When I See the Stars in the Night Sky
by Joy Priest

Writing Workshop
Workshop Title: Stars
Step 1
Ask your students, “Name a celebrity (or other person of prominence) who had a significant impact on you. Who is this person? How did they impact you? And why?” Then give your students time to discuss.
Step 2
Read “When I See the Stars in the Night Sky” by Joy Priest. As you’re reading, try to determine the ways in which Priest expresses her admiration toward Whitney Houston.
Step 3
Say, “Think of the ways in which a celebrity impacted (or current impacts) you. What do they do? How do they make you feel? Why do they make you feel that way? Jot down as many ideas as you can. Take a few minutes to brainstorm.”
Step 4
Ask your students to compose a poem similar in sentiment to “When I See the Stars in the Night Sky” in which they express their feelings of admiration or inspiration from a celebrity (or other figure of prominence).
Step 5
When the students are done, have them share their responses with one another.
Analytical Lesson
Area of Focus: Figurative Language
Step 1
If your students are not familiar with the concept of “figurative language,” go over the introductory lesson with them.
Step 2
Start by showing your students the following trailer to Whitney, the Whitney Houston documentary.
Step 3
When it is over, ask your students to briefly discuss Whitney Houston’s legacy based on what was shown in the trailer. How will she be remembered?
Step 4
Read “When I See the Stars in the Night Sky” by Joy Priest, a poem recounting the speaker’s memories and feelings toward Whitney Houston. As you are reading, ask your students to pay particular attention to the figurative language in the piece and how its utilized to express the speaker’s attitude.
Step 5
When the poem is done, briefly discuss the piece. What examples of figurative language stood out? Why? How did those examples demonstrate the speaker’s feelings?
Step 6
Have your students open the following document and go over the introduction and directions with them. In this assignment, your students are going to create their own lesson plan that will help their peers come to a deeper understanding of the function of the figurative language in the poem. When you’ve gone through the instructions, give your students time to work.
Step 7
When your students are done, ask a few of them to share their lessons with the rest of the class. Ask them what their lesson entails and how it is meant to engage students with the text.
Essay Materials
Lesson Details
Lesson Info
Focus
- Figurative Language
Themes
- Appreciation
- Children / Youth
- Creativity / Imagination / Writing
- Death / Grief
- Joy
- Love
Literary Tags
- Diction
- Figurative Language
- Imagery
- Structure
- Structure (Line Breaks)