Deranda Butler

Lesson Plan
8th Grade
Poetry Pioneers
Spring 2015
Monday
Standards:
ELACC8RL2: Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to the
characters, setting, and plot; provide an objective summary of the text.
ELACC8W10: Write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a
day or two) for a range of discipline-specific tasks, purposes, and audiences.
ELACC8SL1: Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 8
topics and texts, building on others ideas and expressing their own clearly
ELACC8L1: Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking. a. Explain the function
of verbals (gerunds, participles, infinitives) in general and their function in particular sentences.
AIM: SWBAT
determine the themes and target audience in various works in real world and academic settings, although this lesson will mainly focus on the poetry
aspect.
Essential Question:
How can you empower yourself through poetry?

What is theme?
What is an audience in terms of literature?
How does one determine the theme within a literary work?

Theme:
Poetry Pioneers
Do Now (8 minutes) : Review With Gerunds
Students will be asked to write down 2 things that they like to do Example: Dance & Cook
Teacher will then define and explain a Gerund with the use of an interactive PowerPoint slide and examples and answer any questions students may
have.
Students will then be responsible for turning their own action verbs into a Gerund by adding the present participle -ing. Example:
Cook Cooking
My cooking is famous in my family.
Jean is cooking gumbo for dinner.

Deranda Butler
Lesson Plan
8th Grade
Poetry Pioneers
Spring 2015
Mini Lesson (20) :
Hook: Theme Tweets
Students will be given an activity sheet that resembles a twitter feed and must create their own @ name and tweet the theme to common and wellknown stories, movies and songs that will be on display.
This will be followed by a very brief question and answer series so that students may clarify their reasons.
This activity will serve to let the teacher know where students are in regards to theme as well as get students interested and create real world examples
of how theme finds its way into their daily lives.

Focus: The teacher will define and explore the elements of theme and audience clearly and concisely to the class using Shakespeare Shall I
Compare Thee To A Summers Day (Sonnet 18). This will be followed by a short clip from YouTube that describes theme again visually and audibly
(First 2 min 31 sec). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4qME64SkxM
Student Exploration: (40 minutes):
Students will be given an exploring theme in poetry packet with various poems (Maya Angelous I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings, A Brave And
Startling Truth and Shakespears All The Worlds A Stage) that they will read in partners and analyze to determine the theme and audience in the
way demonstrated within the Mini Lesson with guided questions.
Afterwards there will be a Theme Song Activity. Using Michael Jacksons Man In The Mirror students will independently answer questions
provided about the theme and audience of the song. This will gage students understanding of theme individually as well as give students who are
audible learners a chance to better grasp and fully understand the concept of theme.
Exit Ticket (8 minutes) :
Students will answer the Essential Questions on a separate sheet of paper and answer provide feedback for the lesson.
Afterwards students will clean up around their areas and prepare for transitions
HW:
Students will define the literary elements of: connotative meaning, analogy, and allusions.