Sensory Poetry Slides Verse Builders • Lesson 1
4th Grade ELL • Poetry Studio
Sensory Snapshots
Painting Pictures with Our Five Senses
See
Hear
Smell
Taste
Touch
Poet's Secret Tool
What is Imagery?
Imagery means words that make a picture in the reader's mind.
Poets use the 5 senses to help us feel, hear, and see their world.
Plain Sentence:
"The storm was loud."
Poetic Imagery:
"Thunder crashed like giant cymbals in the dark sky."
ELL Power Tip: Ask yourself, "Can I draw what the poet just wrote?"
Vocabulary Vault
Words for Today's Workshop
Word 1
Sensory
Connected to our 5 senses (sight, sound, smell, taste, touch).
"Sensory words help us feel the poem."
Word 2
Stanza
A group of lines in a poem, like a paragraph in a story.
"Stanzas are separated by empty spaces."
Word 3
Vivid
Very bright, clear, and powerful in our mind.
"Golden sunshine is a vivid detail."
Say it together: SEN-so-ry • STAN-za • VIV-id 3 Claps!
Mentor Poem Analysis
Summer Storm
Notice the senses!
Stanza 1
Dark charcoal clouds roll across the sky,
Cool wet drops splash on my warm skin.
Thunder booms like drums on a hollow floor,
And fresh sweet grass smells in the windy air.
Sensory Detective Hunt
Sight: "Dark charcoal clouds"Touch: "Cool wet drops on warm skin"Sound: "Thunder booms like drums"Smell: "Fresh sweet grass"
💬 Turn & Talk Frame: "The sensory detail I noticed most was _______ because _______."
Choral Read: Follow teacher pacing • Read with calm, stormy expression!
Workshop Action Plan
Your Poet Missions Today
1
Sensory Match Game
Team up with your partner! Match poetic phrases with the correct sensory icon and speak each line aloud.
Partner Speaking Activity
2
5-Senses Poem Draft
Use your Sensory Explorers Worksheet. Pick your favorite place or season and write a 5-line sensory poem!
Scaffolded Writing
✨ Remember: Every great poet paints with words!
Sensory Explorers Worksheet Verse Builders • Lesson 1
Sensory Explorers Worksheet
Name: ________________________________
Focus: Sensory Imagery & Comprehension
Part 1: Sensory Detective Code Key
Read the poem below. Use your pencil or colored pencils to find sensory details:
Underline Sight
Circle Sound
Box Touch
Star ★ Smell / Taste
Morning by the Ocean
By Lenny the Poet
Golden sunlight warms the wet, silky sand,
(Notice how each line gives us a different picture, sound, or feeling!)
Part 2: Sensory Evidence Chart
Sense Words from the Poem What Picture Comes to Your Mind? Sight "Golden sunlight / screeching white gulls" Sound
|
|
| Touch |
|
|
Part 3: Comprehension Check
1. What is the mood (feeling) of this poem? Use the sentence frame:
The mood of the poem is ________________ because the poet describes ________________.
2. Why did the author use the word "screeching" instead of "flying"?
The author used "screeching" to help the reader hear ________________.
Verse Builders • Poetry Mini-Unit Page 1 of 2
Writing Studio
My 5-Senses Poem
🎯 Goal: Write a 5-line sensory snapshot
Step 1: Circle your poem topic
⛈️ A Wild Storm
⚽ Soccer Match
🍕 Kitchen Magic
🍂 Autumn Forest
Or my own special topic:
Step 2: Sensory Word Bank (Borrow these juicy words!)
Sight
glittering, fuzzy, shadows, golden, fiery, neon
Sound
whisper, roar, clatter, whistle, buzzing, splash
Touch
chilly, prickly, velvety, damp, rough, scorching
Smell/Taste
peppery, sweet, smoky, buttery, zesty, fresh
Step 3: Draft Your 5-Senses Poem
Use the frames or write your own vivid lines. Leave blank lines clean for clear handwriting!
Poem Title:
Sensory Match Game Cards Verse Builders • Game Studio
Sensory Match Game Cards
🎮 2 Players • Fluency & Categorization
Partner Rules
Cut along dotted lines
1. Cut out the 5 Sense Targets and 8 Verse Cards . 2. Take turns drawing a Verse Card and reading it out loud with expressive voice. 3. Place it under the correct Sense Target. 4. Use the partner sentence frame to explain!
🗣️ ELL Talk Frame: "This line belongs to [Sense] because the word '_______' makes me imagine..."
🎯 Sense Target Cards (Place in a row on your desk)
Sight What we see
Sound What we hear
Smell What we smell
Taste What we taste
Touch What we feel
✂️ Verse Cards (Cut along dashed lines)
Card #1
"Silver lightning flashes bright across the purple midnight sky."
Clue: "lightning flashes bright"
Card #2
"Dry autumn leaves crunch and crackle beneath my rubber rain boots."
Clue: "crunch and crackle"
Card #3
"Sweet cinnamon rolls warm the chilly air in grandmother's kitchen."
Clue: "sweet cinnamon air"
Card #4
"Sour yellow lemon drops make my tongue tingle and pucker."
Clue: "sour lemon / tongue"
Card #5
"Prickly pine needles scratch gently against my woolen sweater."
Clue: "prickly scratch"
Card #6
"Giant grandfather clock ticks slowly in the quiet wooden hallway."
Clue: "ticks slowly"
Card #7
"Warm melted marshmallow drips sticky and sugary between graham crackers."
Clue: "sugary / sticky"
Card #8
"Velvety soft kitten fur tickles my chin as it purrs to sleep."
Clue: "velvety soft / purrs"
Partner Fluency Star: Did your partner read smoothly with expression?
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Verse Builders • Lesson 1 Game Print & Cut Activity
Rhythm Beats Slides Verse Builders • Lesson 2
4th Grade ELL • Sound & Flow
Rhythm Beats
Hearing the Music, Rhyme, and Heartbeat of Words
Beat: The steady pulse of a poem
Rhyme: Matching ending sounds
Fluency: Reading with lively expression
Poetry Heartbeat
Poems Have a Beat!
Just like a song, a poem has a steady rhythm.
We feel rhythm by clapping the syllables (word beats) in each line.
Put two fingers on your wrist. Feel that pulse? Poetry beats the same way!
Let's Clap Together:
Rain 1 Clap 👏
Thun-der 2 Claps 👏 👏
Li-sten-ing 3 Claps 👏 👏 👏
Say it loud: "The BEAT of the FEET on the QUI-et STREET!" (Can you feel the rhythm?)
Decoding Patterns
Poetry Rhyme Schemes
Pattern 1: AABB
Couplets
I hear the buzzing yellow bee , (A)
It flies into the apple tree . (A)
The wind begins to blow so cold , (B)
The leaves turn orange, red, and gold . (B)
✨ Lines 1 & 2 rhyme. Lines 3 & 4 rhyme!
Pattern 2: ABCB
Alternating
The silver moon begins to rise, (A)
Above the sleepy town . (B)
The stars are blinking in the night, (C)
As darkness settles down . (B)
✨ Only Lines 2 & 4 rhyme! Very common in songs.
💡 ELL Secret: Rhyming words match at the END of the line, never the start!
Choral Reading & Fluency
Night Train Across the Plain
Pattern: AABB Rhyme
Click-et-y clack along the track,
The engine carries coal of black.
It whistles through the windy night,
With one big beaming golden light.
How to Read Like a Performer:
✓ Tempo: Start slow, then get a bit faster!
✓ Volume: Whistle line can be strong and clear!
✓ Pronunciation: Crisp ending sounds (-ck, -ght).
🗣️ Class Echo: Teacher reads line 1, whole class chants back!
Rhyme Pair 1: track / black Rhyme Pair 2: night / light Full Class 4-Beat Clap!
Rhyme Builders Worksheet Verse Builders • Lesson 2
Rhyme Builders Worksheet
Name: Date:
Focus: Rhythm Beats & Rhyme Patterns
Part 1: Syllable Clapping (Count the Beats)
Say each line aloud. Clap on every syllable. Write the number of syllables in the beat box:
"The sil-ver moon is shin-ing bright"
Clap beats: 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏
8
"A lit-tle frog jumps on a log"
Clap each syllable:
"Stars twin-kle in the dark sky"
Clap each syllable:
Part 2: Label the Rhyme Scheme (AABB or ABCB)
Poem A: Windy Day Label A, B, C...
The wind is whistling through the trees ,
A
It bends the flowers to their knees .
A
It sends the red leaves flying high ,
Across the cloudy autumn sky .
This rhyme scheme is:
Poem B: Mountain River Label A, B, C...
The river rushes cold and clear ,
A
Past rocks of gray and brown .
B
It dances swiftly on its way ,
Down to the busy town .
This rhyme scheme is:
Part 3: Odd Word Out (Cross out the word that DOES NOT rhyme)
Group 1 (-ight)
• bright
• night
• weight (different sound!)
• flight
Group 2 (-ound)
• ground
• sound
• pond
• round
Group 3 (-eep)
• sleep
• steep
• deep
• step
Verse Builders • Poetry Mini-Unit Page 1 of 2
Writing Studio
Couplet Crafters
🎯 Goal: Build 2 rhyming couplets with rhythm
What is a Couplet? A couplet is a pair of 2 lines that rhyme and usually have the same number of rhythm beats (syllables).
Step 1: Climb the Rhyme Ladders
Fill in the missing rhyming words on the ladder rungs:
Ladder 1: -ark Sound
1. bark
2. park
Word bank: dark, spark, shark, mark
Ladder 2: -ow Sound
1. sn
Rhyme Relay Game Cards Verse Builders • Game Studio
Rhyme Relay Game Cards
🎮 2 Players • Rhyme Match & Choral Chant
How to Play Rhyme Relay
Cut along dotted lines
1. Cut out all 10 Verse Domino Cards. Shuffle and divide them equally. 2. Player 1 places a Starter card. 3. Player 2 searches for the rhyming Finisher card. 4. Together, read the completed 2-line couplet aloud and clap its beat!
🗣️ ELL Talk Frame: "We matched [Word 1] with [Word 2] because both end with the /-____/ sound!"
✂️ Rhyme Match Domino Cards (10 Cards • 5 Matching Couplets)
Pair A • Starter
"The ocean waves roll to the sand,"
Ending word: sand Find: -and
Pair A • Finisher
"Holding a seashell in my hand."
Ending word: hand Rhyme Match!
Pair B • Starter
"The night is quiet, still and deep,"
Ending word: deep Find: -eep
Pair B • Finisher
"The sleepy forest falls asleep."
Ending word: asleep Rhyme Match!
Pair C • Starter
"A yellow bird upon the wire,"
Ending word: wire Find: -ire
Pair C • Finisher
"Glows like a spark of golden fire."
Ending word: fire Rhyme Match!
Pair D • Starter
"We kick the soccer ball so high,"
Ending word: high Find: -y / -igh sound
Pair D • Finisher
"It flies toward the afternoon sky."
Ending word: sky Rhyme Match!
Pair E • Starter
"The stormy drops of chilly rain,"
Ending word: rain Find: -ain
Pair E • Finisher
"Wash on the windows of the train."
Ending word: train Rhyme Match!
Choral Chant Check: Did you and your partner chant each couplet together with 8 claps?
✓ 5 / 5 Couplets Chanted
Verse Builders • Lesson 2 Game Print & Cut Domino Activity
Poet Showcase Slides Verse Builders • Lesson 3
4th Grade ELL • Voice & Publishing
Poet Showcase
Line Breaks, Mood, and Reading Aloud with Pride
Line Breaks: Where the poet pauses
Mood: The feeling inside the words
Showcase: Performing your poem aloud
Crafting the Page
The Power of Line Breaks
A line break is where a line of poetry ends and a new line begins.
Line breaks tell the reader when to take a breath, pause, or pay attention to an important word!
When reading: brief breath at each line break; longer pause at a period.
In a Story:
"The lightning flashed across the midnight sky and thunder crashed loudly."
In a Poem (With Line Breaks):
The lightning
flashed!
Across the midnight sky,
And thunder crashed.
👀 Notice: The word "flashed!" has its own line to make it feel sudden and powerful!
Emotional Core
What is the Mood?
☀️
Joyful & Excited
Full of happiness, celebration, and energy.
Poet Voice: Bouncy, smiling, enthusiastic!
🌊
Calm & Peaceful
Quiet, gentle, relaxing, and reflective.
Poet Voice: Soft, gentle, smooth, slow!
🌙
Mysterious
Dark, curious, wondering, and suspenseful.
Poet Voice: Whispered, slow, dramatic!
💬 Discussion Stem: "The mood of my poem is [mood] because I want my listeners to feel..."
Stage Ready
4 Stars of Poetry Performance
⭐ 1
Clear Volume
Speak to the back of the room so every friend hears every word clearly.
⭐ 2
Smooth Pacing
Do not rush! Breathe at line breaks and let listeners picture each image.
⭐ 3
Lively Expression
Match your voice to the mood (whisper, boom, smile, or sigh!).
⭐ 4
Poet Pride
Stand tall, look up at your audience, and smile when finished!
👏 Audience Protocol: Listen quietly, track the poet with your eyes, and give a warm 2-finger applause!
Culminating Project
Celebration Poem Project Guide Verse Builders • Capstone Project
Celebration Poem Project Guide
Name: Date:
Focus: Planning, Mood, & Line Breaks
Step 1: What do you celebrate?
A family tradition or culture A favorite sport or activity A loved animal or pet
My topic:
Step 2: Choose the Mood
☀️ Joyful & Proud
⚡ Energetic & Fast
🌊 Calm & Gentle
🌙 Mysterious
💬 Frame: "I want my audience to feel ____________ when I read."
Step 3: Poetry Ingredient Bank (Plan before writing!)
1 Sight Word
1 Sound Word
1 Touch / Feeling
2 Rhyming Words
Step 4: Draft Your Poem (2 Stanzas • 4 Lines Each)
Remember to choose where each line ends (line break)!
Stanza 1 (Introduce your celebration & setting): Lines 1 - 4
Stanza 2 (Sensory climax & closing thought): Lines 5 - 8
Verse Builders • Poetry Mini-Unit Page 1: Planning Guide
★ Official Showcase Anthology ★
Poem Title:
Written & Performed by:
Stanza 1 Clear Handwriting
Stanza 2 Line Breaks
Poet's Illustration Draw sensory imagery from your poem!
My Showcase Performance Self-Rating
Color in the stars after your reading!
1. Volume Loud & clear
☆☆☆
2. Pacing Paused at breaks
☆☆☆
3. Expression Showed the mood
☆☆☆
4. Pride Eye contact & smile
☆☆☆
Verse Builders Poetry Showcase • 4th Grade Authors Published Final Copy
Poetry Showcase Teacher Guide Teacher Facilitation Guide
Poetry Showcase Teacher Guide
WIDA Level 3 (Developing)
Grade 4 • 3-Lesson Mini-Unit
Unit Architecture & Language Objectives
Purpose: Build foundational poetic literacy for Level 3 English Language Learners through explicit multisensory instruction, phonological awareness, structured writing frames, and oral rehearsal.
Language Function: Describe sensory experiences, analyze ending rhyme patterns, and justify evidence using sentence frames.
Speaking & Listening: Choral reading, syllable clapping, cooperative card games, and author's chair performance.
3-Day Instructional Pacing & Routine (45-60 min/day)
DAY 1
Sensory Snapshots (Imagery & Comprehension)
• Direct Instruction (15 min): Project Slides 1-4. Echo read "Summer Storm". Teach vocabulary with cognates (sensory / sensorial).
• Guided & Partner Work (20 min): Play Sensory Match Game in pairs. Complete Worksheet Page 1 with sensory symbol coding.
• Independent Studio (15 min): Draft 5-Senses Poem using Word Bank on Worksheet Page 2.
DAY 2
Rhythm Beats (Syllables, Meter & Rhyme Schemes)
• Direct Instruction (15 min): Clap syllables with Slides 1-3. Contrast AABB and ABCB schemes. Choral chant "Night Train".
• Cooperative Game (15 min): Rhyme Relay domino game; partners read couplets with matching 8-beat claps.
• Guided Writing (15 min): Climb Rhyme Ladders and write 2 rhyming couplets on Rhyme Builders Worksheet.
DAY 3
Poet Showcase (Line Breaks, Publishing & Fluency Performance)
• Mini-Lesson (10 min): Project Slides 1-4. Model pausing at line breaks vs periods. Teach 4 Stars of Performance.
• Draft & Publishing (20 min): Complete Celebration Poem Project Guide; copy neat final draft and draw imagery.
• Class Author Showcase (20 min): Students read their poems aloud; peers offer 2-finger applause and positive feedback.
High-Leverage Scaffolds for Level 3 English Learners
Visuals & Icons Consistent eye, ear, hand, flower, and fork icons ground abstract sensory concepts without heavy translation.
Choral & Echo Reading Lower affective filter by chanting mentor lines together as a whole group before asking individual students to read aloud.
