Lesson Plan
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Lift Every Voice and Sing

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students analyze sculpture, poetry, and music to gain an understanding of historical events. In this critical thinking skills lesson, students take a closer look at African-American history as they examine "Lift Every Voice and Sing'"...
Lesson Plan
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The Tone Map

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students listen carefully to a portion of the Poetry Out Loud CD. They focus on the tones the poet uses in his recitation of a poem. Then they map a poem of their own so that a classmate can read it using the tonal qualities intended...
Lesson Plan
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Food

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students, discussing/brainstorming about food likes/dislikes all around the world with vivid verbs to talk about food preparation, create an original poem on how food is prepared in different parts of the world.
Lesson Plan
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Jazz Dance and Music

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders write a poem. In this jazz music lesson, 4th graders learn about the basics of jazz dance and practice basic movements. Students learn common terminology and listen to several recordings of jazz music. Students create a...
Lesson Plan
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Praise for a Color

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students discover the 5 senses by analyzing poetry.  In this poetry instructional activity, students read a poem with their class and analyze how each sense plays into their understanding of the poem.  Students write a poem...
Lesson Plan
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Grappling with Identity in Latino Poetry

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
Students identify some common themes involving the Latino immigrant experience as conveyed through a variety of media, explore issues of identity in some examples of poetry written by Latinos and learn some basic poetry reading strategies.
Lesson Plan
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Poetry on the Web

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders search a website and locate a poem written by a specific poet whose work appears in the grade 8 anthology. After listening to poetry, 8th graders present oral or written examples of imagery and an analysis of the imagery.
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Power Poetry

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Learners use poetic devices to discuss political issues. In this cultural diversity lesson, students listen to the president's State of the Union address and write poetic pieces that express their opinions about issues the president...
Lesson Plan
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Poems with Tone and Mood

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students examine the use of tone in poetry. In this literature lesson, students read "We Real Cool," by Gwendolyn Brooks and use the provided graphic organizer to chart the poem's tone and mood.
Lesson Plan
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Unrhythmic, Culturally Diverse, Simple Forms of Poetry

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students write an example of each of the three poetry styles (haiku, cinquain, and diamante) and they see that not all poetry rhymes.
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Reading and Responding

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders read and respond to poetry. They identify the author's purpose and connect the literature to their personal experiences. Students critically analyze the poem and write a poem of their own.
Lesson Plan
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You Too Can Haiku: How to Write a Haiku

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students explore language arts by writing their own poems. In this haiku instructional activity, students investigate the Japanese culture and their beautiful music, poetry and art. Students count the syllables in every line of a haiku...
Lesson Plan
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Sun and Moon Poetry Baskets

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students write Sun and Moon poetry. In this poetry lesson, students research the sun and the moon.  They write poetry and create two class baskets for descriptive words about each.
Lesson Plan
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What is Poetry and Where Can You Find It?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine different types of poetry in music, commercials and printed works. They identify themes of philanthropy in poetry as well. They finally share their findings with the class.
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Unleashed: Poems by Pets

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students create a poem from the first person perspective of a pet. In this Writing/Poetry lesson, students read a short poem from, Unleashed. Students brainstorm what their animal may say. Students write a poem using the first...
Lesson Plan
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I Am a Person on Character

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders explore the portrayal of males and females in mass media. In this language arts lesson, 6th graders create a digital collage and write a description about themselves using similes and metaphors.
Lesson Plan
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Poetry Reading

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students dramatize a poem. In this poetry lesson plan, students evaluate a poem looking for feeling words or descriptors. Students then draw a picture of themselves with a feeling.
Lesson Plan
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Beowulf Lesson Plan

For Teachers 12th - Higher Ed
Learners analyze the text of Beowulf. In this epic poetry lesson, students explore the themes and imagery in the text to evaluate their meaning. Learners analyze the Old English language and examine the cultural and historical context of...
Lesson Plan
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Language of Poetry

For Teachers 12th - Higher Ed
Students demonstrate a higher level of thinking in writing a poem that delivers a message of wisdom and is metaphorical in meaning. They study the use of metaphors in poetry as well as the meaning and use of concrete and abstract words...
Lesson Plan
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Writing: Narrative, Expository, Persuasive, and Descriptive

For Teachers 6th - 9th
If you are interested in having a basic framework for teaching expository, narrative, persuasive, and descriptive writing, this resource may help; however, you will have to find information on the different forms of writing to share with...
Lesson Plan
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Candles in the Dark

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students analyze and apply their personal responses through poetry and film to a challenging and disturbing event-the Holocaust. They use a digital video camera to film each student reading their poem.
Lesson Plan
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Listening Positions, Please

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders practice using effective listening skills as they listen to oral poetry readings.
Lesson Plan
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Writing Limericks

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders compose or create works of communication for specific audiences and purposes. They locate, access, and select relevant information from a variety of sources. They revise and edit their work to improve content, organization...
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Mosetsana

For Teachers 7th - Higher Ed
Learners read and discuss a poem about the issues of gender, education, and family written by a Peace Corps Volunteer serving in South Africa. In this poetry activity, students read the poem 'Moetsana' and discuss the issues South...