In this activity, students will identify the structural components of the poem, including stanzas and lines. Students will also determine the rhyme scheme in each stanza by labeling the lines with the letters of the alphabet. Most importantly, students will analyze and describe the main idea of the stanza.
The example provided is for the first stanza.
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Identify the structural components of the poem including stanzas and lines.
Encourage creativity by having students compose a four-line stanza that follows a chosen rhyme scheme, such as ABCB. This hands-on activity helps students apply their understanding of rhyme patterns and poem structure.
Ask students to think about a simple event in nature, like a bird or an animal doing something interesting. Jot down a few words or phrases as a class to help spark ideas and make the writing process easier.
Draw four lines on the board and label them with letters for your chosen rhyme scheme (for example, A B C B). Remind students to match the end words in the second and fourth lines to follow the pattern.
Have students write their stanza, then review the rhyme scheme and meaning together. Encourage them to adjust their lines so the rhyme fits and the ideas make sense.
Let students read their stanzas aloud and talk about which lines rhyme. Highlight how using a rhyme scheme helps create rhythm and unity, just like in Emily Dickinson's poem.
'A Bird Came Down the Walk' uses structural elements like stanzas (groups of lines) and a specific rhyme scheme (such as ABCB). Each stanza tells a part of the story, and the rhyme scheme creates rhythm and flow in the poem.
To identify a poem's rhyme scheme, label the last word of each line with a letter. If two lines end with words that rhyme, give them the same letter. For example, lines ending with 'walk' and 'chalk' both get 'A'.
The main idea is that the narrator observes a bird splitting a worm in two and eating it, showing a close look at nature's actions.
Students can analyze each stanza by reading carefully, summarizing what happens, and discussing the feelings or images it creates. Writing a brief description helps clarify the stanza's main idea.
Activities like labeling stanzas and lines, identifying rhyme schemes, and creating drawings or scenes based on the poem help elementary students understand poem structure and meaning.