LESSON ONE: Poetry as Social Commentary

                             

LESSON DESCRIPTION

Teacher provides poetry of social commentary (could be tailored to a specific thematic study, historical or geographic focus). One or more poems per student are necessary.

 

GRADE-LEVEL EXPECTATIONS

R1I          Compare, contrast, analyze and evaluate connections between text ideas and the world by analyzing and   evaluating the relationship between literature and its historical period and culture.

CA2        Reading and evaluating poetry.

CA6        Participate in informal presentations and discussions of issues and ideas.

CA7        identify and evaluate written, visual and oral presentations and works.

§         Comprehend and evaluate written, visual and oral presentations and works

§         Organize data, information and ideas into useful forms of analysis

FA2        Knowledge of the principles and elements of different art forms.

 

LESSON MATERIALS

§         Sources of literature 

 

§         Supplies

o        Social commentary poetry

 

§         Handouts provided

o        Social Commentary chart

o        Slam Competition: assessment handout

 

§         Words to Know

o        analyze

o        compare

o        contrast

o        evaluate

 

FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT 

Poetry of Social Commentary Chart to assess comprehension and connections between text and culture. Scoring guide provided.

 

LEARNING ACTIVITIES

  1. Display a poem of social commentary. Read a poem of social commentary.

 

Questions

for

Students

What is the topic of this poem?

What is the poet’s attitude toward the topic?
  1. Present the phrase “social commentary”. Students discuss with a partner possible meanings of “social commentary” and write a propose definition.

 

strategy

Definition: social commentary: written or oral message that expresses a position on a social issue.

 

  1. Collect definitions from each group.

 

  1. Distribute Poetry of Social Commentary chart and model how to identify attributes of social commentary poetry using the first poem as the example.

 

  1. Pass out copies of social commentary poetry.

 

Ideas

Poetry suggestions

Richard Corey by Edward A. Robinson

We Real Cool by Gwendolyn brooks

Negro by Langston Hughes

 

  1. With a partner, students read and pass poetry, adding criteria to the Poetry of Social Commentary chart.

 

  1. Pass out student copies of Slam Competition: final unit performance event. Read directions and allow students to ask questions.

 

Strategy

 

Performance Poetry

Poetry is not just the written word-it is the spoken word as well. Poets use their work to communicate thoughts, feelings and ideas. During the last century, poetry readings have become part of pop culture.