Lesson Plan: "My Computer Needs a Break" by Shanthini Govindan

Grade Level: 8th
Subject: English Literature - Poetry
Duration: 45-50 minutes

1. Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, the teacher expects students to:

Understand the concept of personification and identify examples in the poem
Recognize computer-related vocabulary and terminology used metaphorically
Analyze the poet's use of humor to convey a message about technology
Identify the rhyme scheme and rhythm in poetry
Understand the underlying message about taking breaks and rest

2. Learning Outcomes

Students will be able to apply knowledge learned by:

Using personification in their own creative writing about everyday objects
Understanding that machines and electronic devices need maintenance and care
Recognizing when they themselves need breaks from screen time
Applying computer terminology correctly in daily conversations
Appreciating poetry as a medium to discuss modern technology issues
Being more responsible with saving their work and maintaining devices

3. Introduction (5 minutes)

Engage students with these questions:

"How many of you use computers or tablets at home or school? What do you use them for?"
"Has your computer or device ever 'misbehaved'? What happened? How did it make you feel?"
"Can machines get tired like humans do? Why or why not?"
"What do you do when you're tired from studying or playing? Do you think computers need the same thing?"
"Have you ever lost your work because you forgot to save it? How did that feel?"

Use student responses to bridge into the poem, explaining that today's poem is about a computer that seems to be having problems.

4. Reading and Understanding (10 minutes)

First Reading: Teacher reads the poem aloud with expression.

Second Reading: Students read aloud in chorus or take turns.

Vocabulary Building - New Words and Meanings:

Word	Meaning	Context from Poem
Brainy	Very intelligent, clever	The computer knows lots of information
Absent-minded	Forgetful, not paying attention	The computer forgets to save work
Vanish	Disappear suddenly	Files disappear from the computer
Gobbled	Ate quickly and greedily	The computer got infected by a worm
Erratically	In an unpredictable, irregular way	The computer behaved strangely
Virus	A harmful program that infects computers	The computer got sick with a virus
Dreadful	Very bad or unpleasant	The way files disappeared was terrible
Squirm	Twist and turn with discomfort	How the speaker felt watching the computer

Computer-specific terms to discuss:

Save, Click, Mouse, Files, Virus, Worm, Spell-check

5. Mind Map

                    MY COMPUTER NEEDS A BREAK
                              |
        _____________________|_____________________
        |                    |                     |
    COMPUTER'S           COMPUTER'S           THE SOLUTION
    GOOD BEHAVIOR        BAD BEHAVIOR            |
        |                    |                Needs a break/
    - Brainy/Smart      - Forgets to save      holiday
    - Knows lots        - Hides files          (like humans!)
    - Answers quick     - No spell-check
    - Helpful           - Caught worm
                        - Caught virus
                        - Behaves erratically
                              |
                    PERSONIFICATION EXAMPLES
                              |
                - "behaving badly"
                - "absent-minded"
                - "naughty"
                - "gobbled a worm"
                - "fell very sick"
                - "wants a holiday"

        LITERARY DEVICES                    THEME/MESSAGE
                |                                  |
        - Personification            - Technology needs care
        - Rhyme scheme (AABB)        - Everyone needs breaks
        - Humor                      - Save your work!
        - Metaphor                   - Maintain your devices

6. Consolidation and Presentation (5 minutes)

Summary of the Lesson:

"My Computer Needs a Break" is a humorous poem that uses personification to describe computer problems as if the computer were a tired, overworked person. The poet, Shanthini Govindan, cleverly uses everyday computer issues—like forgetting to save files, getting viruses, and behaving erratically—to suggest that just like humans, computers can become unreliable when they're overworked.

The poem has two main parts: first, it describes how wonderful and helpful the computer used to be, and second, it lists all the problems the computer is now having. The speaker finally suggests that the computer might need a "holiday"—a break to rest and recover.

Through humor and relatable experiences, the poem teaches us about:

Computer maintenance and care
The importance of saving our work
Understanding that all machines need proper care
The parallel between human and machine "exhaustion"

7. Reinforcement (7 minutes)

Additional Information for Students:

A. Literary Device - Personification: Personification means giving human qualities to non-human things. In this poem, the computer is described as:

"Brainy and smart" (human intelligence)
"Absent-minded" (human forgetfulness)
"Naughty" (human misbehavior)
"Fell very sick" (human illness)
"Wants a holiday" (human needs)

This makes the poem fun and helps us relate to technology problems!

B. Computer Terminology Explained:

Virus: A harmful program that can damage computer files (like a real virus makes people sick)
Worm: A type of malicious software that replicates itself
Save: Storing your work so you don't lose it
Files: Documents or information stored on a computer

C. Real-Life Connection:

Always save your work regularly (every few minutes)
Computers need updates and maintenance
Antivirus software protects computers from viruses
Restarting your computer can help it "rest" and work better
Too many programs running at once can slow down a computer

D. Rhyme Scheme: The poem follows an AABB rhyme scheme (couplets):

smart/heart
click/quick
too/do
away/way

E. About the Author: Shanthini Govindan has written over 50 books for children and won awards for her work. She writes about modern topics that children can relate to, making literature relevant to today's world.

8. Evaluation

a) Lower Order Thinking Question (Knowledge/Comprehension):

"What problems did the computer have in the poem? List at least three."

Expected Answer: The computer forgot to save work, hid files, didn't check spellings, gobbled a worm, caught a virus, and behaved erratically.

b) Middle Order Thinking Question (Application/Analysis):

"Why do you think the poet compares computer problems to human behavior? How does this comparison help us understand the poem better?"

Expected Answer: The poet uses personification to make computer problems relatable and humorous. By comparing the computer to a tired, forgetful person, we understand that machines can also "fail" when not properly maintained. This helps us connect with the poem because we've all felt tired and forgetful like the computer.

c) Higher Order Thinking Question (Synthesis/Evaluation):

"The speaker suggests the computer 'wants a holiday.' Do you agree with this solution? What would you recommend to fix the computer's problems, and why? Support your answer with examples from the poem."

Expected Answer: Students might discuss various solutions such as:

Running antivirus software (to fix the virus)
Regular maintenance and updates (like how humans need check-ups)
Not overloading the computer with too many programs
Teaching users to save work regularly
Professional servicing (like the doctor mentioned)

Students should justify their reasoning and make connections to real-life computer use.

9. Remedial Teaching (Strategies for Slow Learners)

Strategy 1: Simplified Vocabulary Flashcards

Create picture flashcards with computer terms and their simple meanings
Use visual representations (draw a sick computer for "virus," a disappearing file for "vanish")

Strategy 2: Personal Connection Activity

Have slow learners share ONE personal experience with a computer problem
Connect their experience to specific lines in the poem
This makes the abstract concrete

Strategy 3: Partner Reading

Pair slow learners with proficient readers
Read the poem line by line, discussing each part
Use a simplified version: "The computer was smart → Now it forgets things → It needs rest"

Strategy 4: Hands-on Demonstration

Show physically on a computer what "save," "virus," "files" mean
Demonstrate what happens when you don't save work
Make the vocabulary tangible

Strategy 5: Fill-in-the-Blanks Worksheet

Provide the poem with key words missing
Give a word bank for students to complete
Example: "My computer has always been so _____ (brainy/tired) and smart"

Strategy 6: Breaking Down Personification

Use simple examples first: "The sun smiled" (What do humans do? Smile. Can the sun smile? No. So this is personification!)
Then apply to poem: "Computer behaves badly" - follow same pattern

10. Writing Activity (8 minutes)

Choose ONE of the following writing tasks:

Option 1: Creative Writing (Personification Practice) Write a short paragraph (5-7 sentences) using personification about another electronic device that might need a break. Examples:

My tablet needs a vacation
My phone wants to sleep
My television is feeling tired
My video game console is grumpy

Use at least THREE examples of personification.

Option 2: Reflective Writing Write a paragraph answering: "What did you learn about taking care of computers from this poem? How will you use computers differently after reading this poem?"

Option 3: Poem Extension Add your own stanza (4 lines) to the poem about what the computer might do on its "holiday" or what happens after it gets rest. Try to maintain the rhyme scheme (AABB).

Example starter: After the doctor fixed my computer with care, It came back refreshed and ready to share...

11. Follow-up (Homework/Assignment/Activity)

Choose ONE activity to complete at home:

Activity 1: Computer Care Guide (Practical Application) Create a colorful poster or digital presentation titled "How to Take Care of Your Computer" with at least 5 tips learned from the poem and class discussion. Include:

Why we should save our work
How to protect from viruses
When to give computers a "break"
Illustrations or pictures

Activity 2: Interview Activity (Real-world Connection) Interview a family member or friend about a time when their computer or device had problems. Write:

What was the problem?
How did they fix it?
How did it compare to the poem?
What did they learn?

(Minimum 150 words)

Activity 3: Creative Extension (Literary) Write your own humorous poem (8-12 lines) about a modern device using personification. It could be about:

A smartphone that's always hungry (for charging)
A printer that's moody
A robot vacuum that's lazy
Headphones that like to hide

Try to include a rhyme scheme and at least 4 examples of personification.

Activity 4: Research Project (Technology Focus) Research and write a short report (200 words) on:

What are computer viruses?
How do they spread?
How can we protect our computers?
Include 2 interesting facts you learned

Use at least 2 reliable sources (websites, books, or encyclopedias).

Extension Activity (Optional for Advanced Learners): Compare this poem to another poem about technology. How do different poets view our relationship with computers and devices? Write a 1-page comparison.

Materials Needed:

Copies of the poem for each student
Computer/projector for demonstration (optional)
Chart paper for mind map
Flashcards for vocabulary
Writing materials

Assessment Criteria:

Participation in discussion
Understanding of vocabulary
Quality of written work
Ability to identify personification
Responses to evaluation questions

Saturday, January 24, 2026

Lesson Plan: Class :8 - Unit - 7 - Poem - My Computer Needs break