Grade Level: 6-8

Subjects: Language Arts, Social Studies

Learner Outcomes: Students will be given the opportunity to:

• examine selected poetry based on the theme of war, and analyze the poems for deeper meaning
• present a selected original poem to the class in a Power Point presentation

Materials:

• a collection of poems having to do with war, patriotism, veterans, or remembrances (see references)
• copy of Flanders Fields poem
• copy of Flanders Fields Analysis document

• multimedia computer with Internet access
• Microsoft Word or other word processor
• Microsoft Power Point or other presentation software
• Microsoft Power Point Tutorial
• microphone

The teacher should be familiar with creating tables in Microsoft Word and presentations using Microsoft Power Point.

• Discuss with the class about their favorite poems, perhaps listing the poets' names and information they know about each. Explain to students that they will have the opportunity to research and analyze poems that are based on poets' experiences with war and its effects.
• Read aloud the poem In Flanders Fields by John McCrae. Discuss the life of the poet and why poppies are the symbol of remembering those who died in war.
• Tell the students they are going to analyze the poem. Using the Flanders Fields Analysis document, students will complete a line-by-line explanation of the poem including vocabulary definitions, types of imagery, and explanations of the poem's metaphors and meaning. They will also include any personal reactions to the poem.
• The students will read other poems, either selected through an Internet search, or from a teacher-prepared listing. Discuss the variety of poetry types and styles.  At this time, students are encouraged to express their own thoughts in an original poem. The student then completes a second poem analysis document, using their original poem or another poem, in a Microsoft Word table.
• The student will present this poem to the class in a 3-5 minute Power Point slide show that includes:
• recorded student narration of the poem
• images and sounds which express the poem's meaning and help the audience understand the poem

• Flanders Fields Analysis could be done as a small group project or a whole class discussion using a media or overhead projector.
• Students could work in groups of four to create the multimedia slide project in Power Point, with all team members participating in some way to the presentation.

• Songs that were popular during wartime could be used in this activity in addition to poetry.
• Discuss the Canadian equivalent to America's Veteran's Day, Remembrance Day, with students. Read poems written by Canadian students.
• Students can germinate poppy seeds in science class, plant them around the school, VFW, etc.
• Students can volunteer to distribute paper poppies to help the VFW.

• Completion of the poem analysis worksheet
• Completion of the Power Point project which effectively presents the poem and its meaning to the audience

Language Arts

7.5, 7.19, 7.22, 7.60

Social Studies

   6.59, 6.60, 6.9, 7.68, 6.9

Historical Understanding

Understands the historical perspective

Language Arts

Demonstrates competence in the general skills and strategies of the reading process
Demonstrates competence in speaking and listening as tools for learning

Thinking and Reasoning

Effectively uses mental processes that are based on identifying similarities and differences (compares, contrasts, classifies)

References:

• Sources of Military Poems:

• A Treasury of War Poetry
• War Poetry
• Poetry of the First World War
• Modern History Sourcebook:  World War I Poetry
• Vietnam Poetry
• Korean War Poetry
• War Poetry and Verse
• War Poetry
• Vietnam War Poetry
• Poetry and Music of the War Between the States
• Microsoft Tutorial

John Richmond
Darlene Milam
Patty Waldeck

Horace Mann Middle School
301 43rd Street SE
Charleston, WV 25304
304-348-1971

Overview

Lesson 1

Lesson 2

Lesson 3

Lesson 4

Lesson 5