Lesson Plan

Using Poetry to Reflect on the Jewish Experience

Teen Student standing up and reading a poem out loud to classmates

Using Poetry to Reflect on the Jewish Experience Lesson Plan

Teen Student standing up and reading a poem out loud to classmates

 

Explore how literature and poetry can help tell the stories of the Jewish people.

Related Content

GRADE LEVEL: Middle School

COMMON CORE STANDARDS: Reading, Writing, Speaking & Listening, Language

SEL STANDARDS*: Self Awareness, Social Awareness, Relationship Skills, Responsible Decision-Making

Poetry and the Jewish Experience

Reading literature and narratives, in a variety of genres, is one way to get to know more about a group of people. Literature and narratives by and about people who are Jewish and about the Jewish experience can highlight voices from all parts of the Jewish community and can provide knowledge, perspective and experiences of Jewish people, identity and culture. 

Using Poetry to Reflect on the Jewish Experience Lesson Plan

Teen Student standing up and reading a poem out loud to classmates

 

Explore how literature and poetry can help tell the stories of the Jewish people.

About the Lesson Plan

This lesson plan provides an opportunity for students to explore how literature can help tell the stories of Jewish people, consider the “danger of a single story,” reflect on the Jewish experience by reading and analyzing poetry and reflect on their own identities by writing original poems about an aspect of their identity.

 

Learning Objectives:

  • Students will understand how literature, specifically poetry, can help tell the individual stories of groups of people, specifically Jewish people. 

  • Students will consider “the danger of a single story” and why it’s important to read or watch a variety of stories about a group of people.

  • Students will reflect on the Jewish American experience by reading and analyzing poetry.

  • Students will explore aspects of their own identities by writing (poetry or another form) or creating artwork about an aspect of their identity. 

Student Direct Learning

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Student Lesson

Explore our Sutori version of this lesson: Using Poetry to Reflect on the Jewish Experience for a direct student learning experience.

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*Based on CASEL's SEL Framework