Find the Tone of the Zone

In this lesson, students learn the five climate zones in New Jersey and interpret facts into a poetic voice from the point of view of nature. 

Step 1 - Inquire: Students explore two interactive maps showing increased precipitation and sea level rise in New Jersey. 

Step 2 - Investigate: Students learn the details and differences of the five climate zones in New Jersey. 

Step 3 - Inspire: Students read a short poem describing a zone of nature, choose one climate zone, and reinterpret the details and differences of the zone into a poem from nature’s point of view.

Positives

• This lesson can be used in any English class.
• Students are given voice and choice in this lesson.
• Students learn to manipulate voice to achieve different outcomes.
• Students will use descriptive and poetic language.

Additional Prerequisites

• It may be best to confirm that all five climate zones have been selected by at least one student. Poems may become repetitive if all climate zones are not selected.
• You can read background information and analysis on “There Will Come Soft Rains” on this website.

Differentiation

• Students’ communication and vocabulary can be as simple or as thorough as you desire.
• Students may use the poem outline at the bottom of the Student Handout if necessary.
• This lesson is easily adaptable to Advanced Placement or Honors level classes through incorporating specific literary and language elements.
• You can require students to add domain-specific vocabulary from the Rutgers website to their poems.

This lesson plan gives students an overview of the five climate zones in New Jersey and relates them to tones or poetry. As a note these are not the traditionally Köppen climate zones but rather zones specific to New Jersey. The link provided is accurate and up to date. Additionally, that website has more information if desired. This lesson helps students think about different climates from a more descriptive and imaginative perspective than just statistics, which can help provide a deeper understanding of the different climates. This resource is recommended for teaching.

This resource addresses the listed standards. To fully meet standards, search for more related resources.

Primary Standards

• English Language Arts
  • Reading: Informational Text (K-12)
    • RI.11-12.5 Analyze and evaluate the effectiveness of the structure an author uses in his or her exposition or argument, including whether the structure makes points clear, convincing, and engaging.
    • RI.11-12.6 Determine an author's point of view or purpose in a text in which the rhetoric is particularly effective, analyzing how style and content contribute to the power, persuasiveness or beauty of the text.
  • Reading: Literature (K-12)
    • RL.9-10.10 By the end of grade 9, read and comprehend literature, including stories, dramas, and poems at grade level text complexity or above with scaffolding as needed. By the end of grade 10, read and comprehend literature, including stories, dramas, and poems at grade level or above.
    • RL.11-12.10 By the end of grade 11, read and comprehend literature, including stories, dramas, and poems at grade level text complexity or above with scaffolding as needed. By the end of grade 12, read and comprehend literature, including stories, dramas, and poems at grade level or above.
  • Writing (K-12)
    • W.11-12.3 Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, well-chosen details, and well-structured event sequences.