Lesson Plan – Class 10 English
Unit 3 – Poem: I Am Every Woman
Poet: Rakhi Nariani Shirke
1. Learning Objectives
By the end of the lesson, the teacher expects students to:
Understand the central idea and theme of the poem I Am Every Woman.
Appreciate the strength, courage, resilience, self-respect and compassion of women.
Identify and understand the poetic devices used in the poem.
Learn the meanings and usage of new words and expressions.
Develop appreciation for the role and contribution of women in society.
Understand how the poet presents the qualities of the modern woman.
Develop confidence in expressing their ideas about gender equality and women's empowerment.
Improve their reading, comprehension and interpretation skills.
2. Learning Outcomes
After learning the poem, students will be able to:
| 1027 identifies significant literary elements such as figurative language— metaphor, imagery, symbol, simile, intention or point of view, rhyme scheme, etc. |
| | 1028 uses the figurative meaning of words and phrases as given in the texts read. |
Recognise and appreciate the qualities of strong and courageous women in their family and society.
Show respect and appreciation for women in their everyday lives.
Apply the values of persistence, self-respect, courage and compassion in their own lives.
Understand that difficulties and failures can be overcome through determination and positive thinking.
Use suitable vocabulary from the poem in their own sentences.
Identify poetic expressions and explain their meaning in context.
Speak and write confidently about women's achievements and empowerment.
Understand the importance of treating everyone with dignity, equality and respect.
3. Introduction
The teacher can begin the lesson by asking the following questions:
Who is the strongest woman you know in your family or surroundings?
What qualities make a person strong?
Can a person be both caring and strong at the same time?
What do you understand by the term "women's empowerment"?
Can you name a woman who has achieved something remarkable through persistence and hard work?
Why should we respect women and their choices?
What does the saying "Persistence is the key to everything" mean to you?
The teacher introduces the poem by explaining that the poet celebrates the strength, courage, love, determination, self-respect and resilience of every woman.
4. Reading and Understanding
A. Reading
The teacher reads the poem aloud with proper pronunciation, rhythm and expression.
Students listen carefully and follow the poem in their textbooks.
Students read the poem individually and in groups.
The teacher encourages students to identify words and expressions that describe the qualities of women.
Difficult lines are explained with suitable examples.
B. New Words and Meanings
| Word / Expression | Meaning |
|---|
| Innate | Natural; present from birth |
| Symbol | Something that represents an idea or quality |
| At stake | In danger of being lost or harmed |
| Fake | Not genuine or real |
| Persistence | Continuing firmly despite difficulties |
| Sighs | Deep breaths expressing sadness, tiredness or relief |
| Groans | Sounds expressing pain or discomfort |
| Moans | Low sounds expressing pain, sorrow or dissatisfaction |
| Firm | Strong and determined |
| Lioness | A female lion; used here as a symbol of courage and strength |
| Prankster | A person who plays tricks on others |
| Pride | A sense of self-respect and personal dignity |
| Self-respect | Respect for oneself and one's own dignity |
| Thaw | To become less harsh or hostile |
| Beware | Be careful; take care |
C. Important Expressions
"A woman is beauty innate" – Beauty is a natural quality of a woman.
"She puts her life at stake" – She is willing to face danger or sacrifice herself for others.
"Spring will come again" – Difficult times will pass and better days will come.
"Persistence is the key to everything" – Continuous effort and determination help us achieve success.
"She's a lioness" – She is extremely brave, strong and fearless.
"Don't ever try to saw her pride" – Never attempt to hurt or destroy her dignity and self-respect.
5. Mind Map
I AM EVERY WOMAN
I AM EVERY WOMAN
│
┌──────────────────┼──────────────────┐
│ │ │
BEAUTY STRENGTH COMPASSION
│ │ │
Natural beauty Courage & Power Cares for others
│ │ │
└──────────────────┼──────────────────┘
│
┌──────────┴──────────┐
│ │
PERSISTENCE SELF-RESPECT
│ │
Never gives up Protects dignity
│ │
└──────────┬──────────┘
│
MODERN WOMAN
│
┌────────────────┼────────────────┐
│ │ │
FEARLESS FAITHFUL CONFIDENT
│ │ │
Lioness Strong beliefs Independent
│ │ │
└────────────────┼────────────────┘
│
LOVE • RESPECT • CARE
Key Idea
Every woman is beautiful, strong, caring, persistent, courageous and worthy of love and respect.
6. Consolidation and Presentation
Summary of the Poem
The poem I Am Every Woman by Rakhi Nariani Shirke celebrates the strength and resilience of women. The poet presents women as naturally beautiful and as symbols of power and strength. A woman is ready to sacrifice herself for the people she loves and cares for.
The poet compares difficult periods in life with summer and expresses the hope that spring will return. This shows the woman's positive attitude and her belief that difficult times will not last forever. She continues to care for those who are close to her.
The poem also highlights the importance of faith, determination and persistence. Even when she faces difficulties, sighs and disappointments, she remains strong in her beliefs. The woman is compared to a lioness, symbolising her courage and fearlessness.
The poet warns others not to hurt a woman's pride, dignity and self-respect. The poem concludes with a message that the modern woman deserves to be loved, respected and valued.
Central Theme
The poem is a celebration of womanhood, women's strength, courage, perseverance, dignity and self-respect.
Message
The poem teaches us to:
Respect and value women.
Recognise women's strength and contributions.
Remain persistent in difficult situations.
Have faith in ourselves and our beliefs.
Protect our dignity and self-respect.
Treat everyone with love, care and respect.
7. Reinforcement
The teacher gives additional information and explanations:
A. The Symbolism of Seasons
The poet uses summer and spring symbolically.
Summer represents difficult, challenging or painful periods in life.
Spring represents hope, happiness, renewal and better times.
The expression "Spring will come again" teaches students to remain hopeful during difficult situations.
B. Woman as a Lioness
The comparison of a woman to a lioness highlights:
Courage
Fearlessness
Strength
Determination
Protection of dignity
It does not suggest aggression; rather, it emphasises the woman's ability to stand firmly against injustice and protect her self-respect.
C. Important Values
The poem teaches the values of:
Courage → Persistence → Faith → Self-respect → Compassion → Love → Respect
D. Poetic Devices
| Poetic Device | Example / Explanation |
|---|
| Metaphor | "She's a lioness" – compares a woman to a lioness to show courage and strength |
| Personification / Symbolism | Spring represents hope and renewal |
| Repetition | Repetition of "She's..." emphasises the qualities of women |
| Rhyme | Words such as innate – strength – stake – fake contribute to the poem's musical quality |
| Alliteration | Repetition of similar consonant sounds in nearby words |
| Imagery | Images of summer, spring and a lioness create vivid pictures in the reader's mind |
8. Evaluation
A. Lower Order Thinking Question
1. What are the qualities of a woman mentioned in the poem?
Expected Answer:
A woman is beautiful, strong, courageous, caring, persistent, faithful and self-respecting.
B. Middle Order Thinking Question
2. Why does the poet say, "Spring will come again"? What does "spring" represent?
Expected Answer:
The poet wants to convey that difficult times will pass and better days will come. "Spring" represents hope, happiness, renewal and positive change.
C. Higher Order Thinking Question
3. The poem says that a woman should be loved, respected and kept near. How can we show respect for women in our everyday lives?
Expected Answer:
We can respect women by treating them equally, listening to their opinions, respecting their choices, appreciating their contributions, supporting their education and careers, and protecting their dignity and self-respect.
9. Remedial Teaching
For slow learners, the teacher can adopt the following strategies:
Read the poem aloud slowly and encourage students to repeat each line.
Explain the poem stanza by stanza using simple language.
Use pictures and visual representations to explain summer, spring and lioness.
Provide a simple vocabulary chart with words and meanings.
Divide the poem into small sections and teach one idea at a time.
Use the mind map to help students remember the main ideas.
Ask simple oral questions before moving to written questions.
Give sentence starters such as:
"A woman is strong because ______."
"Persistence means ______."
"Spring represents ______."
Conduct pair and group activities where stronger students can support slow learners.
Give short fill-in-the-blank and matching exercises for reinforcement.
Repeat important concepts such as strength, persistence, courage and self-respect.
10. Writing
Guided Writing Task
Write a paragraph of about 100–120 words on the topic:
"The Strong Woman in My Life"
Students may write about a mother, grandmother, teacher, sister or any other woman who inspires them.
They should include:
Who she is
Her qualities
The difficulties she has faced
How she has inspired the student
Why the student respects her
Alternative Writing Task
Write a paragraph on: "The Qualities of an Empowered Woman."
Students should use at least five words from the poem, such as:
strength, courage, persistence, faith, belief, self-respect, dignity, care, love, respect
11. Follow-up
The teacher assigns any one of the following activities:
Activity 1 – Inspirational Woman
Students choose an inspiring woman from their family, school, community, sports, science, literature or public life. They prepare a short profile including:
Name
Profession / Contribution
Important achievements
Qualities that inspire them
A short message about why they admire her
Activity 2 – Poster Making
Create a poster with the theme:
"Respect Every Woman"
Include:
Activity 3 – Value-Based Assignment
Students maintain a "Positive Qualities Journal" for one week and write one quality they observe in a woman who inspires them each day.
Homework
Answer the following question in about 150 words:
"The poem celebrates the strength and self-respect of every woman. Explain how the poem's message is relevant to modern society."
