English Home Language Lessons for South African Grade 9 Class Term 3

Subject: English Home Language Grade: 9 Term: 3 CAPS Document: English First Additional Language (FAL) Grades 7-12, p45-48. Duration of the lesson: 60 minutes Lesson Topic: Poetry Analysis (Focusing on Language, Structure, and Themes) Pre-lesson Preparation: Teachers should be prepared with a photocopy of the chosen poem for each learner, plus a few extras. Also, learners should have completed prior lessons in basic poetry understanding and have some knowledge of literary devices. Introduction: Duration: 15 minutes Start the lesson with a brief recap of the previous day's topic. Elicit responses from learners about what they remember about poetry structure and themes, and reassure them that they will be using this knowledge today. Present the poem of the day "Fire and Ice" by Robert Frost. Read aloud the poem once for the students to listen to the rhythm, flow, and language. Ask them what they notice about the poem's structure, language, and theme. Development: Duration: 30 minutes > Step1: Analyzing the form - Discuss the structure of the poem. Identify if the poem is a sonnet, an ode, a ballad, or free verse. Talk about the number of stanzas and lines. Indicate the rhyme scheme if any. (10 minutes) > Step 2: Understanding the language - Discuss the language and style of the poetry, the use of literary devices such as metaphors, similes, personification, etc. Make sure that learners understand the meaning of these terms. (10 minutes) > Step 3: Major Themes present in the poem - Encourage learners to identify the major themes in the poems, discuss how the writer's choice of words expresses these themes. (10 minutes) Conclusion: Duration: 15 minutes > Step 4: Personal Reflection - Encourage learners to share their interpretations of the poem and how the structure, language, and theme contribute to their understanding. Ask learners to write down their thoughts to be collected as an exit ticket. (10 minutes) > Step 5: Recap - Recap major points of the lesson, correcting any misconceptions and reinforcing the links between the structure, language and theme. Assign homework to seek another poem of their choice and identify its structure, language, and theme for discussion in the next session. (5 minutes) Assessment: Formative assessment via class participation. Collect written reflections at the end of class for a more detailed understanding of each student’s learning. Homework will provide additional assessment of understanding. This lesson adheres to the CAPS guidelines in the above-mentioned pages encouraging learners' understanding and interpretation of poems. It promotes language skills, critical thinking skills and personal interpretation, creativity, and expression. Remember, the best way to teach poetry is to encourage a love of the language and expression. Always ensure to promote a safe, open environment where learners feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and interpretations.