National Endowment for the Humanities
Lu Shih — The Couplets of T’ang
Writing poetry in ancient China was the modern equivalent of sending a greeting card. Scholars learn about the ancient Chinese poetic form called the lu shih. They read about the context of poetry during the T'ang Dynasty and complete a...
Poetry4kids
How to Write a Traditional “Mother Goose” Nursery Rhyme
There may be some little lambs, itsy bitsy spiders, and pumpkin eaters in your language arts class! An online poetry lesson takes learners through the steps of writing a nursery rhyme with easy-to-follow steps and explanatory examples.
Curated OER
I Imagine....
In this writing prompt worksheet, students choose fantasy or real animals to describe in a poem or story. Students draw pictures of their animals as well.
Curated OER
Concrete Poems
First graders listen to several poems containing shapes as well as selected concrete poems. They brainstorm a list of their favorite things and then come up with ten words that relate to the top five things chosen by the students. They...
Alabama Learning Exchange
Landforms Acrostic Poetry
Fourth graders apply scientific information about various landforms. They use the information to write and word process acrostic poems which they illustrate with clip art or pictures from magazines.
Curated OER
Discovering Angel Island: The Story Behind the Poems
Students watch a video titled Discovering Angel Island: The Story Behind the Poems about immigrants that came through Angel Island. In this Angel Island lesson plan, students respond with a journal entry.
Curated OER
Just Imagine
In this poetry worksheet, middle schoolers read the poem "Mabel," underline precise words that help paint a picture of the subject in their mind and then draw a picture of Mabel in the box provided. Middle schoolers answer four...
Curated OER
Visualize and Draw to Increase Comprehension
Improve readers' comprehension with a pair of visualization opportunities. First they listen, eyes closed, as you read a description from Roald Dahl's James and the Giant Peach, and discuss ideas about what they "see." After you read...
Curated OER
"Oh, Kingdom in the Sky"
Students write a poem. For this historical figures lesson, students learn about Mary Ann Camp, read an interview, read vignettes about life in her host countries and read her poem "Oh, Kingdom in the Sky." Students answer questions about...
Curated OER
What's Important to You?
What are the most important things to your second graders? Learners read the poem "There Isn't Time" as inspiration to list things that are important to them. They list five things they would like to do in order of priority. Then,...
Read Works
Fireflies in the Garden
Imagine a dark sky lit up with fireflies. Robert Frost's "Fireflies in the Garden" instills a visual in the reader's mind of a star lit sky glowing with fireflies. After reading the poem, learners compare and contrast the image the poem...
Curated OER
Imagine That! Analyzing Imagery
Poems by O. Henry, Marion Dane Bauer, Monty Roberts, and Langston Hughes provide the text for a study of symbolism, hyperbole, and imagery. Employing the “think-pair-share” strategy learners generate definitions of these terms and locate...
Tayasui.com
Drawing with Carl
Who is Carl? Carl is a little monster that will help your learners draw and create in any way imaginable. Get those kids to activate creative and imaginative thinking skills with a really fun app. There are endless options that can...
Curated OER
At the Round Earth's Imagined Corners Questions
For this reading comprehension worksheet, students respond to 4 short answer and essay questions based on the poem "At the round earth's imagined corners," (Holy Sonnet 7).
Curated OER
Unleashed: Poems by Pets
Students create a poem from the first person perspective of a pet. For 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 person...
Curated OER
Forest Poetry
Students explore nature by participating in a poetry writing activity. In this forest investigation lesson, students identify images and feelings they experienced while they were in a forest on a class trip. Students identify poetry...
Curated OER
From George to Martha: Writing a Sonnet Using Primary Sources
What was the relationship like between George and Martha Washington? To protect their privacy, Martha Washington destroyed all her husband’s letters after his death so historians have little evidence of their lives together. Two letters...
Curated OER
Descriptive and Imaginative Poetry
Students use descriptive and imaginative words and images in poetry. In this poetry lesson, students choose a picture to describe to the class. As the student gives the description, the classmates choose the words and images that best...
Curated OER
Analyzing Poetry and Characters
Learners investigate historical context by reading poetry. In this language arts lesson, students discover the work of Michael Longley and examine his poem "Ceasefire." Learners identify the sonnets used in the piece and discuss the...
Curated OER
Solar System -- Writing Conventions
In this solar system worksheet, students learn writing conventions such as alliteration, similes, and acrostic poems. All pertain to the topic of space and solar system.
Curated OER
Making Recycled Paper
Students explore the advantages of recycling paper. In this environmental lesson, students produce recycled paper by ripping up paper and putting it into a blender with water to create a mixture. Students use their recycled paper to...
Curated OER
"Declaration (of a Kgomotso Girl)"
Students explore the poem, "Declaration." Students discuss how elements of poetry such as tone work to convey meaning. Students compare and contrast their lives and the lives of the poem's characters from South Africa.
Curated OER
Edward Hopper's House by the Railroad: From Painting to Poem
Students analyze Edward Hopper's painting and Hirsch's poem to explore the types of emotion generated by each work. In this literary and art analysis lesson, students discuss how Hopper establishes tone and analyze Hirsch's use of...
Curated OER
Inspire the Imagination with a Poet Study of Shel Silverstein
Captivating prose opens wondrous doors to critical thinking and language development.