Day 9, 90 minutes

Teacher: Miriam Gueck

Subject Area: World Literature and Composition
Unit Title: Welcome!
Lesson Title: Poetry Stations

Grade Level: 10

Objectives:
Expose students to wonderful poetry
Show students different ways to engage with poetry
Introduce Poetry Board
Standards:
Standard 1. Oral Expression and Listening
1.2.a.iii. Listen actively in groups to accomplish a goal
1.2.a.v. Choose specific words for intended effect on particular audiences
Standard 2. Reading for all Purposes
2.3.b. Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings. (CCSS:
L.9-10.5)
2.3.c. Acquire and use accurately general academic and domain-specific words and phrases, sufficient for reading,
writing, speaking, and listening at the college and career readiness level; demonstrate independence in gathering
vocabulary knowledge when considering a word or phrase important to comprehension or expression. (CCSS:
L.9-10.6)
Standard 3. Writing and Composition
3.1.a. Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, well-chosen
details, and well-structured event sequences. (CCSS: W.9-10.3)
3.1.a.ii. Use precise words and phrases, telling details, and sensory language to convey a vivid picture of the
experiences, events, setting, and/or characters. (CCSS: W.9-10.3d)
3.1.b. Write literary and narrative texts using a range of stylistic devices (poetic techniques, figurative language,
imagery, graphic elements) to support the presentation of implicit or explicit theme
3.3.a. Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.
(CCSS: L.9-10.1)
3.3.c. Apply knowledge of language to understand how language functions in different contexts, to make effective
choices for meaning or style, and to comprehend more fully when reading or listening. (CCSS: L.9-10.3)

Materials/Resources Needed:
Texts for Poetry Station 1
Poems for Poetry Station 2
Art supplies for Poetry Station 2
Paper for Poetry Station 3
Teachers computer
Smart board/projector
Texts for Poetry Station 1, READ POETRY:
The Trouble with Poetry and other Poems by Billy Collins
The Random

House Book of Poetry for Children, selected and introduced by Jack Prelutsky,
illustrated by Arnold Lobel

Day 9, 90 minutes

The Poets Corner: The One and Only Poetry Book for the Whole Family, selected by John
Lithgow
The Poetry of Robert Frost, edited by Edward Connery Lathem
Pizza, Pigs, and Poetry: How to Write a Poem by Jack Prelutsky
A Maze Me: Poems for Girls by Naomi Shibab Nye
You Dont

Even Know Me: Stories and Poems About Boys by Sharon G. Flake
The Lightning Dreamer: Cubas Greatest Abolitionist by Margarita Engle
Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse

From National Poet Laureate Billy Collins, Poems for Poetry Station 2, TURN POEMS
INTO ILLUSTRATIONS:
Class Picture, 1954
See No Evil
Genius

Anticipatory Set:
I will begin class by reading Introduction to Poetry by Billy Collins. (2 minutes)
Activities:
Todays lesson is wholly centered around poetry. After reading the poem for the anticipatory set, I
will describe our 3 Poetry Stations to the class, which are: (1) read poetry, (2) turn poems into
illustrations, and (3) write poetry. I will have books prepared for Station 1, poems and art supplies for
Station 2, and paper for Station 3. You have freedom to cycle between the stations as you wish.
There can be a little talking, so long as you are engaging with poetry in one of the stations. Keep your
conversations and actions on topic. If you wish to draw the entire time were doing stations, you can
do that! If you want to try all three, you can do that! If you want to divide your time between two,
you can do that! You can switch stations when you want. We have a longer class period today; I
purposefully chose to do this today so you would have more time with the stations. We will wrap up
our time in stations when there are only 10 minutes left in class.
Any questions about our stations?
How about what youre supposed to be doing?
Ill be walking around, raise your hand if a question or comment comes up.
GO!
(78 minutes, with a 5-minute break in the middle of the class - Get up and move around/go to the
bathroom/get a drink.)

When stations are over, I will describe and explain our Poetry Board, which is a large magnet board. (I
originally wanted to use a corkboard but have trepidations over having push pins in a high school
classroom. So magnetic board it is. I will post poems that I think are awesome and that you need to
read to our Poetry Board. If you have and/or find a poem that you would like to share with us, please
do!
Poems must be PG-13. Nothing that would make me blush or feel like I need to call your
parents/guardians.

Day 9, 90 minutes

And now, we end our time together with the wonderful Taylor Mali I will show the 3:04 video of
Taylor Mali performing his free-verse poem, Like_youknow. In his poem, Mali discusses the
importance of convictions and speaking with authority. He challenges his listeners to do just that.
And its hilarious!!