Advancing in Poetry Advancing in Poetry    

Lesson 12: Snow-flakes

by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Performer: Librivox - Mark F. Smith

Directions

Study the poem for one week.

Over the week:

• Read or listen to the poem.
• Review the synopsis.
• Read about the poet.
• Complete the enrichment activities.

Synopsis

The first stanza of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's 'Snow-flakes,' describes the sky as a lady shaking snowflakes from the folds of her gown of clouds. The second and third stanzas describe how the snowflake sadness of the sky blankets the earth below.

Concepts

1. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was born in 1807 in Portland, Maine.

2. Zoom in and find Longfellow's state of birth, Maine (ME), on the map of the United States.

3. Longfellow's ancestors included pilgrims who came to America from England on the Mayflower.
4. Longfellow's grandfather was a general in the American Revolutionary War and a congressman.
5. Longfellow was an avid student who loved learning and reading.
6. In his life, Longfellow married, had six children, toured Europe, worked as a college professor, and became a well-known poet.
7. Longfellow was part of a group of five New England poets called the 'Fireside Poets.'
8. Longfellow died of peritonitis in Cambridge, Massachusetts at the age of 75.

Enrichment

Activity 1: Recite Poem Information

Recite the title of the poem and the name of the poet.

Activity 2: Study the Poem Picture

Study the poem picture and describe how it relates to the poem.

Activity 3: Recite the Poem

Practice reciting the poem aloud.

Activity 4: Complete Book Activities   

• Click the crayon above, and complete pages 74-79 of 'Elementary Poetry 4: Advancing in Poetry.'

References

'Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.