11-12 Poetry Main Idea Bundle (5 Poems, 50+ pages for teaching main idea/theme)

Determining main idea is an essential part of understanding an author's purpose for writing. Because poetry occurs in such a condensed space, poets must use all their tools to emphasize main idea--syntax, point of view, diction, figurative language--so poems make a great medium for practicing main idea.

Since the 11-12 standard focuses on determining a multiple themes and analyzing the interaction of the themes, the 5 poems selected for this bundle feature multiple themes that build off and relate to one another. Resources feature fillable .pdfs and Google accessibility!

To help teachers implement this resource today, I have also included a unit planner with suggested pacing and scaffolding!

To purchase each of these resources individually would cost $15, but buying this bundle will save you $3, which is like getting one of these resources for free.

This bundle includes:

-"To Lucasta, Going to the Wars" is Richard Lovelace's most-famous poem. It's a staple in many British Literature classrooms. This poem is also a great tool for teaching main idea.

-"Burning a Book" by William Stafford is one of those poems that just sticks with you. This poem pairs well with Fahrenheit 451, with your unit on censorship, or with Banned Books Month. It's also a great text for teaching main idea, so I've developed questions about main idea, analysis, and an extension writing activity (with rubric). The entire resource is available in a .pdf and as Google Slides. The reading questions are also available in Google Forms that are ready to use today!

-"Tula ['Books are door shaped']" is from The Lightning Dreamer, in which author Margarita Engle uses verse to tell the story of Gertrudis Gomez de Avellaneda, also known as Tula. The poem provides insight into Tula's childhood and motivations. Even if you never read or teach The Lightning Dreamer, this poem is a great testament to the relationships between parents and children, the value of literature, and the importance of finding your own voice.

-"A Litany for Survival" by Audre Lorde is a powerful piece of literature. It's a text that explores the intersection of fear, survival, and empowerment. Lorde's words are also incredibly relevant and impossible for forget. Includes one of my favorite graphic organizer activities to help students connect the poem to the real world!

-"Ode to Teachers" by Pat Mora might seem like an oddly self-serving poem to teach in class. However, this is a great poem for teaching main idea. It's also a great poem to use with other teachers when practicing new strategies and techniques. To facilitate a conversation with students or as part of professional development, I have included main idea questions, multiple choice questions, and a visualization extension activity (with rubric).

Since these are Google resources, when you purchase this resource, TPT will create a file in your Google Drive where you will find the fillable .pdf, Google Forms, and Google Slides.

Continue planning for 11-12 with this Poetry Inference Bundle, which includes:

• "Respiration" by Jamaal May
• "The Summer Day" by Mary Oliver
• "I heard a Fly buzz--when I died" by Emily Dickinson
• "For the Consideration of Poets" by Haki R. Madhubuti
• "You Could Never Take a Car to Greenland" by Maggie Smith

Keep planning with the 9-12 Text Structure Poetry Bundle, which includes

• "If-" by Rudyard Kipling
• “One Art” by Elizabeth Bishop
• "Easter Wings” by George Herbert
• "One-Word Poem" by David R. Slavitt
• “Deer Dance Exhibition” by Ofelia Zepeda
• "Social Distancing” by Juan Felipe Herrera
• "God's Grandeur" by Gerard Manley Hopkins
• “Before a Painting” by James Weldon Johnson
• “'Hope’ is the thing with feathers -" by Emily Dickinson
• "[i carry your heart with me (i carry it in]” by E.E. Cummings

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Check out these related posts on Moore English

4 Steps for Pre-Reading Poetry

When Things Get Foggy: Teaching Deliberate Ambiguity

How to Add Value to Your Classroom with Metacognition

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Thank you for downloading this product. I’d love your feedback, and for each rating and comment you provide, TpT will give you credit toward a future purchase! Login in to your TpT account, click My Purchases, and beside each purchase, you’ll find a link to Provide Feedback! Rate, comment, and earn TpT credit! Let me know how you use this product in your classroom, what resources I should work on next, and ideas you have for Moore English.