Rachel Paulsen/UNO
Acrostic Poem Lesson for African Acrostic: A Word in Edgeways
Grade Level Range 3
Objective:
3.2.2.c Write considering typical characteristics of a selected genre (e.g., variety of poems,
friendly letter, how-to books)
Lesson Procedure:
1. Read selected pages from the book African Acrostics so that students can see multiple
examples of acrostic poems. We will then discuss what an acrostic poem is. We will
also talk about the use of adjectives in these poems.
2. Then, we will discuss how acrostic poems can contain single words or entire sentences
for each letter.
3. As a class we will create an acrostic for the word “cat”.
4. I will then give each student a different animal and allow them to make an acrostic poem
about that animal by themselves. I will encourage students to create sentences instead of
single words. The students will then share their poems with the person sitting next to
them. If students finish early they can think draw a picture of their animal or think of
their own animal to make an acrostic poem about. I will then ask for a couple different
volunteers to share their poem to the whole class.
5. I will then model my “About Me” acrostic poem to them using my name by making a
step book. After they have seen me do mine, I will hand out a step book to each child so
that they can create their own acrostic poem using their names. They will then each get a
puppet accu-cut. They can decorate the puppet with the things that they talked about in
their acrostic poem.
6. Students will then be given the opportunity to share their “About Me” acrostic poems and
puppets with the rest of the class if they would like.
Assessment:
See attached rubric.
Acrostic Examples:
C- Curl up to Cuddle
A- Adore playing with string
T- Tails as long as snakes
Books with acrostic poems:
Harley, A. (2009). African acrostics: A word in edgeways. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick
Press.
Powell, C. (2003). Amazing apples. Morton Grove, Il: Albert Whitman and Company.
Schnur, S. (1997). Autumn: An alphabet acrostic. New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Trade and Reference Publishers.
Websites with acrostic poetry:
http://www.kidzone.ws/poetry/acrostic.htm
http://www.gigglepoetry.com/poetryclass/acrostic.html
http://www.gigglepoetry.com/poetryclass/acrostic.html
Name:________________________
Yes/No Checklist and Rubric Criteria Based on Acrostic Poetry
Yes/No Checklist Based on Directions
______ 1.
______ 2.
______ 3.
______ 4.
My name is on the top of my paper.
I have completed my animal acrostic poem using good word choice.
I have completed my “About Me” acrostic poem using good word choice.
I have created my puppet based on my “About Me” acrostic.
On Your Way
On Target
Knowledge
Student demonstrates
knowledge of acrostic
poetry and the use of
adjectives to create
these poems.
Skills
Student is able to write
their own “About Me”
acrostic poem using
sentences that
appropriately describe
them.
Dispositions
Student has good word
choice.
Student is able to follow
directions to complete
their acrostic poems
while also using
creativity.
Evidence
for being
on target
On Ahead
Name: _______________________________________
C-
A-
T-