Lesson Plan
Poetic Visions of WWI
Students will analyze a WWI-era poem, explain its meaning and mood, and create a visual art piece reflecting their interpretation, thereby developing historical empathy and creative expression.
Understanding WWI through poetry provides a powerful human perspective beyond facts and dates, helping students connect emotionally and critically with history. This project encourages deep analysis and creative interpretation.
Audience
9th Grade Students
Time
60 minutes (classroom time for introduction and guided work, project completion mostly independent)
Approach
Students will select a poem, analyze its content and tone, and then translate their understanding into a visual art piece.
Materials
Poetic Visions Project Guide, Poetic Visions Rubric, WWI Era Poems Handout (Teacher-provided, not generated here), and Art Supplies (paper, pencils, paints, collage materials, etc.)
Prep
Review and Gather
15 minutes
- Review the Poetic Visions Project Guide and Poetic Visions Rubric.
- Gather a selection of WWI-era poems (e.g., Wilfred Owen, Siegfried Sassoon, Rupert Brooke, John McCrae) to provide students with choices. Consider printing these as a handout.
- Prepare example visuals, if desired, to inspire students (ensure they are not too prescriptive).
Step 1
Warm-Up: Echoes of War
5 minutes
Begin with the Echoes of War Warm-Up to engage students with the concept of expressing conflict through art.
Step 2
Introduce the Project
10 minutes
Use the Poetic Visions Slide Deck to introduce the project, explaining the objectives and expectations.
Distribute the Poetic Visions Project Guide and review it thoroughly, answering any questions. Emphasize the freedom in choosing a poem and artistic medium.
Provide students with the curated selection of WWI-era poems.
Step 3
Independent Work & Guided Analysis
40 minutes
Students begin by selecting their poem and starting their analysis. Circulate to provide individual support, answer questions, and guide students in their initial interpretation of their chosen poem. This extended time allows for more in-class progress on poem analysis.
Remind students that the visual creation portion of the project will primarily be completed independently, with a due date set by the teacher.
Step 4
Cool-Down: Artistic Reflection
5 minutes
Conclude the session with the Artistic Reflection Cool-Down, prompting students to consider their initial thoughts on their chosen poem and artistic approach.
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Slide Deck
Welcome to Poetic Visions
Modern World History: WWI
Connecting poetry and art to understand conflict.
Welcome students and introduce the day's warm-up. Explain that today we're connecting history with emotion.
Echoes of War: Warm-Up
Take 2 minutes to think:
- How can art (like a drawing or painting) show strong feelings or important messages?
- Can art help us understand history better? How?
Guide students through the warm-up activity. Encourage them to think about how art can express feelings about difficult topics.
Poetic Visions of WWI
Seeing the Great War through new eyes.
Today, we'll explore how poets captured the feelings, horrors, and sometimes patriotism of World War I. Then, you'll bring their words to life!
Introduce the project title and its core idea. Emphasize that WWI was a time of immense change and emotion, captured by poets.
Your Mission
Objective:
- Choose a WWI poem.
- Understand its message and mood.
- Create a visual artwork that shows what the poem means to you.
Explain the objective simply. Highlight the two main parts: understanding the poem and creating the art.
Step 1: Choose Your Poem
You will select one WWI-era poem from the provided list.
- Poets often studied: Wilfred Owen, Siegfried Sassoon, Rupert Brooke, John McCrae.
- Themes: Some poems celebrate patriotism, others criticize the brutal realities and horrors of war.
Elaborate on the poem selection. Mention key poets and the range of themes.
Step 2: Explain Its Meaning
Deep dive into your chosen poem:
- What is the poem saying?
- What mood or feeling does it create (hope, despair, anger, pride)?
- What literary devices (imagery, metaphor) does the poet use to create this message/mood?
Explain the analysis part. Stress understanding how the poem conveys its message.
Step 3: Create a Visual
Transform your understanding into art!
Your visual can be:
- A painting
- A drawing
- A collage
- Or any other appropriate visual art form.
Goal: The artwork should represent the central message or dominant mood of your poem.
Introduce the visual creation. Give examples of acceptable mediums.
Project Guide & Rubric
All the details you need are in your:
Make sure to read them carefully!
Review the project guide and rubric. Ensure students know where to find all information.
Work Time & Support
Today, you'll start by exploring the poems and making your selection.
The majority of this project will be completed independently over the next few days/week.
I am here to answer your questions and help guide your thinking!
Explain the independent work time and the due date. Reiterate individual support.
Artistic Reflection: Cool-Down
Take a moment to reflect:
- Which poem are you leaning towards? Why?
- What initial ideas do you have for your visual representation?
Conclude with the cool-down. Ask students to think about their initial artistic ideas.
Warm Up
Echoes of War: Warm-Up
Welcome to class! Today, we're going to start by thinking about how art can tell a story, especially about big historical events.
Take a few minutes to silently reflect and write down your answers to the following questions:
-
How can a painting, drawing, or collage express really strong feelings or an important message without using any words?
-
Can visual art help us understand a historical event, like a war, in a different way than reading a textbook? How so?
Be prepared to share some of your thoughts with the class!
Project Guide
Poetic Visions of WWI: Project Guide
Project Overview
In this project, you will explore the powerful world of World War I poetry. You will select a poem from this era, analyze its meaning and the emotions it conveys, and then create a visual artwork that represents your interpretation of the poem.
This project will help you connect with the human experience of WWI on a deeper, more personal level, moving beyond just dates and battles.
Project Steps
Step 1: Choose Your WWI Poem
- Review the selection of WWI-era poems provided by your teacher. These poems were written by soldiers and civilians who experienced the war firsthand or were deeply affected by it.
- Some famous poets of this era include Wilfred Owen, Siegfried Sassoon, Rupert Brooke, and John McCrae.
- As you read, consider poems that evoke a strong feeling in you, whether it's patriotism, sorrow, anger, or a critical view of the war.
- Select ONE poem that you find most compelling or that you feel you can best interpret visually.
Step 2: Analyze and Explain the Poem's Meaning and Mood
Once you have chosen your poem, you will write a short explanation (1-2 paragraphs) that addresses the following:
- Summary: What is the poem generally about? What events or ideas does it describe?
- Meaning: What is the poet trying to say? What is the central message or theme of the poem?
- Mood/Tone: What feelings or atmosphere does the poem create? Is it hopeful, despairing, angry, critical, patriotic, tragic, etc.? How do specific words or phrases contribute to this mood?
- Key Imagery: Identify some key images or metaphors the poet uses and explain their significance.
Step 3: Create a Visual Representation
Now, translate your understanding of the poem into a visual artwork. Your artwork should capture the message and mood of the poem you chose.
Guidelines for your visual:
- Medium: You can use any appropriate visual art medium. This could include:
- Painting: Using watercolors, acrylics, etc.
- Drawing: Using pencils, charcoal, pastels, colored pencils.
- Collage: Using cut-out images, text, and materials to create a new image.
- Other (check with your teacher if you have another idea).
- Size: Your artwork should be on a piece of paper or canvas that is at least 8.5 x 11 inches (standard letter size).
- Connection to Poem: Your visual should clearly relate to the poem. It should represent the central message, a significant theme, or the overall mood of the poem.
- Creativity: Feel free to be creative and interpret the poem in your own unique way. There is no single "correct" way to interpret a poem, but your visual should be thoughtfully connected to your analysis.
Submission
Your completed project will include:
- Your chosen WWI-era poem.
- Your written explanation of the poem (from Step 2).
- Your visual artwork (from Step 3).
Due Date
[Teacher to insert due date here]
Good luck, and enjoy exploring the "Poetic Visions of WWI"!
Rubric
Poetic Visions of WWI: Rubric
| Category | 4 - Excellent | 3 - Good | 2 - Developing | 1 - Needs Improvement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poem Analysis (Step 2) | Comprehensive and insightful explanation of poem's meaning, mood, and literary devices. Clear connection between analysis and interpretation. | Clear explanation of poem's meaning and mood, with some discussion of literary devices. Analysis is mostly clear. | Basic explanation of poem's meaning or mood, with limited detail or connections. | Minimal or incorrect explanation of poem's meaning and mood. |
| Visual Representation (Step 3) | Highly creative and effective visual that clearly and powerfully conveys the poem's message/mood. Excellent use of chosen medium. | Creative and effective visual that generally conveys the poem's message/mood. Good use of chosen medium. | Visual attempts to convey poem's message/mood but is somewhat unclear or lacks impact. Basic use of medium. | Visual is unrelated to the poem or shows minimal effort. |
| Effort and Creativity | Exceptional effort shown in both analysis and artistic execution. Unique and original approach. | Good effort shown in both analysis and artistic execution. Shows some originality. | Moderate effort shown; work is mostly complete but lacks significant creativity or refinement. | Minimal effort or incomplete work. |
| Historical Connection | Artwork and analysis demonstrate a deep understanding of WWI context and themes (patriotic or critical). | Artwork and analysis demonstrate an understanding of WWI context and themes. | Some awareness of WWI context, but connections to themes are limited or superficial. | Little to no connection to WWI context or themes. |
Cool Down
Artistic Reflection: Cool-Down
Now that you've had some time to explore the WWI poems and think about your project, let's take a moment to reflect on your initial ideas.
Answer the following questions in your journal or on a separate piece of paper:
-
Which WWI poem are you most interested in working with for your project? Why did this poem catch your attention?
-
What initial ideas do you have for your visual artwork? What colors, symbols, or images come to mind when you think about the poem's message or mood?
-
How do you think creating a visual will help you understand the poem and the history of WWI more deeply?