Where I'm From Poetry--A Prezi and Handouts

Looking for a dynamic presentation that will guide your students through writing a "Where I'm From" poem? This Prezi is exactly what your classroom needs.

Rationale for Using a Prezi:

After teaching the “Where I’m From” poem for several years using only a template and a couple of examples, I’ve noticed many students—even high schoolers—fall into one of two camps: either they are too overwhelmed to produce good writing or they are too eager to fill in the blanks of the template to produce good writing. Either result is a shame because this assignment is an opportunity to write something truly meaningful. The Prezi in this lesson is a solution that makes quick writers slow down and explore their experiences while supporting hesitant students.

This Lesson Includes the Following:

1. A thirty-four slide Prezi--This begins by pointing out that reflecting on "where I'm from" is a common theme in artistic works. Two examples (a Norman Rockwell painting and a music video) are provided. The rest of the presentation guides students through each element on the "Where I'm From" template with two slides for each point. The first slide asks questions that will help students brainstorm and the second slide gives examples of appropriate responses. The Prezi ends with three slides of writing pointers before students construct their poems. There is a picture of the opening Prezi slide in the thumbnails of this page.

The file includes the Prezi itself, so you'll be able to save it to your computer.

Internet access is not required to show the Prezi, but you will need it to view the
embedded video. I've also included a link to the Prezi (a PDF file)--just in case
you have any trouble with the embedded video in the file.

1. Brainstorming Page--I hand this out to students before using the Prezi and give them a few minutes to brainstorm without any help. They can then use this page to add to their ideas during the Prezi. This is an editable Microsoft Word document, so you can make changes as needed.
2. A Two-Sided Handout--The first side is the template students can use to construct their poems after brainstorming with the Prezi. The second side provides three examples, which helps a lot of students, and a Willa Cather quote about writing. This is also a Microsoft Word document, so feel free to revise to meet the needs of your students.
3. A Teaching Notes Page--This provides lesson steps and pointers for a successful presentation. There is also a section of publication possibilities.

Even if your students have completed a "Where I'm From" poem in years past, this is a worthwhile addition to your lesson plans. What we value from our childhoods changes over time, and I've found students are usually proud of the results.

Also, this is part of a bundle that provides a great mixture of quick, fun writing activities and longer projects. Click the link provided for big savings and a lot of fun and learning with your students:

A Writing Project Bundle--Prezis, Rubrics, Handouts, and Teaching Tips

Image Credit (Photographs in a Box): Pexels, Public Domain

Other Lessons You Don't Want to Miss:

Prezi Bundle--Oxymora, Euphemisms, and Adding Quotes to Writing

A Verbal Prezi Bundle--Gerunds, Infinitives, and Participles

A Writing Project Bundle--Prezis, Rubrics, Handouts, and Teaching Tips

Happy Teaching,

Leslie Allen

at Keeping it Classy