Poetry Workshop Lesson Plan

NAME: Shawna Hendrix

Lesson Title: Poetry Workshop

Grade level: 8

Total Time: 10-15 minutes

# Students: 7
Learning Goal:
(Content
Standard/Common
Core)

Literacy.RL.8.2: Determine a theme/central idea of a text

Literacy.RL.8.5: Compare and contrast the structure of two or more
texts and analyze how the different structure of each text
contributes to its meaning and style.
Literacy.RL.8.4: Determine the meaning of words/phrases as they
are used in text/ analyze the impact of rhymes/other repetitions of
sounds on a specific verse/stanza of a poem
Literacy.RI.8.4: Determine the meaning of words and phrases as
they are used in a text.
Literacy.SL.8.6: Adapt speech to a variety of contexts and tasks.

Target Goal or Skill:

Essential Question(s):
Topical question(s):
Instructional
Objective(s):
Assessment
(Criteria / Look Fors/
Performance Tasks)

Disabilities/Diverse
Needs Represented
Student
Accommodations and/or
Modifications
Instructional Procedures

Students will be able to identify the central themes in each of the

poems. They will be able to analyze poetry and develop meaning
of words in order to then be able to develop a companion piece that
exhibits strong word choice.
What is the central theme in each of the poems?
How did you develop the theme? What words/phrases work as
evidence to your point?
They can identify the theme of a poem and be able to construct
their own poetry that resembles another poem, based on theme,
form, or word choice.
Formative Assessment:
Group discussion, individual writing, responses to other students
work.
Summative Assessment:
N/A

Talkative students or students who act out while struggling with the
material will be seated near me so I can better assist them.
Introduction:

(including specific times)

Introduction:
(including motivational
hook where applicable)

Learning Activities:

T: What do you know about theme?

(Allow for discussion)

Learning Activities:
T: Have a student read Whitmans poem aloud
Discuss Whitman poem
-What is the theme?
T: Have a student read Hughess poem aloud
Discuss Hughess poem?
-What is the theme? How is it similar/different to Whitmans
poem?
T: Have a student read Hughess dream poem aloud

Closure:

Closure:
For tomorrow: Consider Hughess theme in the dream poem. Be
ready to write your own companion piece tomorrow.

Language Demands:
Function
Vocabulary
Syntax
Discourse

Function: comparing two poems

Vocabulary: theme, metaphor, deferred
Syntax: sentences
Discourse: discussion, written and spoken, interaction between
teachers and students, etc.

5 Questions (Blooms or
DOK)

What was the underlying theme of the poem?

Can you distinguish the theme between the two poems? What
differences exist between Whitman and Hughess views of
patriotism?
What examples can you find to support your understanding of the
theme?
Can you invent a companion piece to Hughess poem on dreams?
Lucy Calkins Readers Workshop

Curriculum (APA)
e.g.
Investigations in
Number, Data, and
Space. (2012).
Pearson.

Materials

Notes

PowerPoint, Blogs