1.
I. OBJECTIVES
At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:
a. Unlock the meaning of words through context clues.
b. Demonstrate interest in the listening and reading of the selection through participation.
c. Express appreciation for significant human experiences in the selection.
d. Show understanding of the poem read by relating it to personal experiences.
II. SUBJECT MATTER
Topic: Showing Appreciation for Significant Human experiences in a Selection
“Digging” by: Seamus Heaney
Textbook: English Expressways IV
Virginia F. Bermudez, Ed. D.
pp 304-305
Materials: PowerPoint Presentation
III. PROCEDURE
A. Pre-Lesson Activities
1. Prayer
2. Checking of Attendance
3. Review on what is Literature
Questions:
What comes to your mind when you hear the word “literature”?
Basing from your answers, what is literature then?
4. Tell the students that your lesson is under the literature part of the English subject.
B. Motivation
1. Show pictures of famous people to the students.
2. Ask who are worthy to imitate or try to be like.
3. Ask the students what makes these people admirable.
4. Ask the students who their idols are, during their childhood or current idol.
5. Ask what traits of their idol they look up to.
6. Ask if these traits affect them as they grew up.
C. Unlocking of Difficulties
Ask the students to read the following sentences and then let them determine the
meaning of the underlined words through context clues.
i. The diaper was just the right snug around the baby’s waist.
(fit, dark, fast, comfy)
ii. I was kept awake at night by the rasping sound of a snoring partner
(tough, rough, soft, smooth)
iii. Synthetic turf was installed in the playing field instead of authentic grass.
(territory, meadow, grass, land )
iv. Going to the bog got my shoes all muddy and wet.
(wetland, seabed, lake side, river)
v. Digging sods is very tiring especially if the soil is hard.
(rocks, ground, field, ranch)
vi. The lug of a spade is the part you would rest your foot on.
(a. a projected part of something
b. a shipping container for items
c. an edge to increase balance
d. a metal fitting to connect wires)

2.
D. Presentation:
1. Tell the students that they will listen then read a poem by Seamus Heaney
2. Shortly talk about the background of the poet.
3. The teacher asks the students to recall the standards of listening to poetry
reading before she reads the poem to the class.
E. Lesson Proper
1. The teacher reads the poem while the students listen.
2. Let one of the students read the poem aloud.
3. Let the whole class read aloud together.
“Digging”
Seamus Heaney
Between my finger and my thumb By God, the old man could handle a spade,
The squat pen rests; as snug as a gun. Just like his old man.
Under my window a clean rasping sound
When the spade sinks into gravelly ground: My grandfather cut more turf in a day
My father, digging. I look down Than any other man on Toner's bog.
Once I carried him milk in a bottle
Till his straining rump among the flowerbeds Corked sloppily with paper. He straightened up
Bends low, comes up twenty years away To drink it, then fell to right away
Stooping in rhythm through potato drills Nicking and slicing neatly, heaving sods
Where he was digging. Over his shoulder, digging down and down
For the good turf. Digging.
The coarse boot nestled on the lug, the shaft
Against the inside knee was levered firmly. The cold smell of potato mold, the squelch and slap
He rooted out tall tops, buried the bright edge deep Of soggy peat, the curt cuts of an edge
To scatter new potatoes that we picked Through living roots awaken in my head.
Loving their cool hardness in our hands. But I've no spade to follow men like them.
Between my finger and my thumb
The squat pen rests.
I'll dig with it.
F. Discussion
a. Let the students answer the comprehension check questions on page 305 orally.
b. Refresh the students about connotative and denotative meaning before answering
question number 5.
c. Let the students point out the figurative language used in the poem such as simile and
repetition.
IV. Evaluation
Ask the students to draw a symbol that best describes the person who has helped in shaping who they
are today. Below the drawing, let them write a few sentences that explain this comparison between the
symbol and the person they look up to.
V. Assignment
Write a letter of appreciation to your parents. Give the letter to them. Next meeting, share a photo or
video showing the reaction of your parents while reading your letter.