Lesson Plan # 2
Reading 8th Grade
Poetry and the Power of Words
Standards: ELA8R2, ELA8RC3, ELA8RC4
E.Q. What is the secret to reaching someone with words?
Poetry can hold the secret to reaching someone with words as it uses
concise language, as few words as possible to say the most. Poetry
should always be read aloud. Make certain to explain that to students.
1) Quote: “Words are the keys to the heart.” Chinese Proverb
Discuss quote. Allow students time to think and reflect on the meaning
of the quote and then discuss as a class.
2) Teacher: “This entire year we will focus on words and the power we
possess in using our words wisely, concisely, and effectively as we speak,
read, and write. If you think about it, we even think using words.”
3) Beginning on page 636, familiarize yourself with answering the Essential
Question. Although you will not cover poetry extensively, this assignment
supports the theme, “The Power of Words.”
Assignment #1:
Students should read with their Literary Terms Sheet in front of
them.
Students should be given sticky notes to mark their places as they
find examples of lit terms.
a) Background: Briefly go over the information on pages 638 – 643 with
the students in order to build background and give them a purpose of
looking at and using poetic language.
b) Read Poetry: Read “Describe Somebody” (p. 645) and “Almost a
Summer Sky” by Jacqueline Woodson. Use this poem and the notes in
the margin to talk to students about “saying much in a few words.”
Model with students how you would analyze these poems using the
questions on page 649.
Assignment #2: Students will begin to analyze poetry and think
about the choice of words used by reading and responding to 3
poems by great poets.
a) Instruct students to place their literary terms sheet in front of them.
Even though they will read and analyze as partners, they should
individually write examples of various terms as they find them in the
following poems.
b) Have students read “Blow, Blow, Thou Winter Wind” by William
Shakespeare, pages 723 – 724 with a partner.
c) Have pairs respond to this poem and answer the questions.
d) Students should read “your little voice Over the wires came leaping”
by E.E. Cummings. They should answer the questions: 1) What effect
does the little voice have on the speaker? 2) Why does the speaker
react this way?
e) Pairs should read “the Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost, page 774 –
775, and answer the questions.
f) Teacher: After each pair of students have finished reading and
answering the questions of these 3 poems, discuss all three poems
with class as a whole. Ask students for specific examples of literary
terms that they found in the selections. Explain to them that it is
important to be able to understand (analyze) how the poets are trying
to use words to create imagery, thus reaching the audience with
words. (relate back to E.Q.).