claims, and presenting reasons and relevant text evidence from accurate and credible sources.
English Language Arts
ELA2021 (2021)
Grade: 7
9. Participate in collaborative discussions about prose and poetry by evaluating the use of literary devices and elements.
English Language Arts
ELA2021 (2021)
Grade: 8
R1. Utilize active listening skills during discussion and conversation in pairs, small groups, or whole-class settings, following agreed-upon rules for participation.
English Language Arts
ELA2021 (2021)
Grade: 8
R4. Utilize a writing process to plan, draft, revise, edit, and publish writings in various genres.
English Language Arts
ELA2021 (2021)
Grade: 8
4. Analyze the use of literary devices, including simile, metaphor, personification, onomatopoeia, hyperbole, imagery, tone, symbolism, irony, mood, and allusion, to support interpretations of literary texts, using textual evidence to support the analysis.
English Language Arts
ELA2021 (2021)
Grade: 8
8. Produce clear, coherent narrative, argument, and informative/explanatory writing in which the development, organization, style, and tone are relevant to task, purpose, and audience, using an appropriate command of language.

a. Write narratives that establish a clear purpose, use narrative techniques, and sequence events coherently.

Examples: narratives - memoir, short story, personal narrative; techniques - dialogue, pacing, description, reflection;
sequencing - chronological, reverse chronological, flashback

b. Write informative or explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas or processes effectively, by developing the topic with relevant information or data from credible sources and using appropriate transitions and precise vocabulary.

c. Write an argument to defend a position by introducing and supporting a claim, distinguishing the claim from opposing claims, presenting counterclaims and reasons, and citing accurate, relevant textual evidence from credible sources.
English Language Arts
ELA2021 (2021)
Grade: 8
10. Engage in coherent and collaborative discussions about prose and poetry by evaluating the use of literary devices and elements.
Tags: acrostic poems, literary device, Pat Mora, poem, senses, sensory imagery, writing
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Author: Cassie Raulston