INTRODUCTORY ACTIVITIES
Creating the Environment
Introduce students to the delights of poetry by immersing them in a
world of imaginative literature. In order to create an environment where
children can encounter poetry all around them through literature
collections, classroom displays and authentic learning experiences, you
may wish to try one of these activities.
The Poetry Corner
Establish a setting in the classroom where students can read, respond to
and write poems. Have the children create a “Poetry Corner” complete
with a rocking chair, pillows, sofa or rug, and a collection of poetry
books related to a chosen theme, such as the Environment. Invite
students to spend time there, reading items in the collection. Provide art
materials and journals that learners can use to express their personal
responses to poetry. Include a variety of paper products (e.g., decorative
stationary), writing supplies (e.g., colored pens, calligraphy markers etc.)
and a computer that students can use to compose their own poems.
Encourage the students to bring in objects that may inspire poetry
writing and display them at the Poetry Corner. Enrich the learning
environment with visual displays of poetry too.
“Poet Tree” Bulletin Board
One way to create an atmosphere in the classroom where poetry can
come to life is to design a bulletin board display featuring a tree where
students can attach poems about the Environment, or another theme, to
the branches. This collection can feature the works of famous poets,
selections from children’s anthologies or poems produced by the
students themselves. Encourage students to contribute phrases and
poems at any time. Setting up a “poet tree” as a permanent feature in the
classroom can illustrate the pleasure of words and the language of
poetry throughout the year.
Sources of Poetry
• Poetry books
• Poetry anthologies
• Songbooks
• Sheet music
• Hymnbooks
• Song lyrics
• Greeting cards
• Advertisements
• Slogans
• Nursery rhymes
• Traditional ballads
• Poetic verse
• Schoolyard rhymes
• Chants
• Lyrical prose
Discovering Poetry
Poetry provides an open door for sharing stories, expressing emotions,
creating images, using powerful language and entertaining readers
young and old alike. Invite children to discover the world of poetry by
surrounding them with poems and having them interact with poems in
a natural and personal way. Here are some activities to get started.
Creating a Poetry Display
Poetry exists all around us. As shown in the box on this page, poetry can
take many different forms.
Invite students to share examples of poetry from their daily lives by
recounting nursery and schoolyard rhymes, reading greeting cards,
A Project Approach to Language Learning 77
Types Of Poetry
• Acrostics
• Diamantes
• Cinquains • Haiku
• Couplets
• Tanka
• Limericks • Five W
• Lyrics
• Narrative
• Concrete
• Traditional
• Pattern
• Modern
Poetry
• Free Types
Verse Of
• Empathy
•• Rhyming
Acrostics •• Puzzle
Diamantes
•• Humorous
Cinquains •• Imitative
Haiku
•• Image
Couplets •• AutobioTanka
•• Found
Limericks • graphical
Five W
•• Triads
•• Triolets
Lyrics
Narrative
•• Syllable
Concrete •• Contrast
Traditional
•• Quatrains
Pattern
• Modern
• Free Verse • Empathy
• Rhyming • Puzzle
• Humorous • Imitative
• Image
• Autobio• Found
graphical
• Triads
• Triolets
• Syllable
• Contrast
• Quatrains
78
Creating Poetry
examining song lyrics and reciting poems dealing with a common topic
or theme. Arrange a trip to the school or local library where students can
gather their own poetry collections. Ask learners to locate poetry books
and anthologies on a range of topics related to a chosen theme, such as
the Environment. Encourage students to bring in poems and poetry
books from home to feature in the classroom collection. Assemble these
literary works in a poetry display. Invite students to sign out books from
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Introducing
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CORE
ACTIVITIES
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Provide opportunities for students to listen to a variety of poems
throughout the year. Encounters with poetry in this way will enable
CORE ACTIVITIES
children
to experience various forms and styles before writing their own.
To engage students in read-aloud experiences, you may wish to:
Reading
Poetry
• Introduce young people to different types of poetry such as:
– an
narrative;
Share
enthusiasm and enjoyment for poetry by reading it aloud.
Provide opportunities for students to listen to a variety of poems
throughout the year. Encounters with poetry in this way will enable
children to experience various forms and styles before writing their own.
To engage students in read-aloud experiences, you may wish to:
• Introduce young people to different types of poetry such as:
– narrative;
78
Creating Poetry