Literature Curriculum Project Syllabi

Poetry Lesson Plan
Suggested Level for teaching students: Upper Level High School
Bushwick Community High School-New York

Lesson Plan using Lisa Jarnot’s “Ode”

OVERVIEW: Students will be introduced to the ode as a poetic form which has been used to honor a variety of subjects. Today, students will read about the ode form and listen to and discuss Lisa Jarnot’s poem “Ode”.

AIM: What is an ode?

OBJECTIVE(s): Students will become more familiar with the ode as a poetic form.

RESOURCES/MATERIALS:The Handbook of Poetic Forms. ed. Ron Padgett; “Ode” by Lisa Jarnot – Naropa Archive reading [ See URL listed below 99P015, 00:03:50 - 00:04:50]; text found in Ring of Fire by Lisa Jarnot.

ACTIVITIES AND PROCEDURES:

Do Now (5 minute period of writing in journal): Make a list of things you like. Items on your list may include but are not limited to people, places, objects, emotions, activities, and ideas.

Brief class discussion:

Read about and discuss the ode form of poetry.

Introduce Lisa Jarnot and her poem “Ode”. Students will underline details they notice in the poem while listening to Jarnot read it.

Play poem. Lisa Jarnot reciting her poem “Ode”.

Click Here to Stream Audio
Click Here to Download

Discussion:

Is Jarnot’s poem an ode? Why/why not?

Who/what is her ode about?

What details/specific language did you notice?

What is similar/different between her poem and the examples of odes we read at the beginning of class?

In class writing:

Use your list of things you like or dislike to create your own ode.

Share writing.

HOMEWORK/FOLLOW UP LESSONS: Students will revise and/or write new odes to share in class tomorrow.

This syllabus is credited to Rachel McKeen
Bushwick Community High School, New York