National Poetry Month in the History Classroom
Incorporating Poems Into Lesson Plans Has Many Advantages
Apr 3, 2009
April is National Poetry Month, giving history teachers an excellent reason to include poetry in lesson plans. Although poetry is usually associated with English or Language Arts classes, the impact of poetry has been a vital part of history and societies’ reactions to historical events, from Tennyson’s “Charge of the Light Brigade” to Walt Whitman’s “Beat! Beat! Drums!”
War poetry particularly evokes images that often escape the casual reader of historical events such as John McCrae’s “In Flanders Field.” The use of poetry can be an enriching adjunct to lesson plans while at the same time bridging academic disciplines.
Incorporating Poetry and Poetry Variations in History Lesson Plans
In 1865 Walt Whitman wrote “Oh Captain! My Captain!” as a tribute to Abraham Lincoln. It reflects one example of how poetry can be used to better understand American culture and the thinking of everyday Americans at any given time. In the 19th century Americans read and memorized poems more than they do today. Often, poems reflected political views such as John Greenleaf Whittier’s “Brown of Ossawatomie” or Louisa May Alcott’s “…John Brown’s Martyrdom.”
Poetry has become part of our history. In 1993, Maya Angelou read her “Inaugural Poem” during the Inauguration of President Clinton. The poem received widespread interest and sparked anew the importance of poetry that defined the historical moment. National Poetry Month allows teachers to capitalize on such moments by highlighting both the importance of poetry within a civilized society and the messages conveyed. Maya Angelou was born in April – perhaps an added incentive to focus on her poetry.
Although poetry can be included at any time of the school year, April should afford previously lost opportunities to flourish. Regardless of whether the class is studying Vietnam or Watergate, poems exist to stimulate student thinking and responses. The tragic Vietnam era, particularly, offers hundreds of poems, often in the form of popular songs, which delve deeply into human emotions as they relate to the loss of loved friends or the futility of war.
How to Include Poetry
Within the unit under study, teachers can devote one class period to discussing selected poetry that reflects the issues and concepts being discussed. Creative approaches can include students writing their own poetry, such as illustrating Vietnam protest poetry or World War II poetry. Not only are students encouraged to higher levels of thinking, but they are forced to fit their own poetry into historical narrative.
Students can be assigned – as homework, to go on-line and find poetry relevant to the subject under discussion. In all cases, teachers should demonstrate the value of poetry within society. This may be the most important lesson of all. Poetry today has been relegated to a dusty past and most students believe that interpretation involves abilities akin to deciphering hieroglyphics.
The National Poetry Month Challenge
The proper study of history is best achieved when narrative facts are coupled with music, art, original sources, food, and literature. Literature includes poetry. It is often difficult for students at any grade level, – even college, to see how poetry influenced and impacted readers. Bridging Language Arts and History also corroborates concepts in both classes, a significant achievement considering most students compartmentalize courses and seldom link them.
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