ALEX Learning Activity

  

Dear Basketball/Literary Devices

A Learning Activity is a strategy a teacher chooses to actively engage students in learning a concept or skill using a digital tool/resource.

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  This learning activity provided by:  
Author: Ginger Boyd
System:Geneva County
School:Samson Middle School
  General Activity Information  
Activity ID: 2747
Title:
Dear Basketball/Literary Devices
Digital Tool/Resource:
Poetic Devices Defined
Web Address – URL:
Overview:

In this learning activity, students will be introduced to literary devices used in poetry through the video, Poetic Devices Defined. Then, students will define and give an example of a literary device at random by spinning a digital wheel. Finally, students will share their definitions and examples with the class through a carousel around the room. 

This activity was created as a result of the ALEX Resource Development Summit.
  Associated Standards and Objectives  
Content Standard(s):
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.
Unpacked Content
Teacher Vocabulary:
4.
  • Literary devices
  • Literary texts
  • Textual evidence
  • Simile
  • Metaphor
  • Personification
  • Onomatopoeia
  • Hyperbole
  • Imagery
  • Tone
  • Symbolism
  • Irony
  • Mood
Knowledge:
4. Students know:
  • Authors of literary texts, such as prose and poetry, often include literary devices and figurative language to create a particular tone and mood.
  • Evaluating literary devices that are used in a text can support a personal interpretation of a text.
Skills:
4. Students are able to:
  • Identify literary devices in literary texts, including simile, metaphor, personification, onomatopoeia, hyperbole, imagery, tone, symbolism, irony, and mood.
  • Evaluate how an author's use of literary devices supports an interpretation of the text.
  • Cite evidence from the text to support their evaluations.
Understanding:
4. Students understand that:
  • Authors use figurative language and literary devices to develop tone and mood in their writing.
  • Literary devices contribute to the literal and/or figurative interpretation of a text.
Learning Objectives:

Students will be able to evaluate literary devices in Dear Basketball by Kobe Bryant using textual evidence including metaphor, personification, imagery, hyperbole, alliteration, and rhyme. 
  Strategies, Preparations and Variations  
Phase:
Before/Engage
Activity:

1. The teacher will show the video, Poetic Devices Defined. 

2. As a fun way to test the students' knowledge of literary devices, the teacher will use a digital wheel.  The teacher will visit the website and allow students to "spin" the wheel to choose a literary device at random. Students will find one example of the literary device they choose from the poem Dear Basketball by Kobe Bryant.

3. Student examples of literary devices from the poem are to be written on a sticky note, posted around the room, and shared with everyone through a carousel walk around the room. 

(No prior knowledge of literary devices is required for this learning activity. )
Assessment Strategies:

The students will be assessed on the accuracy of their example of the literary device they randomly choose when spinning the digital wheel.  
Advanced Preparation:

The teacher will need to prescreen the video prior to showing it in the classroom to ensure it is not blocked by school security. 
Variation Tips (optional):

The teacher can use any type of random picker to choose which literary device each student will define and give an example. 

Other variations: students can add an illustration with their definition and example. 
Notes or Recommendations (optional):

This learning activity can be taught with the following activities:

Dear Basketball/Poem Analysis (during)

Dear Basketball/Create Your Own Poem (after)
  Keywords and Search Tags  
Keywords and Search Tags: alliteration, Dear Basketball, Kobe Bryant, literary devices, metaphor, personification, poetry, rhyme