Using poetry to introduce content in the elementary classroom: a unit plan

Poetry is an important style of writing that is studied throughout the American education system. However, most students are not introduced to poetry until they are in late middle school or high school. If poetry is introduced to students in young grades, poetry can be used to increase their reading fluency, phonological awareness, and speaking and listening skills. This thesis is an example of how to effectively introduce poetry in the elementary classroom. It is a unit plan to be taught in a third-grade classroom that is made up of an introduction, four full length lesson plans, and a short plan for a poetry slam to celebrate the completion of the unit.