Walt Whitman, an important 19th-century poet, has been a part of the American literary canon for over a hundred years. His poetry “transcends” because of his consuming focus on freedom in both personal and societal constructs. One can clearly see similar themes and concepts running through his poetry, and your students will be able to pick up on these ideas quite easily with time and practice. Teaching Poetry Walt Whitman seeks to help you teach 3 significant poems by this celebrated author through relevant and rigorous activities!
Keep reading for lesson and activity ideas concentrated on “One Song, America,” “I Hear America Singing.” and “Song of Myself,” all poetry Walt Whitman wrote!
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Poetry Walt Whitman: Activities and Lesson Ideas
I Hear America Singing by Poetry Walt Whitman
I hear America singing, the varied carols I hear;
Those of mechanics – each one singing his, as it should be, blithe and strong;
The carpenter singing his, as he measures his plank or beam,
The mason singing his, as he makes ready for work, or leaves off work;
The boatman singing what belongs to him in his boat – the deckhand singing on the steamboat deck;
The shoemaker singing as he sits on his bench – the hatter singing as he stands;
The wood-cutter’s song – the ploughboy’s, on his way in the morning, or at the noon intermission, or at sundown;
The delicious singing of the mother – or of the young wife at work – or of the girl sewing or washing – Each singing what belongs to her, and to none else;
The day what belongs to the day – At night, the party of young fellows, robust, friendly,
Singing, with open mouths, their strong melodious songs.
1. Reading Comprehension
When it comes to reading poetry Walt Whitman wrote, most students simply struggle with comprehension. So often, I see students’ eyes glaze over at a teacher’s mere mention of a poem.
Therefore, we first must focus on breaking down major ideas, so students can fully understand what they are reading. Providing standards-based questions helps students process what they have read!
EXAMPLE READING COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS FOR POETRY WALT WHITMAN:
- What is the effect of the repetition of the word “singing” throughout the poem?
- What is the theme of the poem?
- What is the tone of the poem?
Afterward, a quick quiz can help in assessing what students know or still don’t know!
2. Characterization
It never ceases to amaze me how often students struggle with identifying character traits. Within “I Hear America Singing,” we hear all different types of people in America singing their own songs in a beautiful symphony. You could have students analyze their similarities and differences!
Be sure though to require evidence. Using evidence is vital to supporting their ideas about poetry Walt Whitman authored!
3. Visualization of Poetry by Walt Whitman
I absolutely love requiring students to visualize as they are reading and after they have read a text. If students don’t take the time to activate images within their heads, they are missing an important part of comprehending poetry.
Want help with teaching poetry in April? Check out “Making the most of National Poetry Month!”
Song of Myself (excerpt) by Walt Whitman
I celebrate myself, and sing myself,
And what I assume you shall assume,
For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you.
I loafe and invite my soul,
I lean and loafe at my ease observing a spear of summer grass.
My tongue, every atom of my blood, form’d from this soil, this air,
Born here of parents born here from parents the same, and their parents the same,
I, now thirty-seven years old in perfect health begin,
Hoping to cease not till death.
Creeds and schools in abeyance,
Retiring back a while sufficed at what they are, but never forgotten,
I harbor for good or bad, I permit to speak at every hazard,
Nature without check with original energy.
1. Poetry Analysis & Personal Connections to Walt Whitman
One EASY way to get students engaged in poetry is by helping them break down the meaning of each line!
I enjoyed reading poetry growing up; however, many of our students see a poem and simply want to run away. Or they might shut down. I get it. Reading poetic verse with complicated language and syntax is tough.
Here is a simple way to teach “Song of Myself” Poetry Walt Whitman:
- Read an excerpt from the poem “Song of Myself” by Walt Whitman. You don’t have to read an entire poem, especially when it is long or really complicated.
- Then, encourage students to write down a single line or phrase from the poem.
- Discuss the meaning of the line/phrase as a class, in small groups, or in pairs.
- Model how a line might relate to you in some way. Students can afterward follow this model.
Example:
- Ex. Phrase: “in perfect health”
- Ex. Explanation: I am healthy, energetic, and excited to play basketball in my free time.
2. Poetry/Song Extension Ideas
I think I can say that most of us love music. Perhaps, we don’t all love the same kinds of music, and that is okay.
As a teenager, I preferred folk music and hard rock. Now, I listen mostly to praise and worship music.
Likewise, your students will have their own personal preferences.
So, why not engage your students by having them connect classic poetry Walt Whitman wrote with contemporary songs?
Directions: Identify a song that you like (or create your own song) and explain how that song relates to your own life. Be sure that the lyrics are appropriate. Then, write down 4 phrases from that song that relate to you in some way and explain how they connect to your own life.
3. Picturing Poetry
One powerful way for readers to remember what they have read is to create an image in their heads. Make sure, however, to encourage students to use evidence to support their images.
Without evidence, the picture is invalid.
Need help with teaching poetry? Check out “7 Must Teach Middle School Poetry Activities!”
One Song, America, Before I Go by Poetry Walt Whitman
ONE song, America, before I go,
I’d sing, o’er all the rest, with trumpet sound,
For thee–the Future.
I’d sow a seed for thee of endless Nationality;
I’d fashion thy Ensemble, including Body and Soul;
I’d show, away ahead, thy real Union, and how it may be accomplish’d.
(The paths to the House I seek to make,
But leave to those to come, the House itself.)
Belief I sing–and Preparation;
As Life and Nature are not great with reference to the Present
only,
But greater still from what is yet to come,
Out of that formula for Thee I sing.
1. Identifying Imagery
Before you even attempt to analyze imagery, make sure to provide a thorough definition with examples.
Here is a simple one for you to use with your students:
Types of Imagery: images/descriptions that connect to the 5 senses.
- Visual
- Auditory
- Touch
- Taste
- Smell
Now, you can start by asking students to provide lines that use imagery!
Ex. “Sow a seed”
Then, ask some basic to more complex questions:
—> Is the person actually sowing/depositing a seed into the ground?
—> Why is this image used?
—> What meaning does it have?
—> How does it connect to the theme of the poem?
2. Write About Imagery
After students have identified examples of imagery, you can have students analyze its impact by writing out a short response/paragraph.
Directions- How does the imagery contribute to the tone of the poem “One Song, America?” Use evidence to support your ideas.
Tip: Teach Sentence-by-Sentence to help struggling writers/readers; see the example below.
- Answer the question by referring to the imagery and tone
- Piece of evidence; help students embed the quote
- Explain how the evidence links to the imagery and tone
- Another piece of evidence; help students embed the quote
- Explain how the evidence links to the imagery and tone
- Reiterate how the imagery reinforces the meaning/tone
3. Comprehension Questions
I would encourage you to scaffold your activities based on the needs of your students, especially when it comes to poetry Walt Whitman wrote. You may want to start with some right-there questions and then move on to more complex questions.
Before you give a poetry quiz, you may want to have students answer the questions first without looking at possible answers.
Example Questions for Poetry Walt Whitman authored: (Be sure to require evidence from the poem for each response.)
- What is the tone of the poem?
- What is the theme of the poem?
- What does the phrase “For thee—the Future” reveal about the speaker?
Why should we still teach poetry Walt Whitman wrote?
Well, of course, you don’t have to. You can choose whatever poems you want to teach! What poetry Walt Whitman wrote, however, is unique. His writing style is complex and will challenge all of your students in some way.
From middle schoolers to seniors in high school, every student can have the opportunity to examine the impact of this author from his or her own perspective. Poetry Walt Whitman created will get students thinking about where they live and why personal freedom is vital today!
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