How to Teach Rhymes in Middle School
Most middle school students have a basic understanding of rhyme, but they may not be aware of the structure of rhyme schemes or less obvious types of rhyme, such as slant rhymes. Understanding the literary device of rhyme is essential to analyzing and understanding poetry. Interactive lessons on rhyme keep students engaged and introduce them to sophisticated and complex rhyming structures, which prepares them for advanced study of poetry.
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Instructions
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Ask students for examples of rhyming words. Write two or three rhyme pairs, such as cat and bat, on the board. Explain that these pairs are examples of perfect rhymes, or rhymes that have a complete, identical aural correspondence.
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Explain that slant rhymes are rhymes that make a similar sound but don't correspond perfectly, such as found and kind or notion and nation. These rhymes are also called weak, oblique or half rhymes. Ask for examples of slant rhymes and write them on the board.
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Distribute copies of a short poem that utilizes end rhymes, such as a sonnet. Alternately, project the poem on a whiteboard. Explain the concept of a rhyme scheme, or pattern of rhyming, throughout a poem.
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Have a student read the poem aloud. Then go through the poem line by line and have students underline or circle the words that rhyme, or mark them on the board. Note which words rhyme, and use letters to denote the rhyme scheme, such as ABBA. Identify any slant rhymes in the poem.
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Distribute or project another poem or song. Have students silently read the poem and identify the rhyme scheme. After a few minutes, call on a student to explain the rhyme scheme.
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Divide students into groups of three to five. Give each group a rhyming dictionary and a rhyme scheme, such as ABBA or ABAB, and have them compose their own poem. Tell groups they can use perfect or slant rhymes.
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Have one person from each group read the group's poem to the class. As a class, identify the group's rhyme scheme.
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Tips & Warnings
If students seem stuck when composing poems, consider assigning them a topic.
Make sure you circulate throughout the room during group work to ensure that students stay on task and that all students contribute.
