Lesson Plans
Night Before Christmas - The Remix
Author Information
Author: Linda Bridges - lbridges@madison.k12.il.us
Organization: Coolidge Middle School
Lesson Plan Information
Subject: Language Arts
Category: Grammar
Grade Level: Fifth - Seventh
Duration: 3 class periods
Description:
After reading the Night Before Christmas by Clement Moore, students replace parts of speech with their own to create a remix of the favorite poem.
Goals:
Students rewrite the Christmas poem replacing parts of speech with new ones.
Objectives:
To reinforce parts of speech and create a new poem.
Educational Resources:
Students use a prepared ditto to replace parts of speech. Copy and paste into Word. The attachment is not working correctly through our server.
This was created in MS Word:
Night Before Christmas – “The Remix”
T’was the _(measure of time)_ before Christmas when all through the _(noun)_, not a creature was stirring, not even a __(animal)_. The _(clothing – plural)_ were hung by the _(noun)_with care, in hopes that (famous person) would soon be there. The children were nestled all snug in their (noun-plural) while visions of (plural food) (past tense verb) in their heads. And Mama in her (clothing – woman’s) and I in my (clothing – man) had just settled our (body part – plural) for a long winter’s nap, when out on the (noun) there arose such a (noise) I (past tense verb) from my (furniture) to see what was the matter. Away to the window I (past tense verb) like a flash, tore open the (noun – plural) and threw up the (noun). The (planet) on the breast of the new-fallen snow gave the luster of (time of day) to the objects below, when what to my wondering (body part-plural) should appear but a (adjective) (noun) and (number) tiny (animal – plural), with a (adjective) (adjective) driver so (adjective) and (adjective) I knew in a (measure of time) it must be (famous person). More (adjective) than (animals) his coursers they came, and he (verb – past tense) and (verb – past tense) and called them by name: “Now (name)! Now (name)! Now (name) and (name)! On (name)! On (name)! On (name) and (name)! To the top of the (house part)! To the top of the (house part)! Now (verb) away, (verb) away, (verb) way all!
As dry (plant – plural) that before the wild hurricane (verb) when they meet with an (noun that begins with a vowel) mount to the (noun) so up to the (house part) the coursers they (verb) with a sleigh full of (noun – plural) and (famous person) too. And then a in a (measure of time) I heard on the (house part) the prancing and pawing of each little (body part – animal) As I drew in my (body part) and was turning around, down the chimney (famous person) came with a (verb) . He was dressed all in (kind of fabric) from his (body part) to his (body part) and his clothes were all (adjective) with ashes and soot. A bundle of (noun – plural) he had flung on his back, and he looked like a (type of salesperson) just opening his (noun). His (body part-plural) how they (verb – past tense), his (body part – plural) how (adjective). His (facial part – plural) were like (flower – plural), his (facial part) like a (fruit or vegetable). His droll (adjective) (facial part) was drawn up like a bow, and the beard on his (facial part) was as (adjective) as the (noun). The stump of a (noun) he held tight in his teeth and the smoke it encircled his (body part) like a (noun). He had a broad (body part) and a round little (body part) that shook when he (verb – past tense) like a bowl full of (food). He was (adjective) and (adjective), a right jolly old elf, and I (verb – past tense) when I saw him in spite of myself. A wink of his eye and a twist of his head soon gave me know that I had nothing to dread. He spoke not a word but went straight to his (noun). And filled all the (noun – clothing) then turned with a jerk, and laying a (noun – body part) aside of his (noun – body part) and giving a nod, up the (noun – house part) he rose. He (verb – past tense) to his team and gave a (verb – sound) and away they all (verb – past tense) like the down of a (noun – plant). But I heard him exclaim ‘ere he (verb – past tense) out of sight: “Happy (noun – holiday) to all and to all a good ( noun – time of day)!”
Reference Materials:
"The Night Before Christmas" poem by Clement Moore
Activity Plan:
Read the poem to the class in its original version.
Introduce the ditto of the poem with blank spaces for grammar replacements.
Work on this for 2 class periods and then share their new poems the 3rd class period.
Method of Learning:
Example (original poem) and discussion of appropriate replacement grammar
Assessment:
Check for correct parts of speech
Attachments: