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Ode to a Nation

There are many ways to pay tribute to a region. Students will choose a country or nation to learn about and write a poem about its positive characteristics.

Lesson Plan

Supplies Needed

Gather all the supplies needed to bring your craft ideas to life! From paints and markers to glue and scissors, our crafts section has everything to spark creativity and make every project truly special.

Steps

  • Step 1

    Have students think about ways people pay tribute to a country or nation. These might include singing national anthems, writing books or poetry about it, and painting scenes that are reflective of the place. Ask students to choose a country or nation they would like to laud in an illustrated poem. It might be their own country, a nation associated with ancestors or loved ones, or anywhere that interests or has special meaning to them. Have them research the region and write some descriptive words or phrases associated with it.

  • Step 2

    Have students write a poem about the country or nation they chose. When they're happy with the final version, ask them to transcribe it onto high-quality watercolor paper and then use watercolors to realistically or abstractly illustrate something special about this place.

  • Step 3

    Have students present their art and poetry to the class and discuss the chosen region, some facts about it, and why it has special meaning to them.

Standards

LA: Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension.

VA: Select and use the qualities of structures and functions of art to improve communication of ideas.

VA: Compare the characteristics of works in two or more art forms that share similar subject matter, historical periods, or cultural context.

VA: Identify specific works of art as belonging to particular cultures, times, and places.

LA: Integrate information from several texts on the same topic in order to write or speak about the subject knowledgeably.

LA: Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.

LA: Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions with diverse partners on grade level topics and texts, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly.

LA: Report on a topic or text, tell a story, or recount an experience with appropriate facts and relevant, descriptive details, speaking clearly at an understandable pace.

SS: Describe ways in which language, stories, folktales, music, and artistic creations serve as expressions of culture and influence behavior of people living in a particular culture.

SS: Use appropriate resources, data sources, and geographic tools to generate, manipulate, and interpret information.

SS: Explore ways that language, art, music, belief systems, and other cultural elements may facilitate global understanding or lead to misunderstanding.

VA: Intentionally take advantage of the qualities and characteristics of art media, techniques, and processes to enhance communication of experiences and ideas.

Adaptations

Have students research the national anthem or tribute songs of the region they wrote about. When was it written? What are the lyrics and why were they chosen?

Several countries have modified the lyrics of their anthems to be more inclusive and respectful of all inhabitants. Have students learn about the changes made to the anthems of Australia, Austria, Canada, and South Africa.