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Teacher Lesson Plan 1

4 Students can record their
Objectives:
own examples of each
• identify common devices
poetic device in the last
used in poetry
column on the Student
• write poems using
Resource Sheet.
common poetic devices

Materials: Poetic Devices 5 Tell students that they

Student Resource Sheet, will now have a chance to
poetic device examples to practice using these devices
display, teacher-selected in their own poetry. Display
artwork a work of art—for example,
a famous painting such as 10 Display a new painting or
Time: one to two 40-minute Starry Night by Vincent photograph for students
class period(s) Van Gogh or a famous to examine. Provide 10–15
Essential Question: How can photograph such as Migrant minutes for them to write
poetic devices add meaning Mother by Dorothea Lange. their poems and encourage
to a poem? them to use as many of
6 Assign each student a the new poetic devices as
particular device from the possible.
Lesson Steps: list. Provide students with
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1–2 minutes to describe the 11 Finished poems can be

1 Define “poetic device” as painting using that device. displayed in the classroom,
a tool that can give shape to or students can swap poems
7 Students can share their and search for the poetic
a poem, add to its meaning,
writing with the class.
SCHOLASTIC and associated logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Scholastic Inc. All rights reserved.

or intensify its mood. devices used.

For additional practice,
2 Display an example of students could be asked
each poetic device (either to identify the device that Express Yourself
the example from the their classmates used in Poetry Contest
Student Resource Sheet or a their writing. Your students could win a
teacher-selected example). $400 Scholastic Gift Card OR an
A student or the teacher 8 Repeat steps 5 and 6, American Girl® 2017 Girl of the
assigning different devices for YearTM GabrielaTM Collection—
will identify the device and
students to use each time. plus, you receive a $100 Amex
explain the definition.
Gift Card!
3 Distribute the Student 9 When students have had
Visit scholastic.com
an opportunity to use
Resource Sheet. Ask /poetryismypower
and identify several of the
students to put a check
devices, explain that they
mark next to any of the
will now have a chance to
terms they already know Made possible by:
write a full-length poem
well and an X next to any of
based on a work of art.
the terms that are unfamiliar.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Void where prohibited. The Express Yourself Poetry Contest (the “Contest”) is open to students in grades 3–5 who are enrolled in public schools, accredited private schools, or home
schools in compliance with the laws of the students’ primary state of residence (“Schools”) and who are legal residents of the 50 United States or the District of Columbia (hereinafter referred to as “Student” or
“Students”). Entries must be submitted on behalf of the students by teachers of any grade from 3–5, who currently teach in public schools, accredited private schools, or home schools in compliance with the
laws of their primary state of residence, or parents or legal guardians. Official Rules at scholastic.com/poetryismypower.
STUDENT RESOURCE SHEET Name

Poetic DEVICES
TERM DEFINITION EXAMPLES MY EXAMPLE
Rhyme words that end with the “I never saw a Purple Cow,
same sound I never hope to see one,
But I can tell you, anyhow,
I’d rather see than be one!”
–Gelett Burgess
Onomatopoeia a word whose sound Splat!
(on-o-mat-o- matches its meaning Buzz!
pee-ah)

Alliteration the same sound used at Peter Piper picked a peck

the beginning of words of pickled peppers.

Rhythm the beat of a poem “Once upon a midnight dreary,

while I pondered, weak and
weary…”
–Edgar Allan Poe, “The Raven”
Repetition the same words or lines “First I saw the white bear,
used in a poem again then I saw the black;
and again Then I saw the camel with a
hump upon his back”
–William Makepeace
Thackeray, “At the Zoo”
Simile comparing two unlike “An emerald is as green as grass;
things using like or as A ruby red as blood”
–Christina Rossetti, “Flint”

Metaphor comparing two unlike “Fame is a bee.

things without using It has a song—
like or as It has a sting—
Ah, too, it has a wing.”
–Emily Dickinson
Personification giving human qualities “The mountain and the
(like feelings) to some- squirrel had a quarrel”
thing that isn’t human –Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Fable”

Hyperbole creating an exaggerated “Till a’ the seas gang dry, my dear,

version of reality And the rocks melt wi’ the sun;
I will love thee still, my dear,
While the sands o’ life shall run.”
–Robert Burns, “A Red, Red
Rose”