Introduce students to Carl Sandburg’s powerful poem “Chicago” with this 16-page no-prep poetry unit for middle and high school ELA. This resource blends historical context, literary analysis, and creative writing to help students explore Sandburg’s use of figurative language, structure, and voice. Students will analyze the poem’s hyperbole, figures of speech, and tone, then create their own original poems inspired by special places in their lives.

Why Teachers Love It

• Saves hours of prep with ready-to-use activities and assessments
• Builds poetry analysis skills (hyperbole, figures of speech, tone, turns)
• Integrates history and context to deepen understanding of Sandburg’s work
• Includes grammar and language practice alongside poetry analysis
• Inspires students to write their own place-based poems
• Works well for both middle and high school students
• Flexible for distance or in-person learning with print & digital formats
• Answer key included for easy grading

What’s Inside

• Biography of Carl Sandburg
• Historical context notes
• Vocabulary list with definitions
• Comprehension and analysis questions
• Activity on hyperbole, figures of speech, and turns
• Grammar practice: nouns, prepositions, and sentence combining
• Creative writing: poem about a special place
• 25-question quiz on poem and poetic devices
• Complete answer key
• Printable and digital versions

Why It Works:
This resource makes Sandburg’s poetry engaging and accessible by combining analysis with creative expression. Students don’t just study “Chicago”—they learn how its language and structure convey meaning, while also practicing their own writing inspired by Sandburg’s style. The mix of history, analysis, grammar, and creativity ensures that students connect with the poem on multiple levels.

Please Note: Poem text not included.