Informational, Authentic, Historical, Patriotic, Vivid
America At War Poems selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins
Illustrated by Stephen Alcorn
Illustrated by Stephen Alcorn
Margaret K. McElderry Books Copyright 2008
Selected by poet, Lee Bennett Hopkins, America At War is a collection of patriotic poems that illustrate America's past and present involvement in war and revolution. The chronological progression of poems begins with The American Revolution and ends with the current Iraq War. Other poems included in the collection represent The Civil War, World War I, World War II, The Korean War, The Vietnam Conflict, and The Persian Gulf War. The poems vary in structure and style. For example, some include redundant stanzas while others are simply free verse. Poetic elements such as alliteration, simile, metaphor, symbolism, and juxtaposition are included throughout the collection. While some poems are anonymous, others are written by well-known poets like Walt Whitman, E.E. Cummings, Langston Hughes, and Jane Yolen. The poems found in this collection and their captivating illustrations paint America's past in a vivid and alluring way that shows readers the impact of war, while paying respect to those who courageously served for this nation.
Reading Level: Lexile Framework NP, Grade 4/5
Suggested Delivery: Read Aloud
Description: Non-fiction, Historical, Patriotic
Electronic Resources:
American Wars Timeline
This is a link to a timeline that provides a brief overview about each of the wars discussed in the text. It can help provide students with the background information they need in order to understand the poems.
American Wars Timeline
This is a link to a timeline that provides a brief overview about each of the wars discussed in the text. It can help provide students with the background information they need in order to understand the poems.
ReadWriteThink.org
This is a link to ReadWriteThink.org that provides teachers resources for teaching and including poetry in the classroom. It offers suggestions and ideas to help teachers spark creativity in their students' exploration of poetry.
Reading Rockets
This is a link to an article that provides teachers reasons why they should include poetry in the classroom. For example, poetry in the upper elementary grades can help students learn about the uses of figurative language, which they can then apply to their own writing.
Poetry in the Classroom
This is a link to a video that supports poetry in the classroom. The video can help teachers recognize what they can do to enhance their reading and language arts curriculum by incorporating poetry.
Key Vocabulary: Communist, Fatalities, Infantry, Kristallnacht, Lusterless, Ominous, Peril, Propaganda, Ration, Regiment, Sublime, Sweltering, Tremulous
This is a link to ReadWriteThink.org that provides teachers resources for teaching and including poetry in the classroom. It offers suggestions and ideas to help teachers spark creativity in their students' exploration of poetry.
Reading Rockets
This is a link to an article that provides teachers reasons why they should include poetry in the classroom. For example, poetry in the upper elementary grades can help students learn about the uses of figurative language, which they can then apply to their own writing.
Poetry in the Classroom
This is a link to a video that supports poetry in the classroom. The video can help teachers recognize what they can do to enhance their reading and language arts curriculum by incorporating poetry.
Key Vocabulary: Communist, Fatalities, Infantry, Kristallnacht, Lusterless, Ominous, Peril, Propaganda, Ration, Regiment, Sublime, Sweltering, Tremulous
Teaching Suggestions:
- This text is versatile and can be used in social studies to enhance topics ranging from 18th century America, to European affairs, to the Middle East conflict.
- This text can be used to study other works of specific poets like Walt Whitman or Jane Yolen.
- This text can be used in reading and language arts to examine poetic elements and compare and contrast how different poets include or exclude them from their work.
Comprehension Strategies
Pre-Reading- Ask students to respond to the following prompt in their journals to set a purpose for reading: What does America mean to you? How does its involvement in war shape your image of America?
During Reading- While reading the poems aloud, pause and ask students what elements the poets have included (such as alliteration, symbolism, simile, metaphor, etc.).
Post-Reading- Ask students to identify the poem they felt most connected to. Have students complete a poetry explication, in which they break the poem down by stanzas, lines, or phrases and describe what the meaning is. To fully dissect the poem, students should focus on identifying and describing the intended meaning as well as the discussing the inclusion of poetic elements.
Writing Activity:
Have students create their own poem about the current War on Terrorism. They can write about how it impacts them personally or how it affects the United States as a whole. Students can choose what format that want to use, but should express feelings, facts, or hopes they have regarding the War. Be sure to consider how this assignment might impact students. Depending on the students' background, some may find this task too difficult if their parents, family, or friends are involved in the War. To make necessary accommodations, have students write about a different war.
Hopkins, L. B., & Alcorn, S. (2008). America at war. New York: Margaret K. McElderry Books.
Have students create their own poem about the current War on Terrorism. They can write about how it impacts them personally or how it affects the United States as a whole. Students can choose what format that want to use, but should express feelings, facts, or hopes they have regarding the War. Be sure to consider how this assignment might impact students. Depending on the students' background, some may find this task too difficult if their parents, family, or friends are involved in the War. To make necessary accommodations, have students write about a different war.
Hopkins, L. B., & Alcorn, S. (2008). America at war. New York: Margaret K. McElderry Books.
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