Blank Verse Lesson Plans

Twelfth graders read William Shakespeare's "King Lear" and draw connections to King James I with King Lear.

Students compare similar themes in Virgil and Ovid. They examine how each poet treats the subject and how events written about by Virgil are described by Ovid. They compare the language and diction of each poet and include a brief comparison of the way each uses dactylic hexameter.

Students become familiar with the hardships of mothers during the Great Depression. They also gain an understanding of the literary style of monologue and first-person point of view through creating their own monologues in response to a piece of art.

Students examine poetic devices such as rhythm and meter. They compare and constant poems via active class discussion.

Students examine poems written about body parts. In this writing lesson students brainstorm and discuss poetry. They choose a style and compose an original poem based upon that style.

Seventh graders research and learn the causes and effects of the Great Depression. In this Great Depression lesson, 7th graders complete a packet of activities that help them understand the causes of the Great Depression, its impact on America and the world, and the solutions to the drought and economic downfall.

Learners are introduced to the elements of poetry. As a class, they practice the correct way to read a poem and determine the author's audience. They identify similies and metaphors and determine the rhyme and meter. To end the lesson, they write their own poems.

Eleventh graders are introduced to various basic and advanced poetic devices. They read several poems and practice identifying poetic elements. They identify at least two different poems and substantiate why they belong in the canon.

Students learn the iambic pentameter by studying the rhythm of Shakespeare.

Young scholars complete activities to study the legends of King Arthur. In this King Arthur lessons, students review the legend of King Arthur and brainstorm about the characters. Young scholars select a character and freewrite about the them and discuss dramatic monologue. Students review poems that are dramatic monologues and analyze verse lines for the given characteristics. Young scholars then write a dramatic monologue for the character.