Hansra 2013

Subject: Writing; Grade 8:

(50 minute class)
Unit: Poetry- Ekphrastic Poetry
Designed by: Sam Willett
Section 1 Desired Results
Philosophy: Many students learn better from participating in an activity rather than listening or
reading about it, and it stands true with poetry. To best achieve understanding of ones own poetic
style, students must practice and interact with the art form in multiple varieties. If given an example
of a style, provided by the teacher, they can become familiar of what the final product looks like and
what steps were necessary in doing so. Next, students will have multiple opportunities to create a
poem that best exemplifies their writing style, ultimately developing something they are proud of.

Essential Questions: What is poetry? What are the essential characteristics of poetry, and what do
they do for the reader?

Standard:
Use precise words and phrases, relevant descriptive details, and sensory language to capture the
action and convey experiences and events.
1. Knowledge and Understanding:
Identity essential characteristics of writing a poem
Understand the importance and beauty of poetry
2. Skills:
Think critically of the focus of description and imagery in poetry
Differentiate between writing a story and poem
3. Reasoning:
Interpret ideas or text to write about/critique an idea
4. Products:
Produce their own set of poems (final assessment)

Targets: Students should achieve target in a 50-minute period.
Students are to review the process of creating an ekphrastic poem and write their own based on a
piece of artwork featured in the class gallery walk.

Section 2 Learning Plan

Materials: SmartBoard, Elmo document camera, poetry PowerPoint, four pieces of artwork (Nighthawks-
Edward Hopper, The Veteran in a New Field- Winslow Homer, The Oxbow- Thomas Cole, The Dove
Romare Bearden), movie scene handouts with instructions, student writers logs

Procedure:
Ice Breaker (1 minute)- What is poetry? Why is ekphrastic poetry important to our interpretation of
poetry?
- Teacher will ask the following questions and record student responses on the board. These will
available for reference throughout the class.

Movie Scene Ekphrastic Poem Activity (12 minutes)
- Class will work on a simple ekphrastic poem using the movie scene passed out by the teacher. Since
each student belongs to one of four groups by their seating chart, they will work with their pre-
designated group. This will get them to become reacquainted with ekphrastic poetry, which was
covered last class.
Hansra 2013
- Teacher will revisit an example poem, Grandmother Michaud and ask students how the poem
describes the concentrated painting and how it thinks outside of the frame.
- While the class works, the teacher will walk around the classroom and look at each students
completed If I Were and alliteration poems, which were assigned for homework.
- If students finish early, they can add figurative language to their poem trade pictures with another
group.
- When students are finished, each group will be given the opportunity to share their poem to the class.
Recap of Ekphrastic Poetry (3 Minutes)
- Teacher will recap the meaning of ekphrastic poetry, discussed in our last class- Ekphrastic poetry is
poetry based off a piece of artwork. Its form involves describing what is seen at face value and adding
new imagery and narration to create a unique work of art.
- Yesterday, we thought about the numerous narratives contained in one painting. Today, you will
those to life in your own ekphrastic poem.

Class Gallery Walk (22 Minutes)
- Before the lesson, the teacher will arrange four pieces of artwork around the classroom. Three are
printed on poster board, and another will be projected onto the SmartBoard.
- Students will remain in their pre-designated groups and assigned to write about one piece of artwork
around the room.
- Students will be given six minutes to write an ekphrastic poem based on the artwork at their station.
The teacher will facilitate and assist students while they write. After the allotted time period passes,
students will move to another piece in the room.
- Students will write about three pieces of artwork in the allotted time period.

Wrap-Up (3 Minutes)- Teacher will poll the class to reflect on what the gallery walk activity and
return to the class essential question. What did they enjoy most? What did they find to be most
difficult? How is ekphrastic poetry important to our definition of poetry?

Students will finish their favorite ekphrastic poem from the gallery walk activity (7 Minutes)
- Completed ekphrastic poem must be at least a half page in length, use figurative language, and
feature a picture of its inspired artwork. The paintings featured in the gallery walk around posted our
classroom blog for students to reference from their computer at home or library.

Homework (You Do): Write a completed ekphrastic poem (approximately a half page in length) for next
class.
- Teacher and students will conference next week about their completed poems. This will allow
students to learn about what they are doing well and still needs improvement. Their final
poetry collection with be due next Friday, May 9
th
.

Resources
- Classroom Blog Post with Paintings- http://www.coonley.org/classrooms/meegan/?p=1198


Section 4 Reflection: As you are learning how to lesson plan for this class, be sure to reflect on the
components to ensure that you have alignment.

Philosophy:
What is my philosophy regarding how students best learn?
Does my activity reflect the answer to this question?

Standard(s):
Does the target give students an opportunity to demonstrate proficiency of the standard?

Target(s):
Does the activity provide students with an opportunity to achieve the target?
Hansra 2013