Synopsis
This unit is intended to immerse students in experiences with poetic reading and writing, plus artistic experiences, to promote positive engagement and reduce any preconceived notions of difficulty or inability. Teaching students how to visualize and verbalize is essential to build vocabulary and comprehension. Analyzing poetry and other works of art provides an opportunity for students to address multiple English Language Arts standards from literature to writing, as well as speaking and listening skills. Students will be exploring poetry through listening, reading and speaking. They will learn important features of poems that will allow them to understand some common poetry structures, or forms, as well as free verse. This skill set will assist them in analyzing poetry which they will then apply to other text and art formats. Working with non-fiction texts will be an important part of the process in analyzing word choice, imagery, and even author’s/artist’s purpose. Ekphrastic Poetry can be the ideal medium to experience all these areas, while building positive connections and broadening horizons. Additionally, the included samplings of community art programs give an overview of the kinds of resources available to schools nationwide.