T EACHING P OETRY

OBJECTIVES To enjoy the rhyme & rhythm To recite with stress & intonation To understand the gist of the poem To appreciate mood of the poem

T EACHING METHODOLOGY USED Participatory Interactive Constructivism

P RE READING TASK A picture of noose is shown Pre –reading questions 1.What do you see in the picture? 2.What are you reminded of? 3.Who does the hanging? 4.How is he accepted in the society? 5.At home?

THE HANGMAN AT HOME by Carl Sandburg WHAT does the hangman think about When he goes home at night from work? When he sits down with his wife and Children for a cup of coffee and a Plate of ham and eggs, do they ask Him if it was a good day’s work And everything went well or do they Stay off some topics and talk about The weather, base ball, politics And the comic strips in the papers And the movies? Do they look at his Hands when he reaches for the coffee Or the ham and eggs? If the little Ones say, Daddy, play horse, here’s A rope—does he answer like a joke: I seen enough rope for today?

Or does his face light up like a Bonfire of joy and does he say: It’s a good and dandy world we live In. And if a white face moon looks In through a window where a baby girl Sleeps and the moon gleams mix with Baby ears and baby hair—the hangman— How does he act then? It must be easy For him. Anything is easy for a hangman, I guess.

Evaluation Discussion on the mood of the poem Recapitulation Through short questions and discussions

F URTHER ACTIVITIES Leading to debate – [Speaking] “Capital punishment is a barbarous form of punishment” Jot down points on black board

ASSIGNMENT Using the points on the blackboard write an article on the topic: “Capital punishment should be abolished”

When do the audience listen and enjoy what we read aloud to them? when they understand what we are reading. But, Understanding is not just recognizing the words. We must also understand what the poet meant to say / express. Reading aloud expressively also means being able to produce the sounds correctly and clearly.

S UGGESTIONS FOR B ETTER R EADING A LOUD : Know the through meaning before you start reading Read slowly & clearly enough so that everyone can hear you Breathe as naturally - enough Do not rush. Hold your book correctly. Not too far away / down below. Be relaxed as you read. Enjoy your reading. Look up occasionally. If there are amusing parts wait for the laughter to subside before you start again.

C HORAL R EADING The students read as one person. helps children interpret and share poetry is rewarding Is creative and enjoyable helps them learn to plan and work together. Shy ones tend to lose their shyness They speak out in the safety of the group. learn the importance of co-operation they derive much fun

T YPES OF C HORAL R EADING : 1. Refrain : is natural for a poem that contains a refrain. Usually the whole group says the refrain one person speaks the other lines Or the group can speak the lines, one or two people the refrain.

2. Line-a-child a number of lines are read in solo manner each by a different child. Chosen parts of the poem are spoken by the group in unison. works well with poems with 3 or more characters.

3. Antiphonal brings light and heavy voices into play against each other. dramatizes a poem that contains o dialogues o questions and answers o other elements giving contrasts.

4. Unison the most difficult type requires students to stay together for a longer period of time. tries to blend all kinds of voices in a suitable rhythm, volume & tone. best for poems with little change of moods and no dialogue. best for a class that has little experience in choral reading.

Scythe song All : Mowers, weary and brown and blithe, What is the song methinks ye know. Endless over-work that the Scythe Sings to the blades of grass below? Scythes that swings in the grass and clover, Something, still, they say as they pass; What is the work that, over and over, Sings the Scythe to the flowers and grass?

Girls : Hush, ah hush, Boys : the Scythes are saying Girls : Hush, and heed not, and fall asleep! Hush, Boys : They say to the grasses swaying, Girls : Hush, Boys : They sing to the clover deep! Girls : Hush- Boys : ‘tis the lullaby Time is singing- Girls : Hush, and heed not, for all things pass, Hush, ah hush! Boys : and the scythes are swinging All : Over the clove, over the grass!

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