HOUSATONIC RIVER  RESTORATION  
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Housatonic River Unit

Settlers’ Experience Journal Assignment – Following Unit Introduction

Frameworks:

Reading and Literature: Poetry 14.4 – respond to and analyze the effects of sound, form, figurative language, and graphics in order to uncover meaning in poetry.

Poetry: Style and Language 15.5 – identify and analyze imagery and figurative language.

Poetry: Style and Language 15.6 – identify and analyze how an author’s use of words creates tone and mood.

Composition: Consideration of Audience and Purpose 20.5 – select and use appropriate rhetorical techniques for a variety of purposes, such as to convince or entertain the reader.

Length of Time Needed to Complete: 1 hour classroom introduction and one night’s homework

Resources/Materials: A supply of journals for student use; a collection of poetry and prose about the Housatonic River (or other rivers) and nature

Procedure: In classroom: Share with students any poetry or prose about nature/rivers. Discuss the westward migration of settlers from the Boston area to the Berkshires of Massachusetts. Review journal prompt provided below and assign the night’s writing – at least 2 journal pages about the settler’s first experience with this area.

Journal Assignment: Before setting out on the river, you need to imagine yourself as a settler new to the Berkshires just arrived from Boston. The year is 1733, and you are viewing the river and the surrounding environment for the first time. You should write your initial reaction to viewing this scene. Consider the following:

• What do the river and the environment look like? Use your five senses in your description as much as possible.

• How does this environment compare to Boston?

• What is your initial reaction to the beauty of the Housatonic River?

• What would you need to do to learn more about the river and its resources?

• What types of wildlife and resources are visible?

• Any other related comments or reactions to this new environment.

Assessment: Students will produce a piece of journal writing, which will be scored using a generalized rubric. Students must address ALL parts of the assignment. Teacher’s comments will be in the journal pages, in addition to an overall score for the journal writing assignment.

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