Ode to Pizza - Scholastic Store

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Scaffold Using the Graphic Organizer
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1. Explain to children that they will be writing their
own odes. First, you will write one together.
2. Photocopy and distribute the graphic organizer
(page 48). If possible, copy the organizer onto an
overhead transparency or enlarge it so that you can
model how to use it.
3. As a class, choose a food to write your ode about.
Try to choose a food that many students like, such
as macaroni and cheese, chocolate chip cookies, or
bubble gum ice cream. Write its name at the top of
the organizer.
4. Ask children to close their eyes and picture the food
in their minds. Encourage them to remember what
the food looks, smells, and tastes like, and why they
like it so much.
5. Have children open their eyes and talk aloud to the
food, as if it were there in the room with them. Use
the organizer to write down what they say. Encourage
them to describe their food by comparing it to
whatever it reminds them of.
6. Help children number the ideas in the order they
want to write about them. As a class, write the ode
in that order on a sheet of chart paper.
7. On the same day or during another session, revisit
your ode and remind children of the steps they
took to write it. Then give them a fresh copy of the
organizer. Following the same techniques used above,
help children use the organizer to plan their own
odes. When you feel children are ready, have them
write their poems on a separate sheet of paper. Then
have them illustrate their odes and attach the poems
to the pictures.
Name __________________________________________ Date ________________________________
Graphic Organizers for Teaching Poetry Writing © 2008 by Betsy Franco, Scholastic Teaching Resources page 48
Plan Your Ode
1. Choose a food that will be fun to write about:
___________________________________________.
2. Write about your food below. Use lots of detail!
My food looks _________________________
_______________________________________.
My food feels ________________________________
____________________________ in my mouth.
My food smells _________________________
________________________________________.
My food reminds me of _______________
_______________________________________.
I really like this food because it _________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________.
3. Number your ideas in the order you want to write about them.
TIP TIP
POETRY
POETRY
Odes are highly effective
when the poet relies on
simile and metaphor to
paint a vivid picture with
words. Simile occurs when
the writer uses “like” or “as”
to compare two items, as in
The sun glowed like a ball of
fire. Metaphor involves the
writer actually saying that
the subject is another item,
as in The cloud is a pillow
under my head.
47
Graphic Organizers for Teaching Poetry Writing © Betsy Franco, Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources