ALEX Learning Activity

  

Dear Basketball/Poem Analysis

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: 2748
Title:
Dear Basketball/Poem Analysis
Digital Tool/Resource:
Poetry Analysis
Web Address – URL:
Overview:

In this learning activity, students will read Dear Basketball by Kobe Bryant. Students will then complete a Poetry Analysis graphic organizer looking for the following literary devices in the poem: metaphor, alliteration, rhyme, hyperbole, repetition, imagery, and personification. Finally, students will explain how using the specific literary device enhances the meaning of the poem. 

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 including metaphor, personification, hyperbole, imagery, irony, alliteration, rhyme, and repetition in Dear Basketball to support interpretations using textual evidence. 
  Strategies, Preparations and Variations  
Phase:
During/Explore/Explain
Activity:

This learning activity should be used after a lesson on literary devices.

1. Kick off the learning activity by briefly reviewing literary devices if needed.

2.  Access the poem Dear Basketball by Kobe Bryant. Read the poem aloud together. (The poem can also be printed out if needed.)

3. Pass out the Poetry Analysis graphic organizer (one for each student) and explain that students will find examples of each type of literary device from the poem to complete the graphic organizer.

4. Students will write a quote using the literary device from the text underneath the name of each type of literary device. Then, students will explain how the literary device enhances the meaning of the poem. 

5. The teacher may wish to play the video Dear Basketball - Kobe Bryant (1978 - 2020) of Kobe Bryant reciting his poem after this activity to hear the poem read in Kobe Bryant's own words. 
Assessment Strategies:

The students will be assessed on the accurate completion of the Poetry Analysis graphic organizer for Dear Basketball. 
Advanced Preparation:

The teacher will need to make copies of the Poetry Analysis graphic organizer (one for each student).

The teacher will need to preview the video, Dear Basketball - Kobe Bryant (1978 - 2020) to make sure it isn't blocked by school security. 
Variation Tips (optional):

The teacher can print out the poem Dear Basketball by Kobe Bryant (one copy for each student). 

The teacher may choose to allow the students to complete a digital copy of the Poetry Analysis graphic organizer.
Notes or Recommendations (optional):

This learning activity can be taught with the following activities:

Dear Basketball/Literary Devices (before)

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