Poetry/Drama unit

Mrs. Richard
References: www.pbsnewshour.org, ted.com,
thinkquest.org,
http://eksouth.weebly.com/similes--metaphors.html

Do you listen and enjoy the lyrics to your

favorite song, the words in a great book,
quotes from a person you admire, or the
advertising jingle that plays in your head
all day after hearing it once?

Then you enjoy poetry!

Anticipatory Set

Poetry is art with words for colors. Entwined

with music, poetry speaks to the heart of all who
hear. Poetry is an emotional experience.
Poetry is powerful enough to persuade others to
change their minds, attitudes, and even their
lives. Words become a sensory experience - they
make us taste, see, hear, touch and smell.
Poetry is a vehicle that articulates feelings. It
can make us laugh, cry, or get angry.

Lesson 1: What is poetry?

Poetry surrounds us each day. It touches our souls in

greeting cards, song lyrics, and television jingles. While
articulating our feelings, thoughts and ideas, it motivates
and inspires us. It not only gives us insight into ourselves
and others, but it strengthens our communication skills:
sentence structure, figurative language, prediction,
vocabulary, and analysis skills.
It is said that if teachers have students in their classrooms
for long enough they can produce a brain surgeon, but a
teacher cannot teach a student to feel. Yet, poetry can!

Lesson 2: Why poetry?

In this unit, we will study what famous poets

do to make the reader feel emotion, we will
analyze and write using figurative language,
we will explore how cadence, punctuation,
and literary elements affect how you present a
poem, we will learn what a poetry slam is,
and we will present our own poetry slam to
an audience
If I Should Have a Daughter - Sarah Kay

Lesson 3: How do we write

and present poetry?

Please don't take my air jordans

Authority List
I am poem

Lesson 4: Who are you?

What is your seed idea?

I too, am America
Do Not Go Gentle into that Good Night
RWT Lesson plan analyzing poetry

Lesson 5: Analyze poetry

Poetic devices
Poetic
Device

Definiti Exampl
es
on

Lesson 6: Poetic devices and

examples

The Raven by E. A. Poe

A Dream within a Dream by E. A. Poe

Hands
Lets try your own!

Cadence - a musical movement; It can be

described by melodic, rhythmic or
harmonic characteristics; rhythm - rising
and falling of the poem

Mother to Son by Langston Hughes

A Dream Deferred by Langston Hughes
If Love Were Like Owning a Dog - Taylor Mal
i
Try your own!

Figurative Language: similes

(comparisons with like or as)
and metaphors (comparisons
without like or as)

The Bicycle and Healthy Eating

So Sick - Ne Yo
To This Day - Shane Koyczan
Now you try one about your room!

Figurative Language:
alliteration - the repetition of
beginning sounds

Shake the Dust - Anis Mojgani

Violin
The Rose that Grew from Concrete - Tupac
Lets try your own!

Figurative Language:
Personification - giving
human characteristics to
inanimate objects

Onomatopoeia the use of sounds in words: Kerplunk,

Bang, Swoosh.
Hyperbole exaggeration in phrases: It was raining
cats and dogs, We had to wait forever for the bell to
ring
Assonance the repetition of vowel sounds in the middle
of words: the tree fell freely from the stream, She was
calm when the autumn leaves dawned

Other poetic devices

Poetic devices quiz

The Classics make a list of famous

poets as we discover them

Star 2 poets youd like to research further

Lesson 7: The Classics

Research at least 2 poets youd like to read more

of (or another you found on your own)
Remember as a researcher you are
searching, reading, analyzing and taking notes
Create the following chart for reference

Famou
s poet

Poetic
Titles
Device
of
s used
poems I
enjoy
and
why

The Classics continued

Choose your topic take your time, look for inspiration. What do you see
that encompasses many of your poems? What is your story?
Look at examples of your favorite poets, writers, and other research and
imitate their style: not copy their words
I will model this first.

I recently read a blog post by this teacher named Chase and it inspired me.
What students really need to hear
One of my favorite poets is Walt Whitman, who wrote, I am as bad as the worst,
but thank God, I am as good as the best.
I will imitate these examples and style, while creating my own poem

Lesson 8: Using anchor text

to write poetry

Your first draft should never be your last draft

Work with this piece of you in class, at home, on the bus
Put it next to your bed and when you wake up at night with a thought, add it
to your poem
This is a piece of you to share with us
This is not EASY
This is WORTHY of your time and effort

Lesson 9: Revising is where

the magic happens

Word Choice
Inspiration through lyrics
Imagery and more imagery

Lesson 9: Revising is where

the magic happens

Write, draft, edit, revise; repeat

Practice it out loud, use your expressions, body
movements, voice inflections, eye contact; repeat
Performances will take place May 28, 29, 30
Rubric

Lesson 10: Putting it all

together

Favorite Spoken word poetry list on TED

For Those who Remind me of my Mother
Like Totally Whatever You know
Shake the Dust

Spoken word poetry I love

On Girls Lending Pens

She Asks Me

An Origin Story
The Girl
Knock Knock

Spoken word poetry I love

AW Mrs. Richards class 2014

HL Mrs. Richards class 2014
AS Mrs. Richards class 2014
JE Mrs. Richards class 2014
VB Mrs. Richard's class 2014
AG Mrs. Richards class 2014

Spoken word poetry I love