Cathy Engel

Stories From beyond the grave

Target Audience/Needs: 11th Grade English Class in a suburban area. The class is mainly made up
of white students, where there are some students of other ethnic backgrounds. The class has had
poetry in past English classes, yet has not expanded on getting into the meaning behind poems.
The style of poems has also been limited.
Placement within Overall Lesson/Unit:
During a poetry unit, beginning of the anthology we will be spending time on in class- storytelling
through poetry, and characterizations.

Issues for Observation: Any Um’s So’s or uh’s. Fidgeting, not looking at the class, and time
management.

Objectives: During this lesson, students will:

1. Critically think about the poems and it’s story
2. Reflect on the author’s ability to tell a story
3. Make conclusions about the story and the characters and their characteristics

Materials Needed:
 Overhead projector
 Overheads with overhead pens
 Handouts for class
 Pen and paper- for class
 Chalk and chalkboard
Preparation:
 Have the overhead and the screen ready to go
 Discussion Question on what a poem does- on board.

Introduction: (3 minutes)
Welcome the class and continue our unit on poetry. Ask the question on what the function
of a poem is- move into the aspect of story-telling. Also, ask and discuss how poems are
able to tell stories if they are so short.

Presentation:

Transition

Activity1 (6-8 minutes):

I am going to split the class into three groups and pass out one poem to each group.
In small group, they will be instructed to read the poem, discuss its meaning, and go
through the discussion questions on the bottom of the sheet. They can go into separate
parts of the classroom, or even the hallway to read the poem aloud, and discuss.
Transition

Activity 2 (8-10 minutes):

After the small groups have had a chance to go through their individual poems, the
whole class will come together. One member of each group will read their poem and give a
summary of their discussion. After all groups have gone through their poem and given their
summary, we will go through questions that will discuss the element of a story not only within a
poem, but also across many poems.
Assessment and Summary (3 minutes)

The students will be asked to give a quick summary of what the poems did and the
function they have is. This will be just to wrap things up, since much of the discussion during the
class was all the assessment that they really need. This will also be where I will answer any
questions they may still have about the poems

Assignment: (1 minute)
Students will be asked to go home and write in their journal about what these poems
and poems in general do. Also, they will reflect on the discussion, and write two paragraphs about
their poem, it’s story and the effect the three poems have when all put together.