Global Poetry Unit

This will be a project I’d implement after my global poetry unit.  In this unit we do a standard poetry study, but also incorporate poets from all over the world and study how their culture/background influenced their poetry.  This will be a partner project (or small groups, depending on class size), and will culminate in a written project packet detailing a global poet, an analysis of their poem, a theme, and a connection to American culture. The idea is to show that people in other countries and cultures share the same themes (hopes, dreams, fears, etc.) as we do, even if they express that in completely different ways.

• Challenging Problem or Questions

What common themes can be found in global poetry?

• Sustained Inquiry

Students will find a global poet and choose a poem they write.  They will then inquire as to how the poet’s culture/background influenced the poem.  They will also identify the theme of the poem, which will lead – when the whole class has finished their projects – to a discussion on common global themes.  Each team will contribute a piece to create the whole picture for this discussion.

Students can look for different global poets using a variety of options, including finding poet pages on Facebook and Twitter.  For example, students could get author background information from their pages, like Khaled Hosseini and Carmen Jimenez Smith:

https://www.facebook.com/KhaledHosseini/

https://twitter.com/search?q=%20CARMEN%20GIM%C3%89NEZ%20SMITH&src=typd

• Authenticity

This is authentic because it will require research.  Students must find a poet and poem on their own.  They will find background info about the culture and life of the poet as well.  All of this will be formal research the students will do, including citing their information.  This is authentic because they are practicing their research skills, credibility checking, and data compiling.  This will culminate in a written project, so their writing skills will be practiced as well.

• Student Voice and Choice

Student’s have voice and choice in this project because they will be able to choose any global poet they want, from any country (other than the US and England).  They also have the choice of any poem that poet has written, which could be in the hundreds of options.  If they start with one poet/poem and decide they don’t like it, they are always free to switch to something they feel more passionate about.

• Reflection

Students will present their finished projects, which is an excellent reflection tool.  They will also reflect along the way in informal discussions we have on work days in class.  I will start (or end) each work day (3 work days, spaced out over time) with a 3-5 minute reflection time, where I will give students a guiding reflection question and give them time to ponder how it relates to their project.

• Critique and Revision

This will be a partner project, so along the way each team can work together to peer review each other.  In addition to that, I will have one day of formal peer revision in class.  In this, I will have rubrics and peer checklists for students to use while editing another team’s project.  This will ensure each team gets useful and meaningful feedback.

• Public Product                                     

Student will present their project in a formal report folder.  It will be about 5-6 pages long (author background, poem, annotated poem, analysis of poetic devices, analysis of theme, connection to American culture).  We will present these in a gallery walk, in which one member of the team stays with the project while the others go look at the other projects, then switch.  This is so that each kid can see each project, and can ask questions/get additional explanations from one of the kids that created the project.  After this we will have a formal discussion about the common themes they found in global poetry.

I could also put these up for display in the school’s library, then even the public library.  The school’s Instagram account would be a great way to advertise – I’d snap of picture of the projects to let the students know they are there!  (I want to add the link, but Instagram is currently down!)