SYNOPSIS: This lesson features powerful imagery from the climate crisis. Students choose one photograph and write an ekphrastic poem about that photograph.
SCIENTIST NOTES: This lesson introduces students to social-emotional learning and how to use ekphrastic poetry to write about an artwork. It also contains photography depicting impacts of pollution, environmental degradation, and the climate crisis for students to analyze, share their thoughts, and communicate their climate solutions. This lesson has satisfied the science review process, and it is recommended for teaching.
POSITIVES:
-This lesson features stunning images of the impacts of the climate crisis as well as climate solutions.
-There is a sense of mystery because students will write their poems before knowing the context of their chosen photograph.
ADDITIONAL PREREQUISITES:
-Before teaching the lesson, type your students' names into Slide 19 of the Student Slideshow.
-Make sure that all students have viewing access to the Student Slideshow and editing access to the Student Poetry Anthology Slideshow.
-Students may feel anger, anxiety, sadness, despair, fear, hope, or even excitement when viewing these pictures, writing their poems, or hearing their classmates’ poems. These emotions are normal and natural. Make sure students know it is OK to feel and express these emotions when confronted with the realities of the climate crisis.
-The information available for each image is varied. There is a lot of information about some of the photographs, but others do not have that much information.
DIFFERENTIATION:
-Be sensitive to the emotions of your students. Some of these photographs may remind them of personal loss or some other specific connection to the climate crisis.
-Students can use the "Ideas For Your Poem" on the slideshow if they have trouble starting.
-Some students may know of other climate-related photos that they'd like to use. Encourage students to use those photographs if they make sense in the context of the lesson.
- Subject:
- English Language Arts
- Material Type:
- Lesson Plan
- Provider:
- SubjectToClimate
- Author:
- Dan Castrigano
- Date Added:
- 06/30/2023