Overview / Objectives An "I Am" poem provides insights into the personality and views of a character by expressing her point of view. Patty Reed's Doll is written from the point of view of a doll. Student's write from the point of view of other characters in the story.

Procedure Brainstorm lists of things someone might see, hear, smell, taste, or feel along the Oregon Trail. Students write an "I AM" poem from the point of view of a particular character in Patty Reed's Doll. It may be a mother, a cook, a Native American, or a teamster. It may be a good strategy to have students pick a character name out of a hat. This would ensure all characters get represented. Students can use the I AM Poem form (pdf version) to create their poem. Students can peer edit their poems and then create a final draft.

Teacher Tips The I Am poem template may be modified. Using the template helps to model syntax patterns. Students may also draw upon information learned through the read alouds. Be sure to draw upon all the resources, journals, and web sites.

 

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