Curated OER
Classic Poetry
Fifth graders review the terms narrative and classic poetry. They are introduced to SMUGGLER'S SONG and compare the structure to recently read poetry. They join in on the refrain reading the story together as a class.
Curated OER
The Highwayman
Fifth graders re-read the story "The Highwayman" understanding the term "narrative verse". As a paired activity, they predict who or what might be the audience and provide feedback.
Curated OER
Wyclef Jean for VH1 Storytellers
Students use recordings of Wyclef Jean's music to study and explore different styles and techniques.
Curated OER
Introducing Tolkien and His Words
Students identify and describe the types of narratives that made Tolkien the writer he was. In groups, they examine different myths and folktale motifs. They discuss what Tolkien meant by "faerie" and "eucatastrophe." As a class, they...
Curated OER
Paul Revere's Ride-Fact or Fiction?
Students discuss Paul Revere's ride. In this social studies lesson, students read Paul Revere's Ride and compare the differences between the poem and the historical event.
Curated OER
John Carpenter- Student A and Student B
In this ESL vocabulary building learning exercise, students collaborate with a partner to fill in the blanks in a story. Each of the 2 stories provided is identical, but with different words omitted. Students read the story together and...
Curated OER
Using Shanties to Create Lyrics
Students demonstrate an understanding of shanties, a traditional music form. They listen to several shanties and create their own verses to add on to these songs. They express their feelings through music by using rhythm and rhyme to...
Writing Fix
Writing Fix: Ballads About Relatives
In this lesson students will write 4-lined ballads about their relatives.
University of Michigan
Making of America: Ballads of New England
This site from the University of Michigan provides access to online text for "Ballads of New England," an 1870 collection of Whittier's poetry. Poems can be viewed in plain-text format or as page-by-page images from the original work.
Writing Fix
Writing Fix: An I Pod Inspired Writing Lesson: The Dust Bowl Blues
The 1930's Dust Bowl era was about the grueling times of people suffering in the drought-stricken region of the Oklahoma pan handle. This activity will help students to gain an understanding of the plights of the people. Using Woody...
Victorian Web
The Victorian Web: William Wordsworth an Overview
This page on William Wordsworth from a Brown University site contains links to a variety of topics related to him and his writings. It has a link to a biography, the text to two of his works, an analysis of his style of writing and the...
Department of Defense
Do Dea: Music From the Ashes
This is a self-guided learning unit on the topic of poetry. Included are lessons, self-assessments, background information, learning activities, and related literature. Learn how to analyze poetry, appreciate figurative language, and...
Other
The Confederation Poets: Bliss Carman (1861 1929)
A great resource on Confederation poet Bliss Carman. This site provides numerous primary texts and essays on Carman's writing style.
University of Virginia
University of Virginia: Rossetti Archive: Digital Scholarship With Wombattitude
A comprehensive archive of Dante Gabriel Rossetti's writings and paintings. This hypermedia archive contains detailed information on the life and works of this famous man.
Other
Poetry.net: "The Chronicle of the Drum" by Thackeray
The complete text of William Makepeace Thackeray's poem "The Chronicle of the Drum", a narrative of French military history. This ballad was written in Paris, in 1841, at the time of the second funeral of Napoleon.
University of Pittsburgh
U. Of Pittsburgh: "The Skeleton in Armor" Text & Notes
From the Norse Ballads of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow website at the University of Pittsburgh, this web page contains the text of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem, "The Skeleton in Armor" and editor's in-text notes. Also includes...
University of Pennsylvania
U Penn: Poetic Terms and Types
Click on these terms for an excellent definition of these poetic terms, some from the Oxford English Dictionary. Includes types of poetry as well as terms.
University of Michigan
Making of America: Illustrated Poems of Oliver Wendell Holmes
A complete, searchable text of "Illustrated Poems of Oliver Wendell Holmes," which was illustrated by George Randolph Barse and others.
University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge: The First Black Female Poet?
This article looks at a ballad, 'Bars Fight,' by 18th century African-American writer Lucy Terry. It considers the literary qualities of a ballad, and its historical role in society. It then goes on to consider why a Black slave might...
ibiblio
Ibiblio: Margaret Walker
This is a site devoted to the life and times of the African American poet Margaret Walker. Among the numerous links found on the page are links to full texts of 16 poems, questions from an audience, a panel's discussion of her poetry, a...