Arthur Sze's poem, "The Shapes of Leaves," encourages young scholars to notice and speak for others who "do not speak." The instructional activity begins with pupils writing about a tree that they really like. The class then examines an...

Students listen to a variety of poetry and music that depicts emotions or feelings. As a class, they brainstorm a list of words that they use to show their feelings. To end the instructional activity, they listen to one song individually...

“Hope is a tissue, wiping away your problems and fears.” Use a Definition Poem Web worksheet to model for your class how to craft a free verse poem based on an emotion. After brainstorming topics, groups use the sheet to make comparisons...

Haiku poetry is explored in this language arts lesson. Yong readers identify the characteristics of haiku and read several examples. Students make connections between their study of Japan and the poetic form of haiku, and they write...

Students analyze Japanese tanka poetry. In this Japanese poetry instructional activity, students identify analyze the structure of tanka poetry. Students complete the activities at the given links for the instructional activity and...

Learners investigate the history of rap as an analysis of lyrical poetry and hip hop culture. In this rap analysis lesson, students watch a PBS NewsHour clip about the difference between rap music and hip hop culture. Learners...

Young scholars observe and demonstrate how to read with expression. They discuss the types of emotions and expressions to use while reading, and identify the appropriate punctuation for a variety of sentences. Students then write a...

Students examine and write about the relocation of Native Americans to Indian reservations. They view and discuss primary source photographs, brainstorm for details and emotions in a small group, and write a Haiku poem about the...

Students identify examples of philanthropy in poetry or song. In this philanthropy lesson, students examine several poems such as Give by Carrie A. Thomas and identify concepts of philanthropy in the poem. Students construct their own...

Students examine the history of the National parks. In groups, they discuss the concepts of conservation and preservation. They discuss the use of natural resources and how some are renewable and non-renewable. To end the lesson, they...

Students find a group of words from an unlikely source and turn them into a poem. They discuss the central image in two well-known poems by Langston Hughes and Emily Dickinson. They write their own short poem expressing one central...

Middle schoolers use poetry to understand conflict in the Middle East. In this poetry lesson, students read persona poems and use the poetry  and a novel as mentor text to guide their own poem about peace in the Middle East.

Students listen as the teacher explains what poetry is as well as describes several types of poetry such as haiku, free verse, limerick, cinquain, and an acrostic. Students read examples of each type of poetry. They compose a poem...

Young scholars examine different decades in American history, finding connections between the historical events and the poetry written during these time periods. They write their own poetry based on current world events.

Young scholars define what a simile is before writing a poem that is based primarily on similes. They brainstorm and write the poem using the give format. They write drafts, revise and present a final poem.

Students read the poem "To the Little Polish Boy Standing With His Arms Up." They discuss the poem. Students define the term "prejudice." They comapre and contrast the boy in the poster with the author of the poem, Peter Fischl. ...

Eleventh graders identify the structure, rhythm and style of a selected poem, experience utilizing poetic devices and analyze an annotated poem. They evaluate the themes and inferred meanings to a variety of poems from their textbooks.

Young scholars read a poem to learn about homelessness. For this poetry lesson, students make a list of words about their home and then feelings about their home. Young scholars read the poem 'When I Think Home' and then write their own...

Students explore the history of the Nebraska prairie by looking at different pieces of art. Using the art, they write a poem that captures the essence of a prairie. They use their senses and any feelings or emotions they get from the...

Students create interpretive drawings and movements based upon the emotion in the poem.

Students write a biopoem. For this literature and poetry writing lesson, students write a biopoem about the characters in A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry following a specific given format. Examples and format are included.

Pupils explore social responsibility. In this service learning instructional activity, students participate in 4 weekly activities that require them to research "communitarians", write poems about their contributions, and create...

Seventh graders participate in a supplemental lesson designed for McDougal Littell's Text "The Language of Literature". They view Mexican artwork by Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera and complete an art viewing guide. Afterwards, they write a...

Pupils closely analyze a true event or moments associated with their life, then present the scene, and personal emotions and/or actions generated by that incident in a free verse poem. They learn the difference between words defined as...