Project Overview

Third grade students at Conservatory Lab Charter School in Brighton, MA created this illustrated book of poetry as part of a three-month expedition on the Charles River.

During this expedition students learned how the Charles River brought industry to Massachusetts, and how industry affected the river through pollution. They meet with scientists from the Charles River Association to observe a watershed model, tested the water quality of the Charles River and visited the Charles River museum of Industry and Innovation.

To create their poems, each student researched a bird or fish that lives in or near the Charles River.  Then, using their research notes for context, wrote a first draft of a poem about their animal. Next, students studied examples of poems by Thomas Locker, Debbie S. Miller and Eve Bunting, as well as different types of poetry including “I am” poems and cinquains.  They revised their poems to incorporate what they learned, and evaluated them using a rubric. During this time students also worked with a visual art teacher to render sketches of their animal which they painted using watercolor pencils. They also learned river songs with their music teacher.

Two students from this class won awards in the Massachusetts Science Poetry Contest for their work.