Exploring the Theme of Loneliness Through Poetry

In this lesson the students focus on how different personalities deal with loneliness. They will analyze and interpret characters in selected poetry, examining the causes and consequences of the loneliness of these characters. During this process students explore how this emotion relates to their own lives. The teacher uses a variety of strategies to guide students in accomplishing their own meaning from the lesson.

Students interpret several poems through the process of collaboration, journal writing, oral reading, and whole class discussion. The Beatles' recording of "Eleanor Rigby" introduces the whole class to the theme, and a changing combination of poems from a selected list of poems suitable for the theme.

Basic operations and concepts

Identify capabilities and limitations of contemporary and emerging technology resources and assess the potential of these systems and services to address personal, lifelong learning, and workplace needs.

Technology productivity tools

Use technology tools and resources for managing and communicating personal/professional information

Technology communication tools

Use technology tools and resources for managing and communicating personal/professional information .

Routinely and efficiently use online information resources to meet needs for collaboration, research, publications, communications, and productivity.

Select and apply technology tools for research, information analysis, problem-solving, and decision-making in content learning.

Collaborate with peers, experts, and others to contribute to a content related knowledge base by using technology to compile, synthesize, produce, and disseminate information, models, and other creative works.

Select and apply technology tools for research, information analysis, problem-solving, and decision-making in content learning.

Collaborate with peers, experts, and others to contribute to a content related knowledge base by using technology to compile, synthesize, produce, and disseminate information, models, and other creative works.

Technology problem-solving and decision-making tools

Collaborate with peers, experts, and others to contribute to a content related knowledge base by using technology to compile, synthesize, produce, and disseminate information, models, and other creative works.

Standard 1 Accesses information efficiently and effectively, as described by the following indicators:

1.recognizes the need for information:
2.recognizes that accurate and comprehensive information is the basis for intelligent decision making;
3.formulates questions based on information needs;
4.identifies a variety of potential sources of information;
5.develops and uses successful strategies for locating information.

Standard 2: Evaluates information critically and competently, as described by the following indicators:

1.determines accuracy, relevance, and comprehensiveness;
2.distinguishes among facts, point of view, and opinion;
3.identifies inaccurate and misleading information;
4.selects information appropriate to the problem or question at hand.

Standard 3: Uses information effectively and creatively, as described by the following indicators:

1.organizes information for practical application;
2.integrates new information into one's own knowledge;
3.applies information in critical thinking and problem solving;
4.produces and communication information and ideas in appropriate

Standard 4: Pursues information related to personal interests, as described by the following indicators:
1.seeks information related to various dimensions of personal wellbeing, such as career interests,
community involvement, health matters, and recreational pursuits;
2.designs, develops, and evaluates information products and solutions related to personal interests.

Standard 5: Appreciates and enjoys literature and other creative expressions of information, as described by the following indicators:
1.is a competent and self-motivated reader;
2.derives meaning from information presented creatively in a variety of formats;
3.develops creative products in a variety of formats.

Standard 6: Strives for excellence in information seeking and knowledge generation, as described by the following indicators:
1.assesses the quality of the process and products of one's own information seeking;
2.devises strategies for revising, improving, and updating self-generated knowledge.

Standard 9: Participates effectively in groups to pursue and generate information, as described by the following indicators:
1.shares knowledge and information with others;
2.respects others' ideas and backgrounds and acknowledges their contributions;
3.collaborates with others, both in person and through technologies, to identify information problems
and to seek their solutions;
4.collaborates with others, both in person and through technologies, to design, develop, and evaluate
information products and solutions.

Students learn how others deal with loneliness and explore causes and consequences. Students understand how this emotion relates to their own lives.

Assessment is built into the activities of different lessons in the unit.

Lesson 1: Informal journal writing
Lesson 2: Mini-project presentation
Lesson 3: Collaborative group learning & reflective journal writing
Lesson 4: Metacognitive journal writing
Lesson 5: Project: creating a newsletter on a theme

There are five lessons in this unit, each building on the other.The unit is scaffolded to ensure all students will succeed. The final unit is a group project that allows students to create their own meaning from the theme and content studied in the poetry unit.