Exploring Symbolism

Active learning helps students grasp the abstract nature of symbolism by engaging them directly with poetic texts. When students actively identify, discuss, and manipulate symbols, they move beyond passive reception to become active interpreters of meaning.

• Year 6
• English
• 3 activities
• 30 min–50 min

Hexagonal Thinking

⏱ 45 min·Pairs

Symbol Scavenger Hunt

Provide students with copies of two poems that share a common symbol (e.g., a bird). In pairs, they will highlight instances of the symbol in each poem and discuss its potential meaning in both contexts. They will then record their findings in a Venn diagram.

Prepare & details

Explain how a recurring symbol strengthens the theme of a poem.

Facilitation Tip: During Hexagonal Thinking, prompt students to draw lines between hexagons and verbally explain the nature of the connection they are illustrating, focusing on how one concept (like a symbol) leads to or reinforces another.

Setup: Flat table or floor space for arranging hexagons

Materials: Pre-printed hexagon cards (15-25 per group), Large paper for final arrangement

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Self-Awareness
• Relationship Skills

Hexagonal Thinking

⏱ 50 min·Small Groups

Symbol Substitution Challenge

Select a short poem with a clear recurring symbol. Ask small groups to brainstorm alternative symbols that could replace the original. Each group will then rewrite a stanza of the poem using their new symbol and present it to the class, explaining the shift in meaning.

Prepare & details

Compare the symbolic meaning of an object in two different poems.

Facilitation Tip: During the Symbol Substitution Challenge, encourage groups to justify their chosen alternative symbols by explaining how the new symbol creates a similar or different emotional or thematic effect compared to the original.

Setup: Flat table or floor space for arranging hexagons

Materials: Pre-printed hexagon cards (15-25 per group), Large paper for final arrangement

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Self-Awareness
• Relationship Skills

Hexagonal Thinking

⏱ 30 min·Whole Class

Creating a Symbol Glossary

As a class, identify common symbols encountered in poetry (e.g., light, darkness, water, seasons). Students will contribute definitions and examples of how these symbols are used, creating a shared glossary that can be referenced throughout their studies.

Prepare & details

Predict how changing a key symbol would alter a poem's message.

Facilitation Tip: During the Creating a Symbol Glossary activity, guide students to provide textual evidence for why a particular item is considered a symbol, connecting the literal object to its abstract meaning.

Setup: Flat table or floor space for arranging hexagons

Materials: Pre-printed hexagon cards (15-25 per group), Large paper for final arrangement

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Self-Awareness
• Relationship Skills

Teaching This Topic

Teaching symbolism effectively involves moving from concrete examples to abstract analysis. Start by identifying literal objects that students recognize as potentially symbolic, then guide them to explore the layers of meaning through close reading and discussion. Avoid presenting symbols as having single, fixed interpretations; instead, emphasize the role of context and authorial intent.

What to Expect

Successful learners will be able to identify recurring symbols in poems, articulate their potential meanings, and explain how these symbols contribute to the poem's overall theme. They will demonstrate an understanding that symbols can have multiple interpretations depending on context.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

During the Symbol Substitution Challenge, watch for students who believe a symbol has only one fixed meaning and struggle to brainstorm alternatives.

What to Teach Instead

Redirect students by asking them to consider how changing the symbol in their chosen poem alters the poem's mood or central message, prompting them to think about the *effect* of the symbol.

Common Misconception

During the Symbol Scavenger Hunt, watch for students who only identify explicitly labeled symbols or miss subtle, recurring imagery.

What to Teach Instead

Guide students to look for images or objects that appear more than once and ask them, 'What feeling or idea does this repeated image bring to mind?' to encourage inference.

Assessment Ideas

Discussion Prompt

After the Symbol Scavenger Hunt, use a think-pair-share to have students discuss the different meanings they found for the common symbol across the two poems.

Quick Check

During Hexagonal Thinking, circulate and observe the connections students are making on their hexagonal maps, looking for reasoned links between symbols and themes.

Exit Ticket

After the Creating a Symbol Glossary, ask students to write down one symbol discussed and explain in one sentence how its meaning is reinforced by its use in poetry.

Extensions & Scaffolding

• Challenge: Ask students to write a short poem using a symbol they explored, then have a peer identify and explain the symbol's meaning.
• Scaffolding: Provide a graphic organizer with sentence starters to help students articulate the connection between a symbol and its abstract meaning during Hexagonal Thinking.
• Deeper exploration: Have students research common archetypal symbols and present their findings, explaining their origins and typical meanings.