Department of Defense
Do Dea: Music From the Ashes
This is a self-guided learning unit on the topic of poetry. Included are lessons, self-assessments, background information, learning activities, and related literature. Learn how to analyze poetry, appreciate figurative language, and...
Library of Congress
Loc: Making Connections Through Poetry
Why not assign a creative project through which students analyze historical documents and share their understanding through poetry and art? All of the resources for this project (documents, images, and examples of famous poems) are...
New Zealand Ministry of Education
Nz Ministry of Education: Conflict and War
This lesson requires three writing assignments on the topic or war or conflict: 1. Once familiar with the language, types, rhyme and metre used in poetry, young scholars then write their own. They are given a selection of types to write,...
Other
Poetry teachers.com
This site has lots of teaching ideas for instilling a love of poetry in students. Sections include Poetry Class, Poetry Fun, Poetry Theater, Poetry Contests, and information on how to invite authors to your school.
British Library
British Library: 20th Century Teaching Resources: Ted Hughes's Birthday Letters
In these activities, young scholars 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...
Other
Core Knowledge: Poetry in Motion [Pdf]
Collection in pdf format of seven lessons integrating poetry across-the-curriculum. Includes dramatization, developing poetry reading skills, and creating poetry appreciation. Printable graphic organizers and a fine bibliography...
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: Carl Sandburg's "Chicago": Bringing a Great City Alive
In this lesson students examine primary source documents including photographs, film, maps, and essays to learn about Chicago at the turn of the 20th century and Carl Sandburg's famous poem. After examining the poem's use of...
John F. Kennedy Center
The Kennedy Center: Oceans: A Sensory Haiku
In this lesson plan, students use the ocean and their five senses as inspirations to create their own unique haikus. Lesson provides assessment criteria and a list of sources.
NASA
Nasa Quest: "Wright Ing" Prompt: Concrete Poetry
At this site from NASA Quest you can learn to write concrete poetry by using the Wright Brother's airplane as a prompt. What a great way to celebrate the 100th year anniversary of the first flight!
Hopelink
Hopelink: Writing Lesson Idea: Poetry Writing
Many simple forms, such as cinquain and haiku, that follow set formats, are included in this poetry lesson plan.
Library of Congress
Loc: Found Poetry With Primary Sources: The Great Depression
Students explore poetry using American Life Histories: Manuscripts from the Federal Writers' Project, 1936-1940 collection of American Memory, which covers personal stories collected by the Works Progress Administration. In particular,...
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: Emily Dickinson & Poetic Imagination: "Leap, Plashless"
This lesson introduces students to Emily Dickinson's poetry which often reveals a child-like fascination with the natural world. Students examine how she writes perceptively of butterflies, birds, and bats and uses lucid metaphors to...
Scholastic
Scholastic: Writing Poetry With Karla Kuskin
Karla Kuskin will take you through the writing process and will share many of her helpful hints! There is a teacher's guide included.
Scholastic
Scholastic: Poetry Writing With Karla Kuskin
With the aid of Karla Kuskin, this site from Scholastic explores the world of poetry. Here you can find tips for poetry writing, ideas for revising, and even a place to post your completed poem online! A fully developed teacher's guide...
University of Oregon
Pizzaz, Creative Writing & Storytelling: Diamante Poems
This PIZZAZ (People Interested in Zippy and ZAny Zcribbling) lesson plan will engage students in writing diamante poems. Examples of diamante poems are provided. A template is also included as a graphic organizing support for students.
University of Toronto (Canada)
University of Toronto: Canadian Poetry Online: Atwood: Writing Philosophy
The text of a lecture, given by Atwood in 1995, in which she discusses her approach to writing poetry.
University of Oregon
Pizzaz, Creative Writing & Storytelling: Headline Poems
This PIZZAZ (People Interested in Zippy and ZAny Zcribbling) lesson plan will engage students in writing headline poems.
University of Oregon
Pizzaz, Creative Writing & Storytelling: Limerick Poems
This PIZZAZ (People Interested in Zippy and ZAny Zcribbling) lesson plan will engage students in writing limerick poems. An example of a limerick poem is provided. A template is also included as a graphic organizing support for students.
University of Oregon
Pizzaz, Creative Writing & Storytelling: Name Poems
This PIZZAZ (People Interested in Zippy and ZAny Zcribbling) lesson plan will engage students in writing personal poems. Examples of personal poems are provided. A template is also included as a graphic organizing support for students.
University of Oregon
Pizzaz, Creative Writing & Storytelling: Up and Down Poems
This PIZZAZ (People Interested in Zippy and ZAny Zcribbling) lesson plan will engage students in writing up and down poems. An example of an up and down poem is provided.
SMART Technologies
Smart: Deforestation Poetry
Looking through the window poem; Students will learn about deforestation, and then in a poem explain how deforestation happens and what we can do to save the Rainforest.
Writing Fix
Writing Fix: Colorful Sensory Poems
This instructional activity allows students to explore color - both in literal and figurative terms. Students will read books about color, discuss the emotion involved with color, and incorporate color metaphors to write poems using the...
Writing Fix
Writing Fix: Song Inspired Color Poetry
In this lesson young scholars listen to the songs "Over the Rainbow," sung by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole and "Color Me Blind," sung by Extreme and read an excerpt from the book Hailstones and Halibut Bones by Mary O'Neill. Then students work...
Writing Fix
Writing Fix: The Diamond Poem [Pdf]
An explanation of each line of a diamond poem (diamante) followed by examples and a blank template for students to use while generating their own diamond poems.