Week-long Poetry Lesson Plan for Grade 3
Overview
This week-long lesson plan introduces Grade 3 students to the genre of poetry. The plan is spread over four 35-minute sessions to engage students with different types of poetry through various activities.
Lesson 1: Introduction to Poetry
Objective:
Students will understand what poetry is and explore its characteristics.
Duration: 35 minutes
Materials Needed:
- Chart paper
- Markers
- Example poems (simple and age-appropriate)
Activities:
-
Warm-up Discussion (10 minutes):
- Start with a brief discussion about what students think poetry is.
- Ask questions like: “Have you ever heard a poem? What do you think makes it different from a story?”
-
Read Aloud (15 minutes):
- Read a few simple poems aloud (e.g., poems by Shel Silverstein or Robert Louis Stevenson).
- Highlight features such as rhyme, rhythm, and language.
-
Characteristics Brainstorm (10 minutes):
- Create a class chart of characteristics of poetry based on student input and examples read.
- Include elements like rhyme, lines, stanzas, emotions, and imagery.
Homework:
- Ask students to find a short poem at home and bring it to share in the next class.
Lesson 2: Types of Poetry
Objective:
Students will be introduced to different types of poetry.
Duration: 35 minutes
Materials Needed:
- Chart paper with types of poetry examples
- Printed examples of limericks, haikus, and acrostic poems
Activities:
-
Review and Share (10 minutes):
- Begin with students sharing the poems they found for homework.
- Discuss what they liked about each poem.
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Types of Poetry Overview (15 minutes):
- Introduce three types of poetry: limericks, haikus, and acrostic poems.
- Provide definitions and examples for each type.
- Read aloud one example of each type.
-
Group Activity (10 minutes):
- Divide the class into small groups. Assign each group a type of poetry.
- Each group will create their own short poem using their assigned style.
Homework:
- Have students write their own acrostic poem at home using their first name.
Lesson 3: Exploring Imagery in Poetry
Objective:
Students will learn about imagery in poetry and how it evokes emotions.
Duration: 35 minutes
Materials Needed:
- Printed sample poems rich in imagery
- Drawing materials (colored pencils, paper)
Activities:
-
Discussion of Imagery (10 minutes):
- Explain what imagery is and how poets use descriptive language.
- Discuss how imagery can evoke feelings and create pictures in readers' minds.
-
Read Aloud (15 minutes):
- Read poems that strongly use imagery (e.g., "The Swing" by Robert Louis Stevenson).
- Ask students to close their eyes and visualize while listening.
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Imagery Drawing (10 minutes):
- Students will draw a picture based on an image from one of the poems read.
- Encourage them to be creative and use colors that reflect the emotions of the poem.
Homework:
- Ask students to write 3-4 lines of a poem using strong images to describe a favorite place.
Lesson 4: Creating and Sharing Our Poems
Objective:
Students will create and present their own poems.
Duration: 35 minutes
Materials Needed:
- Students’ poems from homework
- Optional: a microphone or speaker for presentation
Activities:
-
Poem Creation (15 minutes):
- Allow students time to finalize their poems from the previous lesson.
- Encourage them to add descriptive language and structure.
-
Poetry Reading (15 minutes):
- Organize a “Poetry Café” where each student shares their poem with the class.
- Create a warm and supportive environment for students to present.
-
Reflection and Feedback (5 minutes):
- After presentations, discuss what students enjoyed about the different poems.
- Encourage them to compliment each other and share what emotions the poems evoked.
Homework:
- Encourage students to continue writing poetry at home and keep a poetry journal.
Conclusion
By the end of this week-long lesson plan, Grade 3 students will have a foundational understanding of poetry, its characteristics, and various types. They will have engaged in creative activities that encourage both writing and sharing, fostering a love for this literary genre.