Natural Environment Poetry Lesson (Teaching Adjectives)
Intermediate/Advanced
Objectives:
Learn forms of new poetry styles
Use dictionary to learn new adjectives and review old ones.
Create poetry about natural environments
Warm-Up:5 min.
Bring in three different natural objects (ex. leaf, rock, sand, feather, egg, apple, etc.)
Have adjectives that describe each object written on small slips of paper. Hand out one adjective (preferably ones the students already have learned) to each student. Have students match their adjective to their object in front of the class. The rest of the class should write each of the adjectives in their copybook. Discuss with the class the definition of an adjective.
Presentation: 10 min.
Present different poem styles and examples to the class. Example poems can be re-written depending on English level. Have students read each poem aloud and discuss the meaning of the poem and its particular pattern. (Find poems attached).
Practice: 10 min.
Show students a picture of nature. As a class have them pick a sense (hearing, sight, touch, smell) and a poetry style. Write a poem as a class. Have them write the class example in their copybooks.
Application: 15 min.
If possible, take students outside and give each student a picture of a natural environment. Tell them to pick a sense and a poetry style and write their own poem about the picture in front of them. They should use three common descriptive words for their picture and at least three new words from a dictionary. If time, have a few students share with the class.
For Homework: For homework, students should pick a different poetry style and write a poem about the environment of Ukraine. The homework should include at least 3 new adjectives. Share poems at the next class.
Types of Poetry
Acrostic: Verses where the first letters of each line name someone or something or convey a special message. For example:
BusyNatural
InterestingAlways
Refined Truth
DazzlingUntouched
Spirited Raw
Everlasting
= Birds = Nature
Haiku: A form of Japanese poetry that follows a structured pattern.
For Example:
Line 1: 5 syllables Soft wings fluttering
Line 2: 7 syllables Bright colors flying through air
Line 3: 5 syllables Lovely Butterfly
Windsparks: Verses with the following pattern.
Line 1: “I dreamed”
Line 2: “I was” someone or something
Line 3: Where
Line 4: Action
Line 5: How
For example:
I dreamed I dreamed
I was poison ivy I was a leaf
In the woods Growing in the forest
Providing itches and rashes Providing food for caterpillars
Gleefully Unwillingly
Cinquain: Verses with the following pattern.
Line 1: One word title
Line 2: two words describing title
Line 3: three words showing action
Line 4: four words showing a feeling about the title
Line 5: one word (simile or metaphor for the title)
For example:
Water Trees
Still, Quiet Monumental, majestic
Reflects, listens, shimmersTowering, soldiering, guarding
Waiting for a splashWhispering giants standing tall
Silence Sentries