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:
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Ask the students to take out a pencil and piece of paper.
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Explain to them that they will be reading two poems: ‘Bamp’ and ‘My Grandparents’ by Jonathan Edwards and Jean Long, respectively.
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Ask the students to list on the paper 3 words which come to mind when they think of grandparents.
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Ask for a few volunteers to share their words.
Core Activity:
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Introduce the first poem ‘Bamp’ by Jonathan Edwards.
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Read the poem aloud with the class.
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Go through the poem line-by-line and get the students to identify key words.
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Get them to understand the message of the poem: death of a grandparent.
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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?
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Allow some time for discussion and then ask for volunteers to share their answers.
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Introduce the second poem ‘My Grandparents’ by Jean Long.
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Read the poem aloud with the class.
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Go through the poem line-by-line and get the students to identify key words.
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Get them to understand the message of the poem: love between grandparent and grandchild.
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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?
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Allow some time for discussion and then ask for volunteers to share their answers.
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Discuss the similarities and differences between the two poems.
Conclusion:
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Provide each student with their handouts summarizing the lifetime of a poem.
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Ask each student to complete the poem analysis worksheet.
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Answer any questions the students may have.
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Discuss any homework, if applicable.
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