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Marvelous Missourians

published on: 2/28/2003

Contributing Teacher(s): Maryellen Sullivan

Subject Area: Communication Arts/English grammar/usage, Communication Arts/Writing/research

Grade Range: Upper Elementary (4-5), Middle Grades (6-8)

Materials Needed:

• pencil
• e-mail access
• results from research project about a famous Missourian
• the Performance Task Packet (which includes the Student Prompt, the Response Sheet, and the Scoring Guide)

Instructional Strategy: Evaluating Student Understanding

Process Standards:

• Goal 2.1 plan and make written, oral and visual presentations for a variety of purposes and audiences
• Goal 2.7 use technological tools to exchange information and ideas

Content Standards:

• Communication Arts 1 - Speaking and writing standard English (including grammar, usage, punctuation, spelling, ...)
• Communication Arts 4. Writing formally (such as reports, narratives, essays) and informally (such as outlines, notes)

  G.L.E.:
  

  • CA - Wr - 3 - E - 04
    (Writing, Write effectively in various forms and types of writing, Audience and purpose, Grade 4.)

  Time Allowance: Two 60 minute class periods

  Description: This MAP performance task may be used as a culminating activity after a research project about a famous person from Missouri. Students use research data to create a Bio-Poem about a famous Missourian.

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  Classroom Component: This performance task may be used as a culminating activity after a research project about a famous person from Missouri. The students will use research data to create a Bio-Poem about a famous Missourian. The finished product will be e-mailed to an e-mail partner. Instructions for Administration: Present students with the Performance Task Packet and make sure they understand what they are to do. Go over the scoring guide so they know how the written product will be assessed. Pre-Assessment: Discuss the different parts of a Bio-Poem and how to create one. Discuss what type of information would be interesting to readers and what information would be important to know in learning about a famous person. Marvelous Missourians Student Prompt

  You have been learning about many famous people from Missouri and have done research about one such person. Your e-mail partner is curious to learn about people from Missouri. You will write a Bio-Poem about your famous person or “Marvelous Missourian.” You will use the format shown to create your Bio-Poem. A Bio-Poem is short, well thought out, and clearly stated. The poem will be completed and sent to your e-mail partner two days from today.

  Example of a Marvelous Missourian Bio-Poem

  Line 1: Marvelous Missourian’s first name	Samuel
  Line 2: Four descriptive traits	humorous, curious eccentric, talented
  Line 3: Famous for (tell #1 here)....	author of Adventures of Tom Sawyer
  Line 4: Lover of (people/ideas)......	funny stories, all people and challenges
  Line 5: Who needed.....	encouragement, laughter, love of his family
  Line 6: Who gave.....	great literature, humorous stories and the best of himself to the public
  Line 7: Who feared....	not going out with Haley’s Comet and living on after his family died
  Line 8: Famous for (tell #2 here)....	his humorous sayings and stories about life in Hannibal
  Line 9: Who would have liked to see.....	more days as a steamboat pilot
  Line 10: Resident of (hometown in Missouri)....	Hannibal, Missouri
  Line 11: Marvelous Missourian’s last name	Clemens

  Marvelous Missourians

  Write a Bio-Poem about your famous person or “Marvelous Missourian.” You will use the format shown to create your Bio-Poem. A Bio-Poem is short, well thought out, and clearly stated.

  Marvelous Missourians Scoring Guide 4: Outstanding The Bio-Poem clearly states the information about the famous Missourian and follows the correct format. There is ample evidence that the student had a well thought out plan prior to writing the poem. The poem is neat and may contain a mechanical error that is not distracting to the reader. The poem is completed and e-mailed by the deadline. 3: Emerging The Bio-Poem may not state all the information about the famous Missourian and/or may not follow the correct format. There is little evidence that the student put much thought into or planned the poem. The poem may be messy and/or contain many mechanical errors that are distracting to the reader. The poem may not be complete and/or may not be e-mailed by the deadline. 2: Sufficient The Bio-Poem states the information about the famous Missourian and follows the correct format. There is evidence that the student had a plan prior to writing the poem. The poem may be a little messy and/ or may contain a few mechanical errors that are not distracting to the reader. The poem is completed and e-mailed by the deadline. 1: Little or No Understanding The Bio-Poem states little information about the famous Missourian and/or does not follow the correct format. There is no evidence that the student put much thought into or planned the poem. The poem may be messy and/or difficult to read or understand. The poem may not be complete and/or may not be e-mailed by the deadline. 0: Off task or No Attempt What do you think of this lesson? SuccessLink needs to know. Click HERE.

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  For additional information contact :
  Maryellen Sullivan
  Ewing Elem.
  Lewis Co. C-1
  (573) 209-3403