GENERAL LANGUAGE ARTS LESSON
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Subject/Course: Language Arts Name: Amanda Den Bleker
Grade Level: 8 Date October 14, 2003
Topic: Poetry Time: 11:30-12:20

1. Instructional Expectations and Opportunities
The grade 8 learners will:
a) Expectations:
- listen to a variety of poetry for different purposes
- identify key features in various poems (focusing on imagery)

b) Opportunities:
-participate in group work
- develop note taking skills

2. Preassessment

a) Learners:
- There are 27 learners
- Have previously read through a variety of materials (grade 7 curriculum)
- Have taken part in read alouds, (grade 7 curriculum)
- Have had to identify different forms of writing
b) Learning Environment:
- Students will move their desks into groups for the ‘poem creation (introduction), and the study of ‘the raven’
- 50 minute class
c) Resources:
- Copy of “The Raven” for each student
- Copy of “The Road Less Travelled” for each student
- Seven bags of lyrics, one for each of seven groups

3. Content 4. Strategies
a) Introduction

Creating a free verse poem and developing an understanding that song lyrics are a form of poetry

Presenting a poem aloud.

 a) Teaching Strategies

Dividing the class into seven groups. Each group is provided with a baggie of words. Each baggie contains the lyrics of a verse from a current popular music piece (which the students are unaware of).
- Students must create a four line minimum poem using as many of the words as they can.
- Each group will have one presenter to read their poem aloud to the class. Once all groups have presented, the source of the words, will be revealed to the students.
a) Establishing the Learning
What Is Rhyme
A poem or verse having a regular correspondence of sounds, especially at the ends of lines.
Rhythm patterns are represented using capital letters.

What Is Rhythm
The patterns of contrasting elements of sound or speech. A pattern or flow of sound is created by the arrangement of stressed and unstressed syllables.

What is Imagery
The use of vivid or symbolic language to represent objects, actions, or ideas.


Studying a Classic Poem – “The Raven” by Edgar Allan Poe

- study the imagery in the poem
develop ideas about what the poem is about.
VIDEO – “The Raven”
- show the students what the poem is about


Study Rhyme, Rhythm, and Imagery in “The Road Less Travelled by Robert Frost

b) Teaching Strategies
Definitions on overhead


The class will be divided into nine groups. Each group will have a copy of “The Raven” and will be given two verses to read and analyze. Each group will look at their verses, and pick out any imagery that they find.

The students, in order will read their verses aloud, then as a class we will discuss the imagery in each section, and keep notes

Students will watch a video and be able to compare what they came up with for imagery ideas to those shown in the video.
Students will take notes on what the video shows and add it to their earlier list.

Provide the students with a copy of “The Road Less Travelled” to take home and make notes on imagery, rhythm and rhyme.

4. Strategies (continued)
a) Consolidation of Learning:
The video will sum up some of the things that we talked about during class discussion.
Sum up what rhyme, rhythm, and imagery mean.
b) Application / Reaction:
Student will be able to apply what they are learning in class to “The Raven”, and independently to “The Road Less Travelled”.
5. Assessment
Checklist of participation in their group and checklist for homework completed the next day.