Poetry as Sound and Object

CONTENTS OF CURRICULUM UNIT 24.03.02

  1. Unit Guide
  1. Introduction
  2. Rationale
  3. Demographics
  4. Unit Content Objectives
  5. Teaching Strategies
  6. Classroom Activities
  7. Unit Vocabulary
  8. Appendix on Implementing District Standards (Common Core State Standards)
  9. Bibliography
  10. Endnotes

Captain Underpants, Poetry Outside the Box

Sharon Monique Ponder

Published September 2024

Tools for this Unit:

Guide Entry to 24.03.02

In the Yale National Initiative seminar on “Poetry as Sound and Object,” Dr. Feisal Mohamed offered us “ways to reduce the threshold of intimidation when teaching poetry by focusing on poems as an experience of sound and as fascinating material objects with ties to the visual arts.”

What defines poetry even more than its form is how it sounds. The way a poem marches from line to line or how onomatopoeia for instance can bring its subject to life is what makes a piece poetic. Two main texts that will be utilized in this unit areHenry Box BrownandThe Adventures of Captain Underpants.

Currently in my performing arts classes my students come from Pre-kindergarten through eighth grades.  I aim to grasp students' attention and advance their wonder, curiosity and interest with hopes of reading and performing arts becoming a passion. Although I utilize a variety of traditional scripts my primary and intermediate students tend to gravitate more towards graphic novels, comic books and improvisation.  

Readers, Improv and poetic theater are an integrated approach for involving my students in reading, writing, listening and speaking activities. In this unit my students will share relevant and culturally reflective literature, read aloud, write scripts and poetry, perform with a purpose and work collaboratively.

(Developed for Performing Arts, grades PreK-8; recommended for Performing Arts, grades PreK-8)

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