1. ASManager2.zip Driver
2. O_TRANS1.txt File Contents

O_TRANS1.txt Driver File Contents (ASManager2.zip)

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Verbs of Transformation



The world is always changing or transforming. Day turns into night. Summer cools into fall. Fall chills into winter. Winter thaws into spring. Hungry chews into full. Hate softens into love. School works into completion. Bad grades punish into better grades. Letters join into words. And words build into poems.

In a transformation poem we write about real or imaginary transformations -- changes that occur in our moods, in nature, and in our imagination.

Here are four ways to say something has transformed:

becomes
changes into
turns into
transforms

These words are very general. They don't connect with a particular image. If we say that the wood becomes ashes, we don't see the picture clearly.

The words below give a sharper image:

the wood flares into ashes
the wood burns into ashes

Here are a few transformations with interesting verbs:

Candy melts into cavities
Rain pops into popcorn
Words scribble into poems
Ideas dance into actions
Friends smile into laughter
Flashlights pulse into sirens
Lollipops pop into polka dots
Peppermint sneezes into cinnamon

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Below are some transformations using the general verb become(s). Read the poem through. Then rewrite it by changing become(s) into a more interesting verb in each line. Delete become(s). Then type in your word.

Seeds become trees
War becomes peace
Fire becomes heat
Friends become enemies
Empty becomes full
Sad becomes glad
Winter becomes spring
Anger becomes happiness
Eggs become omelets

Name and save this file now. (Press ctrl+S, type a name for the file, and press enter.)

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Sample Poems

Here are poems written by fourth and fifth graders. Notice the choice of verbs. There is a definite story and a relationship between the first and last line of the poem.

Broken Leg

Tree climbing slips into falling
Falling limps into doctor
Doctor hurts into broken leg
Broken leg cries into no more tree climbing
No tree climbing hurrays into no school
No school changes into an F report card

Rain

Clouds spin into rain
Rain flips into puddles
Puddles slide into wet feet
Wet feet tumble into wet houses
Wet houses fall into soggy carpets
Soggy carpets freeze parents
Frozen parents explode into spanking
Screams melt into sobs
Sobs run into falling tears
Tears disappear into rain

by Azalea Lee, grade 4, Juarez

Talking

Talking runs into trouble
Trouble slides into demerits
Demerits walks you into the principal
Talking to the principal trips you into a new school
A new school smiles into a new start

by Jason Sicklick, grade 4, Juarez

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Now write your own transformation poem. Be sure it contains a theme or story. Choose verbs that help the reader feel the mood of the ideas you are sharing. Remember you can choose transformations from your daily life, from nature, or even from your imagination.

My Transformation Poem

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Rewrite/Edit

Now scroll back to the poem you have just written. See if there are any ways that you can make the pictures, feelings, or moods more clear. Experiment with different nouns and verbs to change the images.


If you haven't done so already, name and save this file now. (Press ctrl+S, type a name for the file, and press enter.)

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end of activity
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