Learning Implementation Outline

As an educator, poetry has always held a special place in my heart. Its ability to evoke emotion, inspire imagination, and foster self-expression has consistently made it my favorite unit to teach. However, when faced with the challenge of transitioning this unit to online teaching, I was initially apprehensive about how to maintain the integrity of poetry instruction in a virtual setting.

I began exploring how I could transform the poetry unit into an online lesson while preserving its essence and impact. I saw this as an opportunity to innovate, adapt, and create a dynamic learning experience that transcended the physical boundaries of the classroom.

Drawing upon my passion for poetry and my dedication to student-centered learning, I embarked on a journey of discovery. I explored various instructional design approaches, and sought out creative strategies to engage my students in the virtual realm.

Through this process, I discovered the power of technology as a tool for enhancing poetry instruction. From interactive multimedia presentations to virtual poetry cafes, I found innovative ways to bring the magic of poetry to life in the online environment.

Additionally, I embraced Outcome-Based Education (OBE) as a guiding principle, ensuring that students not only master poetry elements but also develop critical thinking skills and a deeper appreciation for the art form. I carefully crafted assessments that  will provide meaningful feedback and celebrate students' progress, ensuring that learning remains at the forefront of our online journey.

 

To view the online learning implementation outline in it's entirety, click the button below. 

Course Outline

Week 1: Introduction to Poetry

Objective: Introduce students to the concept of poetry and its basic elements.

TEKS Alignment:

  • 3.4A: Understand, make inferences, and draw conclusions about the structure and elements of poetry.

Activities:

  • Watch a video 
  • Discuss what makes poetry different from other types of writing.
  • Introduce basic poetry terms: stanza, line, rhyme, rhythm.
  • Introduce acrostic poems

Assignment:

  • Write an acrostic poem using a word 6-10 letters long. 

 

Week 2: Parts of a Poem

Objective: Identify and demonstrate understanding of the different parts of a poem, including stanzas, lines, and key poetic terms

TEKS Alignment:

  • 3.4A: Understand, make inferences, and draw conclusions about the structure and elements of poetry.

Activities: 

  • View video on different parts of a poem
  • Complete a foldable with key terms
  • Two activities to check for understanding
  • Introduce Concrete Poems

Assignments:

  • Complete and share a concrete poem with at least 5 lines. 

 

Week 3: Rhyme and Rhythm

Objective: Explore rhyme and rhythm as fundamental elements of poetry.

TEKS Alignment:

  • 3.4C: Understand, make inferences, and draw conclusions about the structure and elements of poetry and provide evidence from text to support understanding.
  • 3.18B:  Write poems that convey sensory details using the conventions of poetry (e.g., rhyme, meter, patterns of verse).

Activities:

    • Watch video
    • Practice identifying rhyming words.
    • Listen to poems with various rhythms and patterns.

    Assignment:

    • Write a poem (8-10 lines) with a specific rhyme scheme and rhythm. Share voice recording of the poem.

     

    Week 4: Imagery and Figurative Language

    Objective: Introduce students to imagery and figurative language in poetry.

    TEKS Alignment:

    • 3.4D: Determine the meaning of grade-level academic English words derived from Latin, Greek, or other linguistic roots and affixes.
    • 3.4E: Identify and analyze sensory details in literary texts.

    Activities:

      • View definitions and examples of figurative language. 
      • Define imagery, simile, and metaphor.
      • Engage in a creative activity to explore descriptive language.

      Assignment:

      • Write a descriptive poem (8-10 lines) using similes or metaphors.

       

      Week 5: Culminating Project and Reflection

      Objective: Apply knowledge of poetry elements in a culminating project and reflect on learning.

      TEKS Alignment:

      • 3.4B: Describe structural differences found in informational, procedural, and literary texts.

      Activities:

      • Work on a final poetry project: students choose a specific theme or topic and create a poem showcasing various elements studied throughout the course.
      • Peer review: students share and provide feedback on each other's poems.
      • Reflective discussion: students reflect on their growth as poets and what they've learned about the elements of poetry.

      Assignment:

      • Submit the final poetry project and written reflection.

       

      The Big Hairy Audacious Goal & Fink's 3 Column Table

      Our big hairy audacious goal is to go beyond simply teaching poetry elements and analysis, and to instill a passion for poetry that extends far beyond the classroom and enriches students' lives for years to come. It aims to cultivate not only literary skills but also a sense of connection to the art form and its ability to evoke emotion, inspire imagination, and foster self-expression.

       

      Fink's 3 Column Table provides a structured framework for instructional design, aligning learning outcomes, assessment methods, and instructional strategies for this unit.