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OREGON
WEATHER AS REFLECTED IN LITERATURE
by Jeannie
Lockwood, Blue Mountain Community College
LESSON RATIONALE
AND BACKGROUND
Initially, this
lesson on Oregon weather as reflected in literature
by Oregon authors was not one that would be
composed of poetry and prose by adult learners in
Hermiston, Oregon. Rather, I would locate and
devise a lesson plan that highlighted these Oregon
authors as they wrote about Oregon weather in
poems, short stories and novels. My search for
Oregon weather as reflected in literature became a
lesson in frustration and futility for me and, as a
result, I chose not to have my students continue
this search.
My search did
familiarize me with Oregon writers such as: William
Stafford, Oregon Poet Laureate, Phillip Margollin,
H.L. Davis, Ken Kesey, and M. K. Wren. Having read
some of M. K. Wren's mysteries that occur on the
coast, I realize that weather is reflected in his
books be it rain, storms, etc., as part of the
story. I did not learn anything about his books
from the web other than the titles, cost, and where
they could be purchased. If one were to go the
library and check out some of the poetry books, one
could eventually find poems that are reflections on
Oregon's weather. Because I chose not to use
paperbacks, I assigned my class a poetry/prose
assignment on Oregon weather.
OBJECTIVES
Increase knowledge
of famous poets , present and past, such as Maya
Angelou, Robert Browning, etc.
Familiarize adult
learners with word processing by use of Microsoft
Word.
Encourage
creativity by means of composition of poetry and
prose.
Improve basic
writing skills using descriptive words, especially
adjectives, metaphors, and similes.
Better
understanding of poetry and differences between
poetry and prose.
Share writings with
class members and then publish writings on the
Internet.
Improve
self-efficacy in adult learners.
ACTIVITIES
Discuss the types
of weather in Eastern Oregon and throughout the
state.
Access the
Hermiston Chamber of Commerce via the Internet to
learn about area weather patterns.
Search the National
Weather Service for interesting data on Oregon
weather.
Observe weather
lessons on the Internet to gain ideas for
writing.
Discuss the effect
of mood in poetry such as: happy/sunny, sad/rain,
stress/stormy, etc.
Write, revise,
write, share, edit, write, and submit.
Explore
http://www.pioneeris.net/poetry/
to read Poetry Pages and consider submitting poems
to this site.
WRITING
ASSIGNMENT
The following
assignment has been given to adult learners in a
GED writing class where we brainstormed about the
weather and seasons. Adult learners have done
graphs and Internet weather assignments to help put
them into a weather "mood."
Dear
Writing Class Members,
Have
you ever written poetry or short stories? Do you
know that poems do not have to rhyme to be
poetry? Sometimes when we are really concerned
about an issue, we find it easier to express our
thoughts on paper than out loud. Today we will
try brainstorming as a group about Oregon
weather and then I would like each of you to
write a poem or short story about the weather.
It does not have to be lengthy but it must be
about the weather, whether it is summer, winter,
spring, or fall. It is up to you.
Stuck?
Not sure what to write? Please feel free to get
on the Internet and look up Oregon poetry or
literature using one of the search engines
(Yahoo, Lycos, Infoseek, etc.) Ask a friend or
teacher for help.
THE FOLLOWING
POEMS WERE WRITTEN BY ADULT LEARNERS IN HERMISTON,
OREGON:
SUMMER
Summer it is the
hottest season of the the year.
In summer we
have long days.
In summer we
have sunny days.
In summer plants
grow fast.
In summer the
water evaporates fast.
by
Maria
NOT
SO HOT!
The weather
today is not so hot.
Sometimes it's
cold and sometimes it's not.
We've been
through rain
We've been
through snow
But what I want
to know,
Is when will it
go?
The answer came
to me
As to when it
will be.
When the
temperature reached
One hundred
degrees.
Now I wish for
the rain and
The snow only to
wonder when will it go?
by
Crystal
FIRST
SNOW
First I come to
town.
First I see the
snow come down.
First I scared
what is come.
First hurry to
run in my home.
First call
father-in-law to come.
See out what is
come.
Father said,
"Oh, oh, snow come.
The seasons go,
seasons come.
I still remember
what he say.
The time is
another forty years ago.
I wonder, I am
getting old.
by
Lilly
SPRING
Spring is
great.
Spring is not
too cold.
Spring brings
good rain.
Spring is when
the flowers bloom.
Spring is when
the grass is green.
Spring is the
right time of the year.
Spring is not
too cold like the winter.
Spring is not
too hot like the summer.
Spring is not
too muggy like the fall.
Spring, I like
it for all the good it brings.
by
Carri
RAIN
The rain outside
glistens on the newly made sidewalk.
Listen!
Tapping on the
roof and window frame.
Washing
everything clean again.
Yep, the rain is
our friend.
WIND
The wind may
blow
The
ice'snow
Inside we
stay
Outside, don't
go.
Too cold, ya
know
Never
lasts,though
The sun will
come out
With its warm
glow to melt away the ice 'n snow
Then back inside
we can go.
Nature's
BEAUTIFUL,
Don't ya
know!
by
Cathie
WINTER
Winter is cold,
miserable
People have a
hard time
Getting around
in it
Snow's snowmen
pop up
Kids have
snowball fights
And I love the
winter.
by
Trampas
SPRING
The weather is
so different our here in Oregon.
I am from
Kentucky and Georgia and they have lots of
humidity down there.
When you step
outside, your body becomes wet.
But here in
Oregon, no humidity.
But the wind has
a chill.
I get so
cold.
At times I will
handle it.
It has been a
good experience for me.
I keep waiting
for the sunshine and the heat is very dry
heat.
So Spring is the
only one that I have experienced.
Waiting for
Summer and Winter to see what it may bring
us.
by
Martha
WEATHER
The Spring is
the best season. I like it because the
mountains
and hills are
dressed with beauty. Everything,
everywhere
is green with
all rainbow colors. Spring is a colorful
season.
If you love
colors, springtime is the one and only
time.
by
Mary
THE CALL OF
THE WIND (OR EASTERN OREGON WEATHER)
Oh wind, why
must you blow so hard, and why are my bones so
chilled by your sound?
Wind, you blow
and mourn as you whip sand and scatter
tumbleweeds across the desert.
You bend trees
like flex straws and cause apples and cherries
to fall wasted from limbs.
When I walk, you
attempt to knock me down as though you are
avenging a hated, mortal enemy.
At times, my
spirit melts in deadly fear of you, especially
when you cause outage darkness.
Wheat fields can
be blown away by your pressure and crops
destroyed by your anger.
Why must you
cry, moan, and make me feel so lonely and
forsaken?
Ah Wind, I know
that there is some goodness with you, and so I
shall speak of good things.
Your force
causes windmills to generate electricity as you
whip the blades round and round.
On a
clothesline, stiff towels and wet laundry you
cause to dry softer and smell sweeter than
Downey.
At the cemetery,
you wave the American flags proudly, back and
forth where all can see.
When you choose
temperance, you comfort weary travelers in the
form of gentle breezes.
Chimes touched
by your gentleness play haunting symphonic
melodies outside my door.
Soft raindrops
blow on my face as though caressed by your
touch.
What are you
then Wind, a monster or friend, loving or
hateful?
Do you dwell
more often in wide open spaces because you seek
solitude or crave havoc?
I know you well
in Eastern Oregon because you never seem to be
far away.
Your brothers
and sisters are more dreaded and deadly than you
and feared by many.
Their names are
Tornado, Hurricane, Blizzard, Typhoon, to name a
few.
Thankfully most
can never come to visit here, although we hear
often of their destruction.
Although I feel
and hear you, I cannot see you! Wind, who are
you?
by
Jeannie
We invite
adult learners viewing this poetic weather
assignment to submit their poems that reflect
Oregon weather to this Internet
site.
Click
here for this lesson's "Notes to
Instructors"
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