Objective: Students will be able to identify and explain the main themes in two poems

Curriculum Links:

• Reading and Comprehension – analyzing texts
• Literature and poetry
• Writing

Materials:
• Copies of the poems ‘Bamp’ and ‘My Grandparents’ by Jonathan Edwards and Jean Long, respectively.

• Pencils and paper

• Whiteboard with markers

• Student handouts summarizing the lifetime of a poem

• Poem analysis worksheet

Warm-up:

1. Ask the students to take out a pencil and piece of paper.

2. Explain to them that they will be reading two poems: ‘Bamp’ and ‘My Grandparents’ by Jonathan Edwards and Jean Long, respectively.

3. Ask the students to list on the paper 3 words which come to mind when they think of grandparents.

4. Ask for a few volunteers to share their words.

Core Activity:

1. Introduce the first poem ‘Bamp’ by Jonathan Edwards.

2. Read the poem aloud with the class.

3. Go through the poem line-by-line and get the students to identify key words.

4. Get them to understand the message of the poem: death of a grandparent.

5. Ask the students to answer the following questions on their own, in pairs or in small groups:

• What is the theme of the poem?
• What does ‘Bamp’ mean?
• What poetic devices does the author use and why?
• What impact does the poem have on you/reader?

6. Allow some time for discussion and then ask for volunteers to share their answers.

7. Introduce the second poem ‘My Grandparents’ by Jean Long.

8. Read the poem aloud with the class.

9. Go through the poem line-by-line and get the students to identify key words.

10. Get them to understand the message of the poem: love between grandparent and grandchild.

11. Ask the students to answer the following questions on their own, in pairs or in small groups:

• What is the theme of the poem?
• What poetic devices does the author use and why?
• What impact does the poem have on you/reader?

12. Allow some time for discussion and then ask for volunteers to share their answers.

13. Discuss the similarities and differences between the two poems.

Conclusion:

1. Provide each student with their handouts summarizing the lifetime of a poem.

2. Ask each student to complete the poem analysis worksheet.

3. Answer any questions the students may have.

4. Discuss any homework, if applicable.