Poetry Lesson Plans
Bilingual Encounters “In the Midst of Songs”: An Introductory Exploration of O’odham Words
Literary Model: Several poems by Ofelia Zepeda, including “Smoke in Our Hair,” “Proclamation,” “The Home of the Sacred” and, from UA Poetry Center’s Voca archive: "Ñeñe'i Ha-ṣa:gid / In the Midst of Songs"
Lesson Plan:
tjohnson_bilingualencounters.pdf
Literary Model: Several poems by Ofelia Zepeda, including “Smoke in Our Hair,” “Proclamation,” “The Home of the Sacred” and, from UA Poetry Center’s Voca archive: "Ñeñe'i Ha-ṣa:gid / In the Midst of Songs"
Lesson Plan:
tjohnson_bilingualencounters.pdf
Divine Objects: Fold a Haiku-Themed Fortune-Teller
Literary Model: Haikus from 6th Annual Haiku Hike
Lesson Plan: tjohnson_divineobjects.pdf
Literary Model: Haikus from 6th Annual Haiku Hike
Lesson Plan:
tjohnson_divineobjects.pdf
Make your own "You" Tube and "I like to watch" books
Literary Model: None
Lesson Plan: tjohnson_youtubebooks.pdf
Literary Model: None
Lesson Plan:
tjohnson_youtubebooks.pdf
On the Dignity of Gestures
Literary Model: “On the Dignity of Gestures” by Kimberly Blaeser
Lesson Plan: johnson_onthedignityofgestures.pdf
Literary Model: “On the Dignity of Gestures” by Kimberly Blaeser
Lesson Plan:
johnson_onthedignityofgestures.pdf
Memory Poem: Poetry as a Time Capsule
Literary Model: “The Cairo Apartments” by Safia Elhillo
Lesson Plan: hong_memory_poem.pdf
Literary Model: “The Cairo Apartments” by Safia Elhillo
Lesson Plan:
hong_memory_poem.pdf
Poetry and Our Dreams
Literary Model: "Dreams" by Langston Hughes
Lesson Plan: leiner_poetry_and_our_dreams.pdf
Literary Model: "Dreams" by Langston Hughes
Lesson Plan:
leiner_poetry_and_our_dreams.pdf
In 100 Years
Literary Model: “Future Memories” by Mario Meléndez, translated by Eloisa Amezcua
Lesson Plan: sierra_in_100_years.pdf
Literary Model: “Future Memories” by Mario Meléndez, translated by Eloisa Amezcua
Lesson Plan:
sierra_in_100_years.pdf
Persona Poems
Literary Model: Ted Kooser’s “Look for Me,” Louise Gluck’s “The Wild Iris,” and (optional) the first stanza of Sarah Teasdale’s “Desert Pools”
Lesson Plan: brown_persona_poems.pdf
Literary Model: Ted Kooser’s “Look for Me,” Louise Gluck’s “The Wild Iris,” and (optional) the first stanza of Sarah Teasdale’s “Desert Pools”
Lesson Plan:
brown_persona_poems.pdf
Making the Invisible Visible
Literary Model: Emily Dickinson’s “‘Hope’ is the thing with feathers,” and Robert Burns’ “A Red, Red Rose.” Sometimes I add (especially for younger students) “Row, Row, Row Your Boat,” and if there’s time—or for another class that builds on this one—use Naimi Shahib Nye’s “Kindness.”
Lesson Plan: brown_making_the_invisible_visible.pdf
Literary Model: Emily Dickinson’s “‘Hope’ is the thing with feathers,” and Robert Burns’ “A Red, Red Rose.” Sometimes I add (especially for younger students) “Row, Row, Row Your Boat,” and if there’s time—or for another class that builds on this one—use Naimi Shahib Nye’s “Kindness.”
Lesson Plan:
brown_making_the_invisible_visible.pdf