Focal Poetry Lesson Plan KS3Download PDF version for printing Focal poetry is simple in idea but can create very powerful and technical pieces of poetry. Pupils need to envisage a scene or preferably be provided with a stimulus in the form of a photograph, picture, painting, a paragraph from a book/play or perhaps the view from their classroom window. To begin the poem your pupils need to generally describe the whole scene and provide their first impressions of what they can see. Within their scene they need to decide on one focal point that will eventually be the important focus of their piece. From them setting their scene they need to gradually hone into their chosen focal point as if viewing the subject through a zoom lens. The idea behind focal poetry is to encourage your pupils to describe what they see and learn to build up interest and the reader's expectations. These newly acquired skills can then be applied to other areas of creative writing. Also a number of poetic techniques can be used within focal poetry such as rhyme, rhythm, tone, lyric, metaphors, similes and onomatopoeia to mention but a few. Key words to use somewhere within their description is a way to enhance vocabulary and make the poetry writing a further challenge. Here is an example of focal poetry; inspired by using a stimulus of M C Escher's painting 'Bond In Union'. United In Bonds Silence, only sight prevails Intertwining souls unite in a fluid motion No eye contact, just touch Floating in a sea of black Bubbles surround them amidst the darkness Reflecting light, reminds me of stars Closing in . . . Although united, separated too Drifting, searching His eyes lost Blank Yet focused Nearer still . . . His mind a fury of bubbles Escaped through his thoughts Left empty; alone Yet united in bonds. |