Unit Plan

Music Without the Melody

By  Jennifer Chandler
  • Grades: 6–8

Overview

The key to teaching a successful poetry unit is to make the learning experience relevant to the students. Although using well-written lyrics as examples of poetry is a good idea, this does not necessarily insinuate teaching the lyrics to a pop song. Allowing students to explore elements of poetry within structures of their comfort level affords an enriching academic experience. The following poetry unit is developmentally appropriate for elementary through high school students while infusing traditional methodology with fresh, motivating strategies.

Objective

Students will:

  1. Identify the elements of a poem: form, rhyme scheme, author’s purpose, speaker, and mood of the poem
  2. Identify author’s purpose in writing a poem
  3. Establish a personal strategy for analyzing poetry
  4. Evaluate poetry to form an opinion of personal preference of poetic style
  5. Identify the theme of a set of poems

Lesson Plans for this Unit

Culminating Activity

Students will complete a poetry portfolio to demonstrate acquired learning objectives during the unit. This portfolio may include the writing activity from Lesson Two and other critiques of poems, including some student-chosen poetry.

Supporting Books

Books for Teaching Poetry

  • Subjects:
    Story Elements, Poetry Writing, National Poetry Month
  • Skills:
    Identifying Author's Purpose, Point of View, Theme, Poetry Writing
  • Duration:
    2 Weeks
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