Lesson Overview
Students will explore the fundamental characteristics of poetry and begin to understand how poetry can express identity.
Opening Activity
Play This Teenage Life podcast about poetry as a creative outlet.
Discuss: What Makes a Poem...a Poem?
- What are some key features that distinguish a poem from other types of writing, such as a story or an essay?
- How does the use of rhyme and rhythm contribute to the overall feel and meaning of a poem?
- Why might a poet choose to use figurative language, such as metaphors or similes, in a poem?
- In what ways does the structure of a poem (like line breaks and stanzas) affect how the poem is read and understood?
- What role do emotions and imagery play in making a poem unique compared to other forms of writing?
WATCH: TED Ed Melissa Kovacs, 'What Makes Poem....a Poem?
Quick Write
Ask students whether song lyrics, speeches, or tweets can be considered poetry.
Lesson Closure
√ Distribute Poetic Literary Devices Worksheet.
- Share responses with peers.