Practice
Students should become acquainted with poetry, from classics of all cultures to current lyrics and performing poets. Poetry that is integrated into subjects and assignments offers new insights, knowledge, skills, and perspectives into curriculum content. Audio, video, poetry information notes, assessment suggestions, and teaching materials abound in this website.
Please discover and nurture your own inner poet as well.
Lesson Plan Exemplars
Two Roads Diverge: Exploring Choices
English 10-1
Submitted by: Larissa Polowick, PSII
Description: Using Robert Frost's celebrated poem, "The Road Not Taken," students are encouraged to explore their own life choices. Lesson Plan also includes modification suggestions for ELA 9 and ELA 20-1.
Two Roads Diverge: Exploring Choices [pdf]
Poetic Devices
English 20-1
Submitted by: Jennifer Fritz, PSII
Description: A guided practie lesson to cover poetic devices that leads into the creation of students' own poetry. Lesson plan includes blueprints for a PowerPoint accompaniment. The format is organized and easy to follow. * This lesson also contains the introduction to a short story unit.
Poetic Devices [pdf]
Teen Community and Facing Challenge
Grade 9
Submitted by: Josh Krikke, PSII
Description: Through the use of onomatopoeia, activities, and film this lesson aims to build community in a classroom through the use of poetry. This document also illustrates a teacher's reflection on their teaching experience.
Teen Community and Facing Challenge [pdf]
Unit Plan Exemplars
iPoet (Student Package)
Grade 9
Submitted by: Josh Krikke, PSII
Description: An introduction to poetry unit for English 9 students. It outlines the unit content, assignments, and expectations and also provides a guide for evaluation with a breakdown of mark allocations.
iPoet (Student Package) [pdf]
iPoet
Grade 9
Submitted by: Josh Krikke, PSII
Description: A 16-page unit plan with detailed resources and assessment rubrics. Also includes a calendar and ideas for extension assignments.
iPoet [pdf]
Theory
Poetry arrests our attention, startles us with beauty, with truth, with meaning. It illuminates our understanding, and engenders a mindful concentration that few other forms of language do. Poetry is a crystallization of thought, experience, and magnification of consciousness and being. Poetry can provide a sanctuary set apart from daily life where we notice existence, explore uncluttered relationship, and encounter our deepest feelings.
Websites
"Still I Rise" (Angelou) Lesson Plan
Description: A thematic look at Maya Angelou's famous poem, "Still I Rise." The lesson covers poetic forms and devices, language, and conventions. Lesson is designed for a 90-minute class. Link includes all required materials.
"Still I Rise" (Angelou) Lesson Plan
CBC Radio: Poetry is Life and Vice Versa with Bruce Meyer
Description: This Sunday Edition series explores poetry as it applies to human senses: sound, see, think, dance, feel, and read.
CBC Radio: Poetry is Life and Vice Versa with Bruce Meyer
How to Read a Poem Out Loud - Billy Collins
Description: Former Poet Laureate, Billy Collins, describes 4 steps that aim to improve students' ability to communicate publicly.
How to Read a Poem Out Loud - Billy Collins
Listening Booth
Description: Poets.org offers more than 150 audio clips. Search by poem title or the author's name, or you can browse by most popular clips.
Poetry 180
Description: Collins created this teaching resource to encourage students to experience a poem for each of the 180 days of the school year. All poems are online, however, a published collection is also available in most bookstores.
Poetry @ Web English Teacher
Description: This site is an essential resource for information on international poets and specific poems common to teaching curriculum. There are several links to valuable lesson plans on poetic information, including poetic terminology and poetic forms.
Poetry in Translation
Description: Designed for a multi-cultural class, this series of lessons aims to have students explore poetry through their individual cultural backgrounds. Special focus on women's poetry, Holocaust poetry, haiku, and Beowolf. Also includes guides for evaluation and a complete bibliography.
Poets.org - For Educators
Description: Although this site focuses on American poetry, it has a variety of resources for teaching poetry, including "Great Poems to Teach" and an invaluable section on "Tips for Teaching" which offers inexpensive and creative ways to bring poetry to life in the classroom. Lesson and unit plans galore!
The League of Canadian Poets
Description: An essential resource promoting Canadian poetry. Find information about Canada's current Poet Laureate and new poetry publications in Canada.
The Norton Anthology of Poetry - Text Resources
Description: This site is an extension of the Norton Anthology of Poetry (5th Edition) and offers some valuable resources for students and teachers. With links to poetry workshops, poet information, poems in dialogue, glossary of literary terms (and study flashcards), and a link to "The Favorite Poem Project" there is much to explore on this comprehensive site.
The Norton Anthology of Poetry - Text Resources
Young Poets
Description: On this site you will find links to poetry contests for students to enter, an online discussion area for teachers to talk with other teachers about poetry and poetry-related lessons, an online exploration of Canada's poetic history, and a bank of poetry workshop ideas.
Rich Media Files
There are no resources available at this time. Please bookmark this page as updates will be made on a regular basis.