University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge: How to Read a Poem
This resource aims to give A-level students a strategy and example for reading a poem. We asked a Cambridge student to read a poem as though they were going to write an essay on it, and to write down their thoughts as they went through...
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Poetry From Prose
This lesson teaches students to create an original poem based on select words and phrases from a prose piece. Also encourages students to model poetic forms after found poems.
Writing Fix
Writing Fix: Compare and Contrast Lesson: Comparing Community Helpers
After reading the picture book Come on, Rain by Karen Hesse, which discusses how the weather both helps and harms the community, students bring tools from home to represent what their parents do for a living. They will present these...
University of Wisconsin
Univ. Of Wisconsin: Writing Center: Guide to Close Reading for Literary Analysis
This guide discusses how to approach analysis of a literary text, with the main focus being on the poem "Design" by Robert Frost. It explains how to examine the subject, the form, word choice or diction, and the theme. In each section,...
Other
On "Paul Revere's Ride" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Acclaimed literary critic Dana Gioia analyzes Longfellow's classic narrative poem, "Paul Revere's Ride," encouraging readers to see beyond the story into the rationale for the structure and style of the poem.
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Put That on the List: Collaboratively Writing a Catalog Poem
Using the structure of a list poem, students combine creative expression with poetic techniques and language exploration in order to write group poems about what really matters in their lives.
Online Writing Lab at Purdue University
Purdue University Owl: Creative Writing
An introduction to creative writing with links to more information on the following topics: Fiction Writing Basics, Pattern and Variation in Poetry, Pattern and Variation: Aural, Pattern and Variation: Visual, characters and Fiction...
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: Expressing Yourself With Poetry
Two classes at different schools or across the hall share dramatic poetry presentations as part of a poetry unit. Students listen to poetry, practice reading poetry, and (if practical) participate in a distance learning program on...
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Haiku Starter
A printable, two-page graphic organizer to help students brainstorm ideas and write a rough draft of a haiku. Directions on how to use this type of graphic organize as well as lists of teaching ideas and related resources are also provided.
Other
Letter of the Law on William Stafford
Adam Cornell, from Lewis and Clark College, writes an essay on Stafford. In this essay, you can read Stafford's poems "Lost Little Orphans" and "The Summer We Didn't Die."
Writing Fix
Writing Fix: Prose Poetry Paragraphs
Inspired by the vignettes of Sandra Cisneros, students will write about a familiar thing from their lives. Students will use the style of prose poetry to describe something familiar around their home, school or neighborhood. The final...
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: Introducing Metaphors Through Poetry
This lesson is designed to help students begin to engage with metaphors on a deeper and more abstract level. The lesson will begin with a poem containing metaphors accessible at all levels, and with each poem, the lesson will progress in...
Caro Clarke
Writing Advice: Where to Start?
This writing tutorial focuses on helping the aspiring author find a good place to start on his or her fiction.
Poetry Foundation
Poetry Foundation: William Blake (1757 1827)
A biographical resource on poet William Blake with an insightful look at his poems and their meanings. Includes links to the full text of many of his poems and a podcast entitled "A Discussion of Allen Ginsberg Singing Blake's 'The...
British Library
British Library: 20th Century Teaching Resources: Ted Hughes's Birthday Letters
In these activities, learners will consider Ted Hughes as a poet and a person, as well as some of the literary and personal influences on his writing. They will explore some of his poems in the draft and published form, exploring the...
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Seasonal Haiku
This site is a three-part lesson that teaches students how to write and depict seasonal imagery through haiku. Students study, listen to, and create original haiku on colored backgrounds.
Writing Fix
Writing Fix: Right Brained Lesson: Serendipitous Love Metaphors
Based on its title, student writers predict what Benatar's song means when it says that "Love Is a Battlefield." After discussing Benatar's extended metaphor as a class, learners will create an original extended metaphor about love in...
Other
Chateauguay Valley Regional High School: The Past Through Poetry by Mary Sully
This is a good example of how to write a literary analysis essay on poetry. This example compares and contrasts Tennyson and Yeats, Victorian poets, on the basis of their lives and their poetry. W.9-10.9a Analysis
Academy of American Poets
Poets.org: Voice
Thirteen day poetry unit plan provided by The Academy of American Poets designed for ninth or tenth grade students. Contains individual lessons on spoken poetry, written poetry, poetry as social commentary, and voice. Each lesson...
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Shel Silverstein Classroom Activity
As part of a unit on Shel Silverstein and his poetry (specifically "Where the Sidewalk Ends"), this classroom activity provides a brief classroom project and includes lesson plan ideas, web links, and additional texts.
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Poet Emily Dickinson
As part of a unit on Emily Dickinson and her poetry, this classroom activity provides a brief classroom project and includes lesson plan ideas, web links, and additional texts.
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: American Passages: Poetry of Liberation: Lorna Dee Cervantes
Lorna Dee Cervantes is presented in this brief biography, drawing attention to political and social messages which are camouflaged by vivid use of nature in her writings. See "Lorna Dee Cervantes Activities" for related materials.
Writing Fix
Writing Fix: An I Pod Inspired Poetry Lesson: Song Parodies About School
After celebrating (and singing) some of the delightful songs from Alan Katz's "Take Me out of the Bathtub" and listening to songs by Weird Al Yankovic, like "Eat It," students will discuss the concept of parody. To practice writing a...
Other
Petrarch and Laura: Peter Sadlon: How to Write a Sonnet [Pdf]
This is an 8-page PDF article on "How to Write a Sonnet" by Peter Sadlon. It provides background information about sonnets, discusses the two main kinds of sonnet Italian or Petrarchan form and English or Shakespearean form. It explains...