No prior knowledge of World War I or poetry is necessary for a student to be successful in class. 

Using a slide presentation (primary sources, maps, video clips, photos) each class begins with a history lesson on WWI: technology, trench warfare, battles, the homefront, Wilson's 14 Points,  or the armistice.  Each class is unique and learners may start or stop at any time.

After the history section, we next have a short lesson on writing a predetermined poetry style (poem templates and handouts are posted in the classroom).   Using poems from published authors and poems from WWI soldiers, we will create new poems using the weekly WWI topic as the theme.  Typically, as a class, we create one poem. I encourage learners to write their own poems if time allows, or write one for homework. 

Learners will be led through the poem-writing process during class.