Mrs Joiners Library

A comprehensive unit that introduces students to varying types of poetry and poetic devices. I call the literary analysis of poems, "dissecting poetry" and have worksheets to help students find varying literary elements in poetry.

Begin an introduction to mythology by explaining what constitutes a myth. Pair this with a mentor text, "Why Mosquitos Buzz in People's Ears," by Verna Aardema and have a discussion with your class about what myths mean to us as humans.

Using the Jacob's Ladder scaffolding, explore the details of Walt Whitman's poem, "I Hear America Singing" in a presentation.

Teach your students a basic overview of the Greek gods! This presentation begins at with the swirling chaos of pre-gods and goes through the Big Twelve.

A worksheet for analyzing, "Mysteries, Yes" by Mary Oliver with vocabulary.

A presentation which analyzes Walt Whitman's, "I Hear America Singing." Best used with in conjunction with "I, Too" by Langston Hughes.

A presentation analyzing "I, Too" by Langston Hughes. Explores how this poem was thought to be in response to Walt Whitman's, "I Hear America Singing."

Going beyond the big twelve, introduce your students to the monsters and heroes of the Greek world.

An analysis of Archibald MacLeish's "Ars Poetica" to explain how poets write thoughtfully about writing.

A worksheet to analyze poem, "Afternoon of a Toad" by David McCord with vocabulary.

A worksheet to use to analyze, "The Wind begun to rock the Grass" by Emily Dickinson with vocabulary.

A worksheet for analyzing, "Ars Poetica" by Archibald MacLeish with vocabulary included.