Bob Dylan: Music as Poetry with "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue"

This is a wonderful way to introduce the blurred lines between genres, as well as a great way to engage in the learning process—for all students of all ages love music. They may be reluctant poets, but once the connection is made that some songs are indeed poetry (or, heaven forbid—the acronym R.A.P. stands for Rhythmic American Poetry!), the sky is the limit for a renewed appreciation for poetry. This can be a nice addition to any poetry unit, or, it stands alone as an extension activity, a creative writing activity, or as introduction to Bob Dylan that you can weave into the core curriculum with no qualms at all. This is a two day plan of units for 90 minute blocks of time. I’ve included an Activator, Mini Lesson, Activities, Wrap-Up, Homework for Day One as a segue into Day Two, as well as English Language Core Standards for 8th grade, although this can easily be adapted for grades 6 and 7 and onwards from 9-12th. I’ve included Youtube links, as well as an original Poetic Elements Chart for explicating both songs and poems. The overarching theme of the lesson is how the lyrics to Dylan’s “It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue” are indeed, poetry!