Name:
Section:
Date:
“How to Be a Landform” Poem
TASK: You will research a landform and turn your findings into a “How to Be” poem.
OBJECTIVE:
 I can evaluate my research sources.
 I can narrow the focus of my research.
 I can determine the most important information that helps me understand all about my
landform.
 I can present my research creatively.
 I can properly cite my research sources.
PROCESS:
 Using the Big Six method, you will research a landform.
 List all your information. Make sure to write down your research sources!
 Pick your Top Six facts. (You and your partner should put a star or a bullet next to the
six most important facts – make sure to check the rubric to see what must be included!)
 Turn your research into a “How to Be” poem that’s 7-10 lines in length.
 Important! Every line of your poem needs to begin with a VERB. Use a dictionary to
check the part of speech if you’re not sure.
Examples: How to Be a Tarantula
Birth 600 babies at one time
Devour your unfortunately slow, male mate
Look through your eight eyes
How to Be a Fraction
Be ½ of what you are
Treat your top the same as your bottom half
Convert to decimalism
ELA FRAMEWORKS:
Writing 7
“Conduct short research projects to answer a question, drawing on several sources and
refocusing the inquiry when appropriate.”
Writing 8
“Gather relevant information from multiple print and digital sources; assess the credibility of
each source; and quote or paraphrase the data and conclusions of others while avoiding
plagiarism and providing basic bibliographic information for sources.”
Mrs. Gilman ~ 6-Red English Language Arts
Name(s) & Section:
RUBRIC – “How to Be a Landform” Research Poem
When you created your poem, you made sure to:
Cite my sources on a separate page entitled Works Cited (see “List Your Sources”)
Include the MLA heading – written with the correct placement and format
Write the poem in the proper format, not as prose, 7-10 lines long. Number each line.
Have no spelling errors
Pay attention to Word Choice – every line begins with a strong, interesting VERB
Your landform information included:
What it is (definition)
Where you’ll find it
Connection to another landform
Real world example
Other interesting facts
 10 points for each check mark.
SCORE
%
Mrs. Gilman ~ 6-Red English Language Arts
List of Landforms from Which to Choose:
1. Basin
2. Isthmus
3. Delta
4. Glacier
5. Tributary
6. Canyon
7. Channel
8. Volcano
9. Cape
10. Plateau
11. Plain
12. Strait
13. Desert
14. Mouth
15. Peninsula
16. Valley
17. Mesa
18. Harbor
19. Cliff
20.Continent
21. Mountain Range
22.Bay
23.Sound
See pages RA36-37 in your social studies textbook for a brief definition and visual of the
landforms above and several more. Know them all!
Mrs. Gilman ~ 6-Red English Language Arts