Lesson Plan
Power of Poetry Lesson Plan
Students will identify and analyze imagery, rhythm, and rhyme in poems and compose an original short poem using these poetic devices.
Understanding imagery, rhythm, and rhyme builds critical reading skills, enriches vocabulary, and fosters creative self-expression—key components of strong literacy.
Audience
7th Grade
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Analyze examples, discuss devices, and create poetry.
Materials
Sample Poems Packet, Poetry Analysis Worksheet, Poetry Writing Template, and Sticky Notes
Prep
Prepare Lesson Materials
5 minutes
- Review Sample Poems Packet.
- Familiarize yourself with Poetry Analysis Worksheet and Poetry Writing Template.
- Prepare display of sample poems (projector or printed handouts).
- Arrange classroom seating to facilitate sharing (e.g., small groups or pairs).
Step 1
Warm-Up Introduction
5 minutes
- Ask: “What is poetry?” to activate prior knowledge.
- Define poetry and share the lesson objectives.
- Read aloud one short poem from Sample Poems Packet to hook students.
Step 2
Imagery Exploration
7 minutes
- Introduce imagery: sensory language that paints mental pictures.
- Read “Poem A” from Sample Poems Packet.
- Students annotate examples of imagery on the poem using the Poetry Analysis Worksheet.
- Discuss annotations as a class to reinforce understanding.
Step 3
Rhythm and Rhyme Mini-Lesson
5 minutes
- Explain rhythm (pattern of beats) and rhyme (matching sounds).
- Read “Poem B” from Sample Poems Packet as an example.
- Students identify and mark rhyme schemes and rhythm patterns on the Poetry Analysis Worksheet.
- Highlight how rhythm and rhyme enhance mood and flow.
Step 4
Independent Poetry Writing
8 minutes
- Students draft a four-line poem using the Poetry Writing Template.
- Encourage inclusion of at least one vivid image, a clear rhythm, and a rhyme.
- Circulate to provide support and feedback during writing.
Step 5
Sharing and Reflection
5 minutes
- Students share their poems with a partner or small group.
- Peers leave feedback on Sticky Notes: one strength and one suggestion.
- Invite volunteers to read their poems to the whole class.
- Summarize key takeaways and encourage students to revise their poems at home.
Slide Deck
Power of Poetry
A 30-minute Tier 1 lesson for 7th graders to explore imagery, rhythm, and rhyme in poems and write an original four-line poem.
Welcome students and introduce the slide deck. Explain that today’s lesson will guide them through the magic of poetry by exploring imagery, rhythm, and rhyme.
Lesson Objectives
- Identify vivid imagery in poems
- Recognize rhythm and rhyme patterns
- Compose an original four-line poem using these devices
Read aloud the objectives, emphasizing what students will learn and be able to do by the end of class.
What Is Poetry?
Poetry is expressive language that uses imagery, sound, and rhythm to evoke emotions and paint pictures in the reader’s mind.
Engage students by asking: “What makes language poetic?” Then present the definition.
Exploring Imagery
Imagery uses descriptive, sensory details to create mental pictures.
Example from Poem A:
“The golden sunset drapes the sky in molten fire.”
Introduce imagery as sensory language. Display “Poem A” from Sample Poems Packet on the board.
Rhythm & Rhyme
Rhythm: the beat or flow of a poem.
Rhyme: matching sounds at the ends of lines.
Example (rhyme scheme ABAB):
“The wind did whisper through the trees (A)
Its song a distant, haunting tune (B)
It danced upon the midnight breeze (A)
Beneath the silver watchful moon (B)”
Explain rhythm and rhyme, then show “Poem B” from Sample Poems Packet.
Time to Write Your Poem
- Grab your Poetry Writing Template.
- Draft a four-line poem.
- Include at least one vivid image, a clear rhythm, and an end rhyme.
Guide students to use the Poetry Writing Template and circulate to support their drafts.
Sharing & Feedback
- Share your poem with a partner.
- Write one strength and one suggestion on a Sticky Note.
- Volunteers may read aloud to the class.
Explain the peer-feedback routine using Sticky Notes.
Recap & Next Steps
- We explored imagery, rhythm, and rhyme.
- Use peer feedback to revise your poem.
- Polish your poem at home and bring a final draft next class.
Summarize the day’s key takeaways and encourage students to revise their poems at home using peer feedback.
Worksheet
Poetry Analysis Worksheet
Name: ______________________ Date: ____________
Use this worksheet to explore imagery, rhythm, and rhyme in poems from the Sample Poems Packet.
Part 1: Imagery (Poem A)
-
Find two examples of imagery in Poem A. For each example:
a. Quote the line or phrase:
b. Which sense does it appeal to? (sight, sound, smell, taste, touch): ________
c. What picture or feeling does it create for the reader?
-
Second example of imagery:
a. Quote the line or phrase:
b. Sense it appeals to: ________
c. Picture or feeling created:
Part 2: Rhythm (Poem B)
Poem B has a clear beat pattern. Copy lines 1–4 below. Then:
- Underline (or mark) the syllables or words that create the beat.
- Count and record the number of syllables in each line.
Line 1: ________________________________________________________________
Syllables: ________
Line 2: ________________________________________________________________
Syllables: ________
Line 3: ________________________________________________________________
Syllables: ________
Line 4: ________________________________________________________________
Syllables: ________
Part 3: Rhyme Scheme (Poem B)
- Label each of the first four lines with letters (A, B, C…) to show the rhyme scheme. Write the letter at the end of each line below:
Line 1 (): ________________________________________________________
Line 2 (): ________________________________________________________
Line 3 (): ________________________________________________________
Line 4 (): ________________________________________________________
- List the rhyming words you identified:
Part 4: Reflection
- How does the imagery you found contribute to the overall mood or theme of Poem A?
- In what way do the rhythm and rhyme in Poem B work together to enhance its flow or emotional impact?
Reading
Sample Poems Packet
Below are two short poems to explore key poetic elements. Use them to identify imagery, rhythm, and rhyme in today’s lesson.
Poem A: Dawn’s Radiant Canvas
At dawn, the frost-kissed petals glow,
Prisms of light dance on waving grass.
Cool air tastes of pine and fresh earth,
As golden beams slip through forest mass.
Mist drifts like ghosts across the vale,
Embracing stones in silver lace.
Birdsong threads through hidden places,
Awakening every quiet space.
(Notice the vivid sensory details—sights, sounds, tastes, and textures.)
Poem B: Tide’s Lullaby
Waves lap softly on the moonlit sand,
A lullaby that soothes the night.
They pirouette at my eager hand,
Then vanish with the morning light.
(Listen to the steady beat and matching end sounds.)
Worksheet
Poetry Writing Template
Name: ______________________ Date: ____________
Use this template to plan and draft your original four-line poem. Be sure to include vivid imagery, a clear rhythm, and a rhyme scheme.
1. Plan Your Imagery
Think of a vivid sensory detail (sight, sound, smell, taste, or touch) you want to include. Describe it below:
2. Plan Your Rhythm
Decide how many syllables each line will have. Write your plan here:
Line 1: ______ syllables
Line 2: ______ syllables
Line 3: ______ syllables
Line 4: ______ syllables
3. Plan Your Rhyme Scheme
Choose a rhyme scheme (e.g., ABAB, AABB, ABCB). Label each line with its rhyme letter:
Line 1 (): _______________________
Line 2 (): _______________________
Line 3 (): _______________________
Line 4 (): _______________________
4. Draft Your Four-Line Poem
Write your poem below, using your plans for imagery, rhythm, and rhyme.
Line 1: ____________________________________________________________________
Line 2: ____________________________________________________________________
Line 3: ____________________________________________________________________
Line 4: ____________________________________________________________________
When you finish, check that you have included at least one vivid image, followed your planned syllable counts, and matched your rhyme scheme.