4 th grade
Ivey, S., Roberts, L. (2009). Concrete Poetry - Prewriting & Drafting. Valdosta State University, Valdosta, GA.
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ELA4W4. The student consistently uses a writing process to develop, revise, and evaluate writing. The student a.
Plans and drafts independently and resourcefully.
The students will plan their own concrete poem using a graphic organizer.
Presented by Lancie Roberts
Ivey, S., Roberts, L. (2009). Concrete Poetry - Prewriting & Drafting. Valdosta State University, Valdosta, GA.
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 Also called Pattern or Shape Poetry
 Takes shape of topic word.
 Words, symbols, phrases put in specific order to describe topic.
Ivey, S., Roberts, L. (2009). Concrete Poetry - Prewriting & Drafting. Valdosta State University, Valdosta, GA.
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Words taking shape of item -
Cheerleaders
Phrases taking shape of item -
Tongue
Words/Phrases filling item -
Hourglass
Grandits, J (2007). Blue lipstick . New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Company.
Ivey, S., Roberts, L. (2009). Concrete Poetry - Prewriting & Drafting. Valdosta State University, Valdosta, GA.
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Concrete Poetry - Prewriting
 You will need to:
 Choose topic
 Choose form of concrete poem
 Write down descriptors of topic word
 Sketch of topic word
Ivey, S., Roberts, L. (2009). Concrete Poetry - Prewriting & Drafting. Valdosta State University, Valdosta, GA.
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Graphic Organizer for Concrete Poetry
Poet: (Your name) ______________
Topic:________________________ Title: _______________________
Draw pictures in the box provided; tell us what it is and how it relates to your topic. If you need additional space, use a sheet of notebook paper.
My topic makes me think of _______________________________.
How does this relate to my topic?
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
My topic makes me think of _______________________________.
How does this relate to my topic?
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
List words and phrases that also make you think of your topic word.
Ivey, S., and Roberts, L. (2009). Concrete Poetry Graphic Organizer. Valdosta State University, Valdosta, GA.
Ivey, S., Roberts, L. (2009). Concrete Poetry - Prewriting & Drafting. Valdosta State University, Valdosta, GA.
6

Grandits, J (2007).
Blue lipstick . New
York, NY:
Houghton Mifflin
Company.
Ivey, S., Roberts, L. (2009). Concrete Poetry - Prewriting & Drafting. Valdosta State University, Valdosta, GA.
7

Graphic Organizer for Concrete Poetry
Poet: (Your name) __ Lancie__
Topic:_____Traffic Light________ Title: _ “Red, Yellow, Green” Blues_
Draw pictures in the box provided; tell us what it is and how it relates to your topic. If you need additional space, use a sheet of notebook paper.
My topic makes me think of a traffic light.
How does this relate to my topic?
My topic is a traffic light, so it rather makes sense to have a picture of a traffic light when the poem is about a traffic light.
My topic makes me think of any car or truck on the road.
How does this relate to my topic?
Cars and trucks are on the road every day, interacting with traffic lights at least once per day (especially if you live in a town or city setting). Also, the poem is written from the driver’s point of view.
List words and phrases that also make you think of your topic word.
Red, yellow, green, “road nazi”, everyone gets a turn to go, guide, stop, caution or slow down, go, getting caught by the traffic light, running red lights, green means go – not sit around like a bump on a log!
Ivey, S., and Roberts, L. (2009). Concrete Poetry Graphic Organizer. Valdosta State University, Valdosta, GA.
Ivey, S., Roberts, L. (2009). Concrete Poetry - Prewriting & Drafting. Valdosta State University, Valdosta, GA.
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Concrete Poetry - Prewriting
 Practice Activity:
 Class-wide Graphic Organizer
○ Choose topic
○ Choose title
○ Choose form of concrete poetry
○ Draw pictures related to topic in boxes provided – how does it relate to your topic?
○ Think of some words and/or phrases that relate to your topic
Ivey, S., Roberts, L. (2009). Concrete Poetry - Prewriting & Drafting. Valdosta State University, Valdosta, GA.
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Concrete Poetry - Prewriting
 Assessment Activity:
 Graphic Organizer – ON YOUR OWN!
○ Choose topic
○ Choose title
○ Choose form of concrete poetry
○ Draw pictures related to topic in boxes provided – how does it relate to your topic?
○ Think of some words and/or phrases that relate to your topic
Ivey, S., Roberts, L. (2009). Concrete Poetry - Prewriting & Drafting. Valdosta State University, Valdosta, GA.
10

ELA4W4. The student consistently uses a writing process to develop, revise, and evaluate writing. The student a.
Plans and drafts independently and resourcefully.
The students will create a concrete poem using the information from their completed prewriting graphic organizer.
Presented by Shelli Ivey
Ivey, S., Roberts, L. (2009). Concrete Poetry - Prewriting & Drafting. Valdosta State University, Valdosta, GA.
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Concrete Poetry
 Written in 3 forms:
 Words filling item
 Words taking shape of item
 Phrases taking shape of item
Ivey, S., Roberts, L. (2009). Concrete Poetry -
Prewriting & Drafting. Valdosta State University,
Valdosta, GA.
12

Words taking shape of item -
Cheerleaders
Phrases taking shape of item -
Tongue
Words/Phrases filling item -
Hourglass
Grandits, J (2007). Blue lipstick . New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Company.
Ivey, S., Roberts, L. (2009). Concrete Poetry - Prewriting & Drafting. Valdosta State University, Valdosta, GA.
13

Concrete Poetry - Drafting
 Combine information from graphic organizer to create poem’s text
 Sketch picture related to topic word
 Combine text and sketched picture to create the rough draft of the concrete poem.
Ivey, S., Roberts, L. (2009). Concrete Poetry - Prewriting & Drafting. Valdosta State University, Valdosta, GA.
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Combine words/phrases to create text of poem:
Always tells us when to stop and go – all powerful
“Road Nazi” – Red light means “Do not pass go, do not collect $200.” – Yellow light, slow down or you’ll get unwanted attention. Green light! Go Go Go!
Everyone stuck in place like a deer in the headlights.
Move it, Lady! Got to hurry, got to go… unless I get
(drat!) caught by a red light…
Lightly sketch topic picture and write the text of your poem around it to create your rough draft:
Ivey, S., Roberts, L. (2009). Concrete Poetry - Prewriting & Drafting. Valdosta State University, Valdosta, GA.
15

Grandits, J (2007).
Blue lipstick . New
York, NY:
Houghton Mifflin
Company.
Ivey, S., Roberts, L. (2009). Concrete Poetry - Prewriting & Drafting. Valdosta State University, Valdosta, GA.
16

Concrete Poetry - Drafting

 Use the completed class concrete poem graphic organizer to create a class draft based on topic chosen.
○ Sketch picture related to topic
○ Combine information from graphic organizer to create text of poem
Ivey, S., Roberts, L. (2009). Concrete Poetry - Prewriting & Drafting. Valdosta State University, Valdosta, GA.
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Concrete Poetry - Drafting

 Use your own completed concrete poem graphic organizer to create a rough draft based on topic chosen
○ Sketch picture related to topic
○ Combine information from graphic organizer to create text of poem
Ivey, S., Roberts, L. (2009). Concrete Poetry -
Prewriting & Drafting. Valdosta State University,
Valdosta, GA.
18