Academy of American Poets
Teach This Poem: “The Everglades” by Campbell McGrath
Florida's Everglades come alive for young environmental scientists as they watch a video taken in the park and read a poem about the watery paradise. After a careful study of the two resources, class members consider the function of the...
Curated OER
Computer Lesson
The writing of Haiku poems is the focus of this language arts lesson. In it, the basic elements of Haiku poetry are presented, and then a step-by-step set of instructions on how to create a Haiku poem along with an illustration is...
Curated OER
Writing Out Loud: Poems for Two Voices
Helpful ways for poetry to reinforce your lesson - for any subject.
Scholastic
Identifying Types of Irony Using "The Gift of the Magi"
O. Henry's "The Gift of the Magi" is the classic example of irony in literature. Teach young writers about the ways irony can engage their readers with an activity in which they write scripts using dramatic irony, situational irony, and...
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Poetry
Fifth graders are introduced to poetry and many authors who create it. In this language arts instructional activity, 5th graders create a class poetry book. Each student submits an original poem, along with an illustration.
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Ancient Egypt Acrostic Poem
In this acrostic poem instructional activity, learners read an example of an acrostic poem. Students then write their own acrostic poems using the letters ANCIENT EGYPT.
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Earth Acrostic Poem
In this Earth worksheet, students write an acrostic poem for the planet Earth. Students write a phrase starting with each letter of the word Earth to describe it.
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Animals Acrostic Poem
In this animals acrostic poem learning exercise, learners read an example of an acrostic poem and then write one using the letters ANIMALS.
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Holocaust Acrostic Poem
In this Holocaust acrostic poem worksheet, students read an example of an acrostic poem and then write one using the letters HOLOCAUST.
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Explorer Acrostic Poem
In this explorer acrostic poem activity, students read an example of an acrostic poem and then write one using the letters EXPLORER.
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Cinco De Mayo Acrostic Poem
In this Cinco de Mayo writing learning exercise, learners write an acrostic poem using the words CINCO DE MAYO. Students use each letter as the beginning of a line of poetry that tells something about the topic.
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Africa Acrostic Poem
In this Africa poem worksheet, students write an acrostic poem about Africa. Students use each letter in the name AFRICA as the beginning of a line that tells something about Africa. There is a sample poem.
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Plants Acrostic Poem
In this acrostic poem worksheet, learners show what they know about plants by writing an acrostic poem. Students use the letters in PLANTS to begin each line of poetry that tells about plants.
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Veterans Acrostic Poem
In this veterans acrostic poem worksheet, students read an example of an acrostic poem and then write one using the letters VETERAN.
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Creative Writing: Haiku
Haikus by Basho, Buson, Issa, and Shiki are used as models for a brief lecture on the importance of poetry in Japan's history and the structure of this poetic form. Students then go on a nature walk, record impressions, and return to the...
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Poetry--Rhythm and Meter in Sonnets
Students identify rhyme scheme and meter in a poem and respond to the message of the poem. For this sonnet rhythm and meter lesson, students take notes on a lecture about rhythm and meter in sonnets and work in small groups to read...
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Listening to Poetry: Sounds of the Sonnet
High schoolers experience and enjoy the sounds of poetry. They erform sound experiments with sonnets and closely read and analyze a sonnet by Shakespeare. Students write an analysis of how sound affects meaning in a sonnet chosen from...
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Friendship Cinquains
Learners discover that a cinquain is a simple five-line poem that follows a pattern. They interview a friend and use what they learn to write a cinquain about that person. As an added touch, each of the poems are written inside the shape...
Literacy Design Collaborative
Structure Forming Meaning
Teach literary lovers how to form opinions about form. Scholars read
informational text about the form used in villanelles. After analyzing
the structure used in the poetry with graphic organizers and gallery
walks, writers create...
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Be the Poet
Students work through a Haiku Organizer to determine the characteristics they use to write eight haiku poems on a theme that they choose. They design presentation folders of their completed work.
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Ottoman Lyric Poetry
Students explore the Ottoman style of poetry. They view a video, Suleyman the Magnificent, and view maps of Europe, Asia, Africa and the Mediterranean Sea. They research the Ottoman Empire and keep a journal. They read various Ottoman...
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Dance: Sharp and Smooth Energy Qualities
Students use different qualities of movement to express themselves. For this lesson on movement, students use different qualities of energy and then use their experience as an inspiration for writing poetry.
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Creative Writing: Children's Building Blocks
Your class can participate in a writing program involving four building blocks. By exploring words, sentences, writing forms, and story organization, they improve their creative writing skills throughout this year-long unit. Early in the...
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Quirky Quatrain Poetry Lesson
Middle schoolers discover what a quatrain is, and are taught the three poetic devices: alliteration, hyperbole, and onomatopoeia. Everyone chooses a favorite hobby or activity, then attempts to write a poem about it. They must write two...