15 Easy, Hands-on Poetry Activities That Invite Kids to Write and Publish Their Poems in Unique and Dazzling Ways. by Michelle O Brien-Palmer

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1 15 Easy, Hands-on Poetry Activities That Invite Kids to Write and Publish Their Poems in Unique and Dazzling Ways by Michelle O Brien-Palmer S C H O L A S T I C P ROFESSIONAL B OOKS New York Toronto London Auckland Sydney Mexico City New Delhi Hong Kong Buenos Aires

2 Contents Introduction Poetry Journal Narrative Inspirations for Poetry Wrap-and-Roll Poetry Non-Rhyming List Poetry Getting-to-Know-You Mobiles Acrostic Poetry Poetry Puzzles Alliterative Poetry Poetry Spinner Free-form Poetry Poetry Corners Short Rhyming Poetry Inkblot Poetry Couplets Best-Guess Poetry Square Cinquain Poetry Triple-Triorama Poetry Haiku Poetry Pleated Pop-Up Poetry Cinquain Poetry Poetic Number Line Alliterative Counting Poetry Straw-Painting Poetry Haiku Poetry Magnetic Poetry Non-rhyming Poetry Poem-Teller Guessing-Game Poetry Matchbook Poetry Free-form Poetry Paper-Bag Poetry Kite Tanka Poetry Reproducible Templates Quick Writing Guidelines for 10 Forms of Poetry

3 Introduction In classrooms across the country, teachers are reaching for poetry to help children play with language, exercise their imaginations, and explore their world. They use poetry to welcome the seasons and celebrate the curriculum. As poet Kathleen Hollenbeck explains: When teachers reach for poetry, they know they will be heard. Now you can help your young poets be heard as well. Poetry Projects With Pizzazz was written to help you inspire your students to express themselves through poetry. In the pages that follow, you ll find activities and opportunities to reach even your most reluctant writers. What makes this book so unique is that it was written with the help of over one hundred students in grades three through five. Poetry Projects With Pizzazz is a collection of our favorite projects, complete with project and poetry samples, simple poetry writing directions, and how-to steps to guide the way. While there is no right or wrong way to introduce or implement these projects, we hope you and your students will find them inspirational. To begin, you may find it helpful to demonstrate how to write each new poetry form for your class, using the guidelines on page 54 as support. When your students are comfortable with the form, invite them to write individual, pair, or small group poems. Whether you use them as they are, or create your own innovations, we are sure that you and your students will be delighted with the projects and the poems. Have fun writing! 5

4 Individual Project Poetry Journal Students create personal poetry journals. Eric Wright, a 5th-grade student, made this Poetry Journal. Inspiration The Poetry Journal is the perfect project for the beginning of any poetry unit. What better way to inspire students to write poetry than by inviting them to create a special book in which to do so? Project Materials 9 1 /2" by 9 1 /2" pieces of decorative paper, such as wrapping paper 2 pieces of light cardboard per student, each 4 1 /4" by 8 1 /2" Scissors Rubber cement 30" pieces of 1 /8" wide ribbon 8 1 /4" by 8 1 /4" pieces of colored paper 4 pieces of lined writing paper cut to 7 1 /2" wide by 8" long per student Extra-long stapler Pencils/pens/markers, art supplies Self-adhesive labels Rulers 6

5 Steps Students should begin by placing wrapping paper face down on the table Next, have students place the two cardboard pieces on top of the wrapping paper, leaving a half-inch border around the outer edges and an eighth-inch space between the cardboard pieces. Have students cut one small square out of each of the four corners of paper as shown. Then guide students in folding the corners of each piece of paper to form triangular flaps. Next, have students attach the paper to the cardboard by folding the edges over and pasting them down with rubber cement. Have students paste the ribbon to the center of the cover horizontally. Then have them glue the sheet of colored paper to the cardboard, covering the ribbon. Once all the glue has dried, students should fold the writing paper in half lengthwise, being careful to align the lines for writing. Once the pages are folded and aligned, students should make a hard crease; then unfold the paper and staple the pages into the center of the cover to form the book s spine. Have students write My Poetry Journal on their self-adhesive labels and invite them to decorate the label and cover in any way they wish. 7 Some students might enjoy creating their own writing or decorative paper for this project. Others might enjoy choosing decorative paper for their covers from a book of wallpaper samples. (You can get these free from many home-decorating stores or catalogs.)