2011 Poetry Unit Plan
Day I (Monday, 11/14)
Define poetry, simile, metaphor, personification, and imagery (GO)
Listen to “Already There” – find metaphors and personification
Students individually write a 6-line free verse poem based on the winning example.
HW: Finish your poem
Day 2 (Tues 11/15)
Define alliteration, assonance, onomatopoeia, symbol, and diction (GO)
Listen to “Waiting on the World to Change” for alliteration & assonance
Read excerpts from “The Lorax,” finding examples of alliteration, assonance, & onomatopoeia.
Discuss the true “meaning” of “The Lorax” as a class
Bonus HW: Re-read an old Dr. Seuss story and write a paragraph explaining the “deeper” meaning behind it.
Give a full MLA citation for the book, and then follow with your paragraph (due by Thursday, 11/17).
Day 3 (Wed 11/16)
Define and discuss rhyme (with types) & rhyme scheme.
“Dani California” – song; listen for different types of rhyme (internal, near, end)
As a class, read “The Road Not Taken,” p. 447, finding examples of alliteration, assonance, and symbols
Write the rhyme scheme for “RNT” as a class.
As a class, read “Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening” (worksheet). Answer questions individually.
HW: Finish classwork.
Day 4 (Thurs 11/17)
Explain what an extended metaphor is. Define lyric poetry
Discuss characteristics of Lyric Poetry
Listen to/Read “StereoHearts” as example of extended metaphor. Analyze for indicated literary elements.
HW: Finish assignment
Day 5 (Fri 11/18)
Define stanza, refrain, rhythm, explication, connotation, denotation. (GO)
Read “Paul Revere’s Ride” (p. 186) & discuss rhythm (audio is pretty good since this is a relatively long poem)
HW: Finish extended metaphor poem.
Day 6 (Mon 11/21)
“Crazy” – song, count first 10 lines for syllables/rhythm
Read “Firework” and complete analysis handout
HW: Complete handout
Day 7 (Tues 11/22) – out for Thanksgiving rest of week
Define limerick, haiku
“Leave the Pieces” – song for poetic elements
Write a limerick about anything
Write a haiku about Thanksgiving
Transfer the haiku to a Thanksgiving card to give to somebody
No HW. Enjoy your break!
Day 8 (Mon 11/28)
“Long Black Veil” (DMB or Johnny Cash version) – song for poetic elements, specifically MOOD.
Notes on Poe
Read “The Raven”
Explicate “The Raven” – what’s going on? What is the mood? Tone? Setting? What does the raven symbolize?
HW: Complete “The Raven” worksheet
Day 9 (Tues 11/29)
o “Don’t Stop Believin’” – poetic elements
o Define epic, ballad, free verse
o Read & discuss examples of epic, ballad, & free verse:
“Wishing Well,” p. 453 *Read p. 451 first! (free verse)
“Cremation of Sam McGee” (ballad)
“Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay,”
Excerpt from Epic of Gilgamesh
HW: Bring Memoir to class on Thursday. Unit test Friday.
Day 10 (Wed 11/30) “Lucky” – song for poetic elements, imagery
• Read “Oranges” and discuss meaning, imagery
• Read “Those Winter Sundays” and discuss meaning, imagery
• HW: Bring Memoir to Class tomorrow!
Day 11 (Thurs 12/1)
• “Lifetime” –discuss as a memoir poem
• Write a poem based on student memoir. (At least 10 lines long)
• Review for tomorrow’s poetry unit test.
• HW: Poetry unit test tomorrow.
Day 12: (Fri 12/2) Poetry unit test
Day 13: (Mon 12/5) Media center for poetry project
Day 14: (Tues 12/6) Media center for poetry project
Day 15: (Wed 12/7) Media center for poetry project
Day 16: (Thurs 12/8) B11 Computer lab for poetry project
Day 17: (Fri 12/9) Presentations
FYI:
Monday 12/12 – Review for Benchmark
Tuesday 12/13 – 2nd 9 Weeks Benchmark
Wednesday 12/14 – A Christmas Carol (TNT version)
Thursday 12/15 – A Christmas Carol
Friday 12/16 – A Christmas Carol
Monday 12/19 – A Christmas Carol (Muppets)
Tuesday 12/20 – parties & assemblies; early dismissal