Lesson Plan: "Autumn" by John Clare (Class IX - WBBSE)
Lesson Overview
- Topic: "Autumn"
by John Clare
- Grade: IX (West Bengal
Board of Secondary Education - WBBSE)
- Duration: 45-60 minutes
- Skills Covered: Listening,
Speaking, Reading, Grammar & Vocabulary, Writing
- Objective:
By the end of the lesson, students will: - Understand the central theme and imagery of "Autumn"
- Analyze the poet’s portrayal of rural life and
seasonal beauty
- Enhance language skills through grammar and writing
tasks
- Express personal responses to the poem
Lesson Structure
1. Warm-up Activity (5 mins)
Objective: Activate prior knowledge and engage students.
- Ask:
- "What comes to mind when you think of
autumn?"
- "How does nature change during this
season?"
- Share a brief background:
- John Clare (1793–1864) was an English poet known
for capturing the beauty of rural life.
2. Listening Activity (8 mins)
Objective: Improve listening comprehension.
- Task: Read the poem
aloud or play an audio version.
- While listening, students fill out a table:
|
|
|
|
Natural Image |
Emotion/Effect |
|
Fallen leaves |
Sense of change and decay |
|
Hedges with fruit |
Abundance and beauty |
|
Birds preparing to leave |
Transition and farewell |
3. Reading Activity (10 mins)
Objective: Enhance reading comprehension and analysis.
Task:
- Skim: Identify the
overall mood of the poem (calm, reflective, nostalgic).
- Scan: Find lines that
describe nature’s transformation.
- In-depth: Discuss how Clare
blends beauty with the quiet decay of autumn.
Discussion Questions:
- How does Clare describe the sounds of autumn?
- What emotions does the poet associate with the
changing season?
- How does the poet’s rural background shape his
perspective on autumn?
4. Speaking Activity (8 mins)
Objective: Encourage expression of personal viewpoints.
Task:
- Group Discussion:
- Topic: "Is autumn a season of beauty or
sadness?"
- Students share their opinions using evidence from
the poem and real-life experiences.
Speaking Prompts:
- "In what ways does autumn reflect both life and
death?"
- "How does nature’s beauty change as the season
shifts?"
5. Grammar & Vocabulary (7 mins)
Objective: Apply grammar rules through poem-based exercises.
Task:
- Active to Passive Voice:
- Original: "Autumn paints the leaves in golden
hues."
- Passive: "The leaves are painted in golden
hues by autumn."
- Direct to Indirect Speech:
- Direct: The poet says, "Autumn is a time of
quiet beauty."
- Indirect: The poet says that autumn is a time of
quiet beauty.
- Identify Sentence Type:
- “What lovely hues cover the fields!” – Exclamatory
6. Writing Task (10 mins)
Objective: Foster creativity and critical thinking.
Task (Choose One):
- Descriptive Paragraph: Describe an autumn scene using vivid imagery.
- Newspaper Report: Write a
report on how autumn affects rural life.
Guidelines:
- Use sensory details (sight, sound, touch).
- Ensure clear structure: introduction, body,
conclusion.
Assessment & Homework
- In-Class Evaluation:
- Listening Chart (5 points)
- Group Discussion Participation (5 points)
- Grammar Accuracy (5 points)
- Writing Task (5 points)
- Homework:
- Write a letter describing your favorite season and
why you love it.
- Transform 5 sentences from Active to Passive Voice.
