Teacher’s Name: Leslie Ross
Date: Tuesday
Title of Unit: Poetry
Title of Lesson: Writing a Poem
Previous Assignment: The students were assigned a 3.8 paragraph on what poetry is to
them and they were also assigned to bring in the lyrics from their favorite song and each
student will briefly tell the class why that song means something to them.
The students will turn in their 3.8 paragraphs upon the start of class. The first 5-10
minutes of class will be used to discuss some of the lyrics that the students brought to
class as a part of their assignment. We will briefly discuss why they chose that particular
song, and why that song means something to them. Bring up points from yesterday’s
class period. Each student will turn in a copy of his or her lyrics for daily points.
Estimated Time: Review discussion- 5-10 minutes; Looking up words- 10-15 minutes;
Inclass writing- 20-25 minutes.
Objectives: The student will be able to:
 Define terms associated with poetry.
 Revise their poetry.
 Elaborate their word choices.
Materials: black board, chalk, pen/pencil, paper.
Activities: First of all, the following poetic terms will be written on the board:
 Simile
 Metaphor
 Personification
 Alliteration
 Assonance
The students will break into groups of three and use the literary handbooks that are
available for classroom use to define these terms. The students will have 10 minutes to
define the terms. Walk around the room and check with each group for understanding.
Reconvene as a class and give a few quick oral questions to measure understanding.
After the students have defined the terms, we will do the following exercise on the board,
as a class:
Have the students imagine themselves someplace -- the beach, a mountain top, a city
street -- anywhere. Then have them write two lines beginning with the words "I see", and
then state what they see. (ex: I see mountains, I see trees, etc.) The students will then
write two lines beginning with "I hear" (I hear birds; I hear bears); then two lines
beginning "I smell". Each of the five senses will be covered this way. The last line
should begin "I feel ...", and state how the scene makes them feel. ("I feel lonely and
afraid") After all the lines are completed, we will have an eleven line poem. Return to
each line, delete the "I see"s, the "I hear"s, etc. Add adjectives and adverbs. Then return
to each line again and add similes and metaphors. Again, return to each line and add
personification. Lastly, return to each line and add rhyme and meter and add alliteration
and assonance.
Evaluation: The evaluation will be through their successful completion of the inclass
assignment as an out of class assignment. Each group will also turn in a copy of their
definitions to me.
Assignment: If we do not finish the inclass exercise, each student will be asked to
complete the poem at home. If the inclass exercise is completed, each student will use
the same format form the inclass exercise to complete a poem out of class. The poems
will be due the following class period, and all final drafts will be shared aloud.