Teach This Poem: “Bats” by Paisley Rekdal

Watch this video from National Geographic about bats. 

1. Warm-up: (free-write) What does this time of year make you think about? Why? What images or ideas come to mind? Why? Share your writing with a classmate or small group. 

2. Before Reading the Poem: (Teachers, you may want to preview these videos to see which one is more appropriate for your students. Prior to this lesson, you might want to ask if any of your students are afraid of bats.) Watch this video from SciShow or this video from National Geographic about bats. What did you learn? What, if anything, surprised you?  

3. Reading the Poem: Silently read the poem “Bats” by Paisley Rekdal. What do you notice about the poem? Note any words or phrases that stand out to you or any questions you might have. 

4. Listening to the Poem: Enlist two volunteers and listen as the poem is read aloud twice. Write down any additional words and phrases that stand out to you. 

5. Small Group Discussion: Share what you noticed about the poem with a small group of students. Based on the details you just shared with your small group, what connections can you make between the poem and the resources from the beginning of class? What imagery stands out the most in this poem? Why? 

6. Whole Class Discussion: What do you think of the title of the poem and the first line? How does the title inform your reading of the poem? How would you describe the speaker in the poem? Why? How does the speaker’s tone shift? 

7. Extension for Grades 7-8: How does this time of year inspire you? Read more poems for Halloween. Find a companion poem to “Bats.” Write a short paragraph that compares and contrasts the two. 

8. Extension for Grades 9-12: Read the poem “The Raven” by Edgar Allen Poe. How does this poem compare to “Bats”? Why might poems about animals be a popular topic? If you feel inspired, write your own poem. Share your thoughts and your poem, if you wrote one, with your classmates. 

“Bats” could be interpreted as a poem that discusses anxiety. Prior to conducting this lesson, you may wish to provide your students with resources for coping with anxiety. You can find resources from the American School Counselor Association here and Anxiety in the Classroom. You may also want to discuss the poem with the counseling department at your school.

Enjambment is the continuation of a sentence or clause across a poetic line break. Read more.