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