The Uses of Poetry in the Classroom

CONTENTS OF CURRICULUM UNIT 05.01.01

  1. Unit Guide
  1. Introduction
  2. Unit Goals
  3. Curriculum Unit Overview and Strategies
  4. Correlation to Virginia Standards
  5. Lesson Plans
  6. October – December-Thematic Unit II:Who Am I? Discovering who I am as an individual with emotions.
  7. January – March: Thematic Unit III: Who Am I? My Ability to Achieve
  8. Materials
  9. Annotated Bibliography
  10. Works Cited
  11. Notes

Discovering Self through Poetry

Carolyn Diane Clark

Published September 2005

Tools for this Unit:

Lesson Plans

Activity One: "I Am" poem

Procedure:

After greeting the class, the teacher should introduce him or herself using the "I Am" poem outline. Following your introduction, introduce the "I Am" poem by telling students that you used this poetry format to introduce yourself. After sharing facts about yourself, and prepare the class for an introductory activity.

The teacher will say to the class, It is time for you to share some introductory information about yourself with the class using the "I Am" poem outline that I used. The 'I Am' poem outline will help you organize your thoughts as you prepare to introduce yourself. Pass out copies of the "I Am" poem outline to each student. Take a few moments to demonstrate how students can complete the poetry outline. After completing the poem outline, I will prepare students to share facts about themselves by introducing students to the terms 'lines' and 'stanza'. Students will now introduce themselves to the class using all of the poem or at least 8 of the lines from the poem.

Notes

At the conclusion of this activity, I will pass out a folder to each student. Have each student write their name on the folder and place their completed copy of the "I Am" poem in the folder. Also, I will put a copy of the "I Am" poem in at least five folders for students who may enter the class after the first session. New students will then know what activities they must complete. I suggest that after each class period, the teacher or designated students should place information in any student's folder who may be absent. Students will develop the responsibility for checking their folder when they are absent for work to be completed.

Activity Two: "Lineage" by Margaret Walker

Procedure:

Students will share in groups of three or four per group to complete this activity. Write this unit objective on the blackboard and orally review with students: Students will answer the question, "Who Am I?" based upon their African American heritage. I will review the vocabulary terms listed under 'vocabulary' with students. Pass out copies of the poem, "Lineage" by Margaret Walker to each class member. Make the following statement before formally introducing the poem: "Grandparents often have a strong sense of who they are, and what they want from life. Is it because life was harder then, and therefore more rewarding? If only we could learn the secret of their strength."

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