I’m all about working smarter and not harder, especially as we near the end of the school year! So a lesson that accomplishes more than one goal is amazing! And I have one for you today!
It’s National Poetry Month meets grammar lesson meets end-of-year wrap-up! Seriously, all of these elements are in one lesson and without having to work harder! Keep reading for how I make this lesson happen in my class!
Step 1: The poem!
There are lots of poems you might use but the one that does the most work in the simplest way for this lesson is Aimee Nezhukumatathil’s poem “Wrap”! (Last name: neh-ZOO / koo-mah / tah-TILL) The poem is simple in its language and very evocative in its imagery. And, of course, it includes lots of great wordplay using the title word – wrap – in a variety of ways.
Step 2: Define homonyms.
Odds are your students know the word but might not exactly remember what it is. You can present the poem and then ask what the poem has to do with homonyms and see if they can/will uncover what a homonym is OR you can play it safe and provide an easy definition before they read. A homonym is two or more words that are spelled the same and sound the same, but have different meanings.
You could even do a homonyms sprint with students where you ask students to write down as many homonyms as they can think of in a short period or time. This is a great warm-up activity and works well in partners, small groups, or even individually.
Step 3: Read the poem.
Read the poem with students without any prompts before you begin. After reading, ask for their opinions or thoughts about the poem. Check out this post with 20 questions you could use with any poem.
If you’re looking for this lesson already done for you, then grab this resource that will allow you to channel your energy into activities instead of lesson planning and designing handouts!
Step 4: Analyze the poem.
Get students to read the poem again, this time searching for the different uses of the word wrap in the poem. Discuss the different versions of wrap in the poem, particularly the images that are evoked.
Step 5: Extend the lesson.
This final step is where students can write their own poems.
OPTION 1: Use one of the homonyms from their homonym sprint warm-up activity and write a new poem using the different definitions
OPTION 2: Extend the idea of wrap by having students wrap up the year with a poem that shares some key images from their year – personally or academically.
And voila! An easy lesson that combines grammar, poetry, and a fun, reflective, end-of-year activity! Grab your ready-to-go version of this lesson with all handouts and answer keys.
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What lessons do you use to work smarter rather than harder at this time of year? Join the conversation with the ELA Matters team over on Instagram
[…] To continue your poetry and grammar pairings, here’s a post with details for a lesson about homonyms and poetry. […]