Sample Lesson Plan
SAMPLE LESSON PLANS FOR ELL STUDENTS: Elementary, Middle and
High School Level
From: The U.S. Department of Education's Office of English Language Acquisition, Language Enhancement & Academic Achievement for Limited English Proficient Students (OELA)
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LESSON PLAN 1
Title: Metaphor
Content: Language arts
Grade Level: Fifth grade
Learning outcomes: reading a poem that uses metaphor learning the meaning of metaphor discussing the use of metaphor writing a poem
Vocabulary:
metaphor
(see attached poem for unfamiliar words)
Materials:
"Dreams" by Langston Hughes
Procedure:
1. Explain what a metaphor is and why writers use it. 2. Pass out copies of "Dreams" by Langston Hughes. Read it aloud. Have students read it silently, and go over vocabulary items that are unfamiliar. 3. Discuss the effect of the poem with the students. Ask them: What does the poem mean to you? How does it make you feel? 4. Ask students to locate the metaphors in the poem. Ask them: What is the purpose of the metaphors? How could you say the same thing without using metaphors? Do you think that metaphors make the image more powerful? 5. Ask the class to give examples of other metaphors. 6. Have students write their own poems, using the title as a theme (e.g., the world, football, the class, war, love, etc.). Using Hughes' poem as a model for their own, they must include at least two metaphors in their own poem.
Dreams
Hold fast to dreams
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.
Hold fast to dreams
For when dreams go
Life is a barren field
Frozen with snow.
--Langston Hughes
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Background information for the teacher
Langston Hughes was born on February 1, 1902 in Joplin, Missouri. He was raised by his mother and his grandmother because his parents separated soon after his birth.
Around the world, Hughes is
High School Level
From: The U.S. Department of Education's Office of English Language Acquisition, Language Enhancement & Academic Achievement for Limited English Proficient Students (OELA)
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LESSON PLAN 1
Title: Metaphor
Content: Language arts
Grade Level: Fifth grade
Learning outcomes: reading a poem that uses metaphor learning the meaning of metaphor discussing the use of metaphor writing a poem
Vocabulary:
metaphor
(see attached poem for unfamiliar words)
Materials:
"Dreams" by Langston Hughes
Procedure:
1. Explain what a metaphor is and why writers use it. 2. Pass out copies of "Dreams" by Langston Hughes. Read it aloud. Have students read it silently, and go over vocabulary items that are unfamiliar. 3. Discuss the effect of the poem with the students. Ask them: What does the poem mean to you? How does it make you feel? 4. Ask students to locate the metaphors in the poem. Ask them: What is the purpose of the metaphors? How could you say the same thing without using metaphors? Do you think that metaphors make the image more powerful? 5. Ask the class to give examples of other metaphors. 6. Have students write their own poems, using the title as a theme (e.g., the world, football, the class, war, love, etc.). Using Hughes' poem as a model for their own, they must include at least two metaphors in their own poem.
Dreams
Hold fast to dreams
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.
Hold fast to dreams
For when dreams go
Life is a barren field
Frozen with snow.
--Langston Hughes
-------------------------------------------------
Background information for the teacher
Langston Hughes was born on February 1, 1902 in Joplin, Missouri. He was raised by his mother and his grandmother because his parents separated soon after his birth.
Around the world, Hughes is