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Listening to Poetry: Sounds of the Sonnet - National Endowment for the Humanities
Grades
8 to 12
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If you want to make your students love the SOUND of poetry, this is the site for you. While knowing the terms for rhythms, meters, etc. is important to teachers ...more
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If you want to make your students love the SOUND of poetry, this is the site for you. While knowing the terms for rhythms, meters, etc. is important to teachers and for testing, it seems more important for students to understand the sound that comes from language and appreciate it. The terms can always come later and will be connected to a meaningful experience students can recall. This site provides seven sound experiments to whet your students' appetites for poetry. The site provides step-by-step instructions on the seven "experiments" used to involved students in the music of language. It also provides multiple links to different eras from the early Elizabethan sonnets to the Romantics through Victorian and American poets.
In the Classroom
Conduct these lessons in their "traditional" ways or consider letting students make a podcast of one or more of the experiments so their peers can "hear" the lesson over and over with explanation and commentary from their peers. These podcasts could be the start of a library to accompany the teaching of poetry in your school. If you have never tried podcasting, the relatively simple structure of these "experiments" gives you a structured place to start.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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The Music In Poetry - Smithsonian Institute
Grades
5 to 12
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If you want to get students involved in listening to poetry, try this site featuring real life SOUNDS of poetry in both ballads and the blues. Ballads are traditionally taught ...more
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If you want to get students involved in listening to poetry, try this site featuring real life SOUNDS of poetry in both ballads and the blues. Ballads are traditionally taught as story poems and, while this site does that too, it makes ballads more relevant to the music that kids listen to today. Use this site to teach about meters (iambic triameter and iambic tetrameter) in ways that students can HEAR. The images of the short films are great, too. The site includes readings and singing of great, classic examples of ballads as well as some rarer film footage of great blues singers (ex: John Jackson singing "Steamboat Whistle" at Wolf Trap in 1997). There is a wide variety of tracks to choose from and the site includes lesson plans.
In the Classroom
Play the sound files on speakers in your classroom and be sure to include the link on your teacher web page for students to play at home, as well. If you are into podcasting, consider having students make their own recordings of ballads after hearing and studying these. Challenge cooperative learning groups to modernize one of the ballads and augment classroom technology use by creating a podcast by using sites such as podOmatic, reviewed here, or Buzzsprout, reviewed here. Help students create a checklist or rubric to use for self-evaluation or peer review. Use a tool like Quick Rubric, reviewed here, for the checklist and rubric. Use this same document to help students make constructive suggestions for story revisions. The lesson plans are printable PDFs and work with units/lessons on Langston Hughes and the blues as well as the meters of poetry.
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Soaring High With Kites - everythingesl.net
Grades
1 to 6
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This multi-level lesson plan for ESL students offers opportunities for vocabulary development, reading, writing, and cultural sharing by responding to stories and books about kites....more
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This multi-level lesson plan for ESL students offers opportunities for vocabulary development, reading, writing, and cultural sharing by responding to stories and books about kites. Primary grade teachers could also use it in a unit on weather or as an interdisciplinary science/language arts activity. Because of its high interest level, it motivates students to participate in understanding new words and in expressing their ideas about the books they read and the techniques and history of kite flying in their countries. Students also read and talk about kite safety rules and examine websites about kites. Writing opportunities include writing rules,original stories, cultural histories haiku, and diamante poems. Students also get to design, make, decorate and fly their own kites.
tag(s): poetry (196), vocabulary (248)
In the Classroom
Plan a kite day in the fall or spring and use all or part of these plans to learn new words, build kites, and even fly them before you write about them. This would be a terrific activity to include parents at school year's end.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Vincent Voice Library - Michigan State University
Grades
3 to 12
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This amazing library, part of Michigan State's library system, offers information about speeches, recordings, and news broadcasts featuring over 100,000 famous and not so famous personages....more
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This amazing library, part of Michigan State's library system, offers information about speeches, recordings, and news broadcasts featuring over 100,000 famous and not so famous personages. Not all items are digitized, but many are available in MP3 format. Those that can be played on your computer will have the word "Listen" as a link to play the file. The serach tools are a bit cumbersome, but there are terrific primary sources here.
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Requires Quick time. Videos require RealPlayer. Get these plug-ins from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..
tag(s): authors (113), news (224), poetry (196), speech (66), speeches (23)
In the Classroom
Play a recording of a famous speech or video relevant to today's lesson as students enter the room (turn up your speakers!). Or have your students create multimedia presentations using these sounds in the background, such as portraits orf a decade, an author study, or a moment in history.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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American Writers - C-Span
Grades
6 to 12
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This beautifully crafted site provides students with in-depth information on American writers and their works. Students can use the site's search feature to zero in on an era in American...more
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This beautifully crafted site provides students with in-depth information on American writers and their works. Students can use the site's search feature to zero in on an era in American history, a specific author, or a book title. The site features many video clips from the companion C-SPAN series. A high-speed connection is a must.
In the Classroom
You can pick and choose not only which author you want, but what information you want to use. You can choose short video clips shown on a projector either as a lesson in themselves (using the suggested questions or ones of your own); you can create a webquest using a combination of both this site and other sites linked from it; or you can use this as a straightforward internet lesson, using the material presented on the site itself. It is easily expandable to history and you can watch the video, a video clip, or read the transcript. Video requires Real Player.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Shel Silverstein's Official Website - Shel Silverstein; Harper Publishers
Grades
K to 6
18 Favorites
0 Comments
Shel Silverstein's outside-the-box style of poetry has delighted students for years. Find Screen Savers, animated Shel-creature-people to enjoy, reproducibles, and more await your enjoyment....more
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Shel Silverstein's outside-the-box style of poetry has delighted students for years. Find Screen Savers, animated Shel-creature-people to enjoy, reproducibles, and more await your enjoyment. Click on Poetry Month to find more activities and games that you can use during April. Your students will chuckle at Shel's own reading and lively animation of several of his poems. This is a site to explore with your class.
In the Classroom
Take your students on this language-rich adventure using an interactive whiteboard or projector. Mark your calendar now to visit this site during April, when Poetry Month is celebrated. Download your free poetry kit from the poetry month link. Of course, Shel Silverstein's whimsical and slightly dark humor can be enjoyed any month. There is a link for Teachers and Parents with lesson ideas, printables, and more. This is a great site to share with parents and students for summer breaks.
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A Race with Grace: Sports Poetry in Motion - IRA /NCTE
Grades
3 to 5
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Turn the excitement of the Olympics into a meaningful writing assignment. This lesson plan asks students to explore the aesthetic characteristic of athletics, drawing from their own...more
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Turn the excitement of the Olympics into a meaningful writing assignment. This lesson plan asks students to explore the aesthetic characteristic of athletics, drawing from their own experiences as well as examples in popular media. Thoughts and impressions are recorded in a reflective journal. Using the data as a foundation, students conduct Internet research, view short informative video clips, take digital photographs, and synthesize all of the information into an original cinquain poem. The lesson plan allows you to select your state and grade level to see the standards for your state.
In the Classroom
Get your students excited about poetry, by using the momentum of sports and the Olympics. Share the video clips on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Use this site to integrate science, sports, and research into your language arts class.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Learning About Research and Writing using the American Revolution - ReadWriteThink
Grades
3 to 5
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This lesson creates a wonderful interdisciplinary connection between creative writing and American history. After using a variety of resources to learn more about the American Revolution,...more
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This lesson creates a wonderful interdisciplinary connection between creative writing and American history. After using a variety of resources to learn more about the American Revolution, students select an historical figure from that era, and compose an acrostic poem describing that individual's contributions. Aligned to National Standards.
tag(s): creative writing (126), writing (309)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of this free lesson plan as a way to study the American Revolution from an interdisciplinary standpoint. This lesson plan mixes creative writing and poetry with history as a way to relate different concepts concerning the American Revolution.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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African American Women Writers of the 19th Century - NY Public Library
Grades
6 to 12
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The New York Public Library developed this collection of works by nineteenth century female African American writers. The resources include fiction, poetry, essays, and more; all are...more
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The New York Public Library developed this collection of works by nineteenth century female African American writers. The resources include fiction, poetry, essays, and more; all are formatted in an easy-to-use on-screen display. Those who teach American literature will find this an interesting supplemental resource.
tag(s): african american (130), authors (113), poetry (196), women (186)
In the Classroom
Use the poems by Phyllis Wheatley to complement a lesson on supporters of the American Revolution. Wheatley is often a studied character in American History, and her poems often confront American Independence and slavery. Share the poems with students at the end of a lesson, and have them analyze as a class what she is trying to say about either subject. Enhance student learning with a digital classroom discussion (where everyone gets a chance to contribute) using YoTeach, reviewed here, or by digital journal writing using Penzu, reviewed here, or edublog, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Dancing Minds and Shouting Smiles - ReadWriteThink
Grades
3 to 5
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Using the works of Emily Dickinson, William Blake, and Langston Hughes, this lesson plan introduces students to figurative language and encourages them to create poetry using personification....more
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Using the works of Emily Dickinson, William Blake, and Langston Hughes, this lesson plan introduces students to figurative language and encourages them to create poetry using personification. After learning about the characteristics of personification and identifying examples, students discuss how figurative language affects the reader, collectively form a word list, and independently compose an original work. A peer-editing worksheet is included. Aligned to National Standards.
tag(s): figurative language (19), poetry (196)
In the Classroom
Use this lesson in conjunction with TeachersFirst Figurative Language lesson, which has a PowerPoint presentation and other activities pertaining to personification.
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All About Me and my Favorite Things - ReadWriteThink
Grades
1 to 2
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Build vocabulary and writing skills with this lesson plan that introduces young students to acrostic poetry and guides them through the creation of their own compositions. After some...more
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Build vocabulary and writing skills with this lesson plan that introduces young students to acrostic poetry and guides them through the creation of their own compositions. After some group vocabulary brainstorming with letters of the alphabet and teacher modeling, students begin to construct an original free-verse poem using their first name as the foundation. Includes creative ideas for extension activities. Aligned to National Standards.
tag(s): poetry (196)
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Dr. Seuss Theme Unit Activities, Lessons, and Printables - abcteach
Grades
K to 2
1 Favorites
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Use the materials on this site to celebrate Dr. Seuss' birthday on March 2. ...more
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Use the materials on this site to celebrate Dr. Seuss' birthday on March 2.
tag(s): dr seuss (12)
In the Classroom
Have students write "Seuss" poems on the Hats. Create a class book of "Seuss" poetry. Have students draw a Seuss picture illustrating a scene from one of their favorite Seuss books.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Poetry 4 Kids - Kenn Nesbitts
Grades
4 to 8
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Add this Kenn Nesbitt poetry site to your resource of kid-friendly poetry. This site is a treasure with podcasts, a rhyming dictionary, games, videos, tips and lessons for kid to ...more
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Add this Kenn Nesbitt poetry site to your resource of kid-friendly poetry. This site is a treasure with podcasts, a rhyming dictionary, games, videos, tips and lessons for kid to write poetry. Browse through dozens of examples and choose a few to illustrate rhyme scheme, meter, or alliteration. These are not literary masterpieces, but they will engage your most resistant students, and perhaps inspire some original poetry. If your school blocks YouTube, the videos won't be viewable.
In the Classroom
Ask your students to choose a favorite poem from this site and use it as a model for their own poem. Have them pay attention to the rhythm and rhyme of the poem they like. Create a class book of poems using Book Creator, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Poets.org - Academy of American Poets
Grades
7 to 12
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This collection of more than 1400 poems, 500 poet biographies, and 100 audio clips is a helpful and well-organized resource for both students and teachers of American literature. Search...more
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This collection of more than 1400 poems, 500 poet biographies, and 100 audio clips is a helpful and well-organized resource for both students and teachers of American literature. Search by poet or title to locate texts and biographical information. Visit the Listening Booth to give your students the opportunity to hear the voices of Robert Frost, T.S. Eliot, and many other beloved American poets! The site also contains information about National Poetry Month, celebrated every April, and a list of major American poetry awards with recent recipients.
tag(s): poetry (196)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the free lesson plans, tips and resources for teaching poetry in the "Educators" section of the site. These would be great for a teacher who's teaching poetry for the first time, or just needs some fresh ideas. Be sure to save the site as a favorite to allow for easy retrieval later on.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Voice - Online Poetry Classroom
Grades
7 to 10
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Introductory poetry unit which uses class discussion, critical writing assignments, and personal reflection to help students learn poetic vocabulary. The lessons are developed to forge...more
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Introductory poetry unit which uses class discussion, critical writing assignments, and personal reflection to help students learn poetic vocabulary. The lessons are developed to forge links between the poems from the unit and the text book used throughout the year. The unit is designed for lower high school students.
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Songs My Teacher Taught Me - Online Poetry Classroom
Grades
9 to 12
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This unit of lesson plans surveys a wide range of poets including women, African-American, and nineteenth-century poets. Lessons are thematically broken into three categories, "What...more
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This unit of lesson plans surveys a wide range of poets including women, African-American, and nineteenth-century poets. Lessons are thematically broken into three categories, "What is Poetry?" "Poems of Childhood," and "Self and Society." A "Teaching Guide" is included and offers suggestions on presenting the material in a variety of ways, making this unit suitable to any high school grade.
tag(s): poetry (196)
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Music is Poetry - TeachersFirst
Grades
6 to 8
6 Favorites
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Discover lesson unit that combines music and lyrics in a study of poetry. Part of the attraction: students get to help select the music, and hence the message. This lesson ...more
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Discover lesson unit that combines music and lyrics in a study of poetry. Part of the attraction: students get to help select the music, and hence the message. This lesson plan was one of the winners in a lesson plan contest sponsored by TeachersFirst. TeachersFirst editors have added technology options where appropriate.
tag(s): poetry (196)
In the Classroom
This unit conforms to Florida language arts standards. Technology options include using an interactive whiteboard, or an online whiteboard such as Draw.Chat.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Living Pictures Representing the History of Black Dance - Yale University
Grades
7 to 8
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Through the study of paintings, books, photography, and poetry, students will learn about the history of Black dance. With an emphasis on the evolution of Black dance from the African...more
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Through the study of paintings, books, photography, and poetry, students will learn about the history of Black dance. With an emphasis on the evolution of Black dance from the African period through the Harlem Renaissance and beyond, this unit emphasizes research as a tool for meaningful choreography. The culminating activity is a video production that chronicles a living history through movement.
tag(s): africa (154), african american (130), dance (42)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the free lesson plans offered on this web page. The focus is interdisciplinary, and although lengthy offers a lot of valuable information. Be sure to look at this thoroughly before you plan to use it with students. Though the resources are listed, you will need to obtain them yourself. Definitely take a look at this one!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Poetry Magic
Grades
9 to 12
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This British site offers significant breadth and depth on nearly every aspect of poetry, especially the craft of writing poetry. Divided into beginner and advanced sections, the content...more
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This British site offers significant breadth and depth on nearly every aspect of poetry, especially the craft of writing poetry. Divided into beginner and advanced sections, the content accommodates a wide range of interests and experience. This is a great one!
In the Classroom
Much of the advanced material would be suitable for teachers to use in preparing lessons.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Langston Hughes: Artist and Historian - Yale University
Grades
6 to 8
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Students will learn a little about Langston Hughes and the events of his time in the introductory Narrative of this lesson. The lesson explores Langston Hughes' poetry, setting it as...more
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Students will learn a little about Langston Hughes and the events of his time in the introductory Narrative of this lesson. The lesson explores Langston Hughes' poetry, setting it as a "vehicle by which students are exposed to the African-American experience in the United States of the 1920s through the 1960s."
tag(s): poetry (196)
In the Classroom
Using the Narrative and create a guided reading activity using vocabulary, keywords, and phrases with Read Ahead, reviewed here. In pairs or small groups, have students read the short biography about Langston Huges and Jim Crow laws. Read Ahead is perfect for introducing any reading passages to struggling readers, special education students, and ENL/ELL learners. After using this lesson, extend student learning by having them further reseach and present to their classmates some of the events mentioned in the narrative. Ask them to choose a product for their presentation from Genially, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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