(1) Poetry Lesson 8
(2) Poetry Lesson 8
We have been discussing all of the things that
poets do in order to get their meaning and
feelings across when they write a poem to share
with their readers. The way that poets think
about word choice, illustrations, text placement,
white space and line breaks helps the readers
truly understand their message. Let’s go back
to the list we looked at on the first day of our
poetry study to remind ourselves about all the
things poets do when they create their poems.
Today we will use this list as we look at two
poems written by two different poets. These two
poems are included in two different anthologies
but are about the same topic: winter. As we
look at the poems, let’s compare and contrast
the layout and how the words make us feel
about the topic. We’ll use a special handout to
guide our thinking as we listen.
Display and read through Appendix 1 : What We
Notice About Poems” from Interactive Read-Aloud
Lesson1.
The first poem we are going to look at and listen
to is “dear snow” by Takayo Noda. First, let’s
look at how the poem appears on the page.
(3) Poetry Lesson 8
(4) Poetry Lesson 8
Display the poem and ask students to name what they
notice about its layout. Use Appendix 1 from
Interactive Read-Aloud Lesson1 to give students the
right terminology when speaking about the look of the
poem.
Students should notice:
The language and layout of the poem gives the
reader a sense of mood and how the poet feels
about the topic.
multiple stanzas
white space
short and long lines
repetitive beginnings:
“I see”, “I know”, “I
am”, “I will”
colorful illustrations
the question at the end
Listen as I read the poem.
Read the poem slowly and pay attention to the visual
elements
Discuss how the language, white space, stanzas
illustrations, and personification give the readers a
sense that the narrator feels positively about the snow
and is longing to go outside and play in the winter
weather.
For example talking to the snow in little conversations:
-spinning and dancing just like angels in white
-funny carrot nose
-I will think about playing with you
-will you please come back tomorrow.
(5) Poetry Lesson 8
(6) Poetry Lesson 8
Now let’s look at another poem about winter and
compare how its layout is similar and/or different from
dear snow.
Sometimes poets write in a certain way because they
have a particular feeling about their topics.
Sometimes it is because they want the readers to
experience the poem in a certain way Now that we
have seen and heard both of these poems about
winter let’s compare and contrast them.
Display “Boardwalk in Winter” and have students work in pairs
to talk about the look of the poem. Have them share some of
their “noticings” aloud before reading the poem.
Isn’t it interesting that two poets wrote two poems
about the same topic but they look and sound so
different?
Display the two poems side by side. As a class, draw
conclusions about the two poems, such as why would
the poets choose to fashion their poems in a particular
way and how do these differences affect the way the
poems are read?
Distribute copies of the Appendix “Pair of Poems” and display
the text of the two poems for students.
Work with your partner to look at both poems side
by side. Think again about how these poems look,
sound, and feel.
Read through Appendix with students and then have them
work in pairs or small groups to complete the questionnaire.