7 English Poetry

Introduction:

Have you ever felt like you belong somewhere? Or perhaps you’ve experienced a time when you didn’t? Today, you will explore the theme of belonging through poetry and online resources. By the end of this WebQuest, you will understand how poets express belonging and create your own short poem.

Task:

You will complete three activities:

1. Explore - Read and analyze a poem about belonging.

2. Investigate - Research how different cultures express belonging.

3. Create - Write a short poem that expresses a personal experience of belonging or not belonging.

4.  You will put all information into a powerpoint 

Process:

Step 1: Explore (15 minutes)

• Visit the website: Poetry Foundation - Belonging and search for a poem about belonging.

• Read the poem and answer the following questions in your notebook:

  • What is the poem about?

  • What emotions does the poet express?

  • What words or phrases stand out to you?

Step 2: Investigate (15 minutes)

• Visit one of the following websites and find an example of belonging in a different culture:

  • National Geographic – Culture & Identity  https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/ 

  • Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) (https://aiatsis.gov.au/)

• Write a short summary (3-4 sentences) explaining how belonging is expressed in that culture.

Step 3: Create (20 minutes)

• Write a 4-line to 8-line poem about a time you felt a strong sense of belonging or when you didn’t belong.

• Use at least one poetic device (alliteration, simile, metaphor, repetition, or imagery).

Conclusion:

Reflect on what you’ve learned by answering these two questions in your notebook:

1. How does poetry help us understand belonging?

2. How can you use poetic devices to make your writing more powerful?