Description
This festive poetry activity has students read and analyze the 1824 song “O Tannenbaum” (also known as “O Christmas Tree”) while learning about the ode as a poetic form. After exploring the structure, purpose, and language of an ode, students will write their own original ode inspired by something meaningful, humorous, or seasonal.
To extend the lesson, students can perform or illustrate their odes, turning poetry writing into a creative, low-pressure experience that works perfectly before holiday break. This activity is intentionally lighthearted and engaging while still reinforcing poetic analysis, academic vocabulary, and writing skills. It also makes for an excellent classroom or hallway display of student work.
This resource includes a PowerPoint lesson introducing the ode form and key academic vocabulary, a guided analysis of “O Tannenbaum” by Ernst Anschütz (1824), and a brainstorming organizer with a rubric to support students as they write their own odes. A teacher answer key is also provided.
File types included are a teacher lesson PowerPoint, teacher answer key (PDF), student activities in an editable Word document, and student activities in a print-ready PDF.