Making Words our Brush and Palette
Define the term ‘poetry’
What makes poetry different from
prose?
What do you like/dislike about
poetry?
Activity 1) Set up a page in your Writers’ Notebook for poem ideas
Activity 2) Set up a page in your Daybook for poetic words and phrases
H/W: You are to finish mapping your heart. Make your work as creative as possible
Your poetic hearts will be contact papered onto your desks for the rest of the year!
Optional: Once students have created their heart, have them write a poem
Inside My Heart
by Zoe Ryder White
Inside my heart lives
One birthday party
Two jazz bands
Three wrestling puppies
Four dancing birds
Five laughing babies
Six blasting spaceships
Seven lucky fireflies and
A sky full of stars
Lesson 2
 See, Think, Wonder
 One example of
looking at things more
deeply.
 What do you see?
 What do you think
about it?
 What do you wonder
about it?
Words for SEE THINK WONDER – apply this to a poem you have just read
Session 2 Immersion
In Flanders Fields
by John McCrae, May 1915
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
http://youtu.be/K6BlOkpdkg8
 Wikipedia
Session 3. Characteristics of effective poetry
Did you find these elements
Share your thinking:
Great words or phrases
Title/author
Journey
Organization – Beg/middle/End
Word Choice
Stanzas
Balance
3 Rs
Poetic Devices
Punctuation
White Space and line breaks
Rule follower or Rule Breaker?
Session 4 Kennings Poetry
The most important element of poems – Word choice
Let’s brainstorm everything we know about teachers and teaching below
Teaching/Teacher
Session 5 Where does poetry hide?
safety pin
Closed, it sleeps
On its side
Quietly,
The silver
Image
Of some
Small fish;
Opened, it snaps
Its tail out
Like a thin
Shrimp, and looks
At the sharp
Point with a
Surprised eye.
The Pencil Sharpener
I think there are a hundred
bees
inside the pencil sharpener and they buzz
and buzz
until my point
is sharp!
--Zoe Ryder White
The drinking fountain squirted me.
It shot right up my nose.
It felt as if I'd stuck my nostril
on the garden hose.
It squirted water in my eye
and also in my ear.
I'm having trouble seeing
and it's really hard to hear.
The water squirted east and west.
It squirted north and south.
Upon my shirt, my pants, my hair,
but nothing in my mouth.
I'm sure that soon they'll fix it
but, until then, let me think...
just whom can I convince that they
should come and have a drink?
--Kenn Nesbitt
Icicles
Adapted from the poem by Mark Irwin
Slender beards of light
Hanging from the railing
Like daggers in the ceiling
Screaming with threats
An echo of piano notes
Crashing down in anger
The cave roared with pain
As each dagger wounds
A strange shape
Glistening like snow
Blunt or sharp
In row after row
Like tiny crystal diamonds
One by one they are invisible
The walrus tooth is gone
The cave is full with peace
Many clear walrus teeth
Lined up like soldiers
Suddenly they break loose
It was an almighty charge
H/W - Day 1
Invictus
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeoning of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.
What does this poem make you
feel?
Listen to the sounds and the
meaning of the words, what
words stand out to you?
Does the poem remind you of
anything in your own life?
What pictures do you see in your
mind?
H/W Day 2
Invictus
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeoning of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.
Draw or paint a picture
of the images of the
poem in your mind. You
can illustrate the poem
on a single sheet of
paper.
H/W Day 3
Invictus
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeoning of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.
Express the poem through arm
movements.
OR
Home Learning Tonight: for tomorrow,
bring in a letter, a photograph, an
object, another poem, a book, a song, or
anything that will help you connect to
the poem.
H/W Day 4
Invictus
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeoning of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.
Write a call and response
poem for this; in other
words, a poem for two
voices.
Session 6 Personification Walk
We are going on a walk – to the lobby. Write down
five things you notice – (i.e. the clouds, sky, leaves,
grass, wind, and so on).
Choose one and make a list of at least five ways your
subject seems human or animal-like.
Example: Trees = Giant hands reaching towards the
sky.
Session 7 – Mentor Text
The Beach
On my first trip to the beach
The sea refused to cooperate.
It kept curling and whirling
bobbing and weaving
clearing its throat
whenever a wave drew back.
It kept moving and grooving
shucking and jiving
dishing and dancing
razzling and dazzling
wouldn’t keep still even
long enough to shake hands.
He traveled a fast as a horse
As swift as an eagle
Like a bullet
Cruising through the sky
Lunch tasted like
The forest is as ….
She sang like
The journey was as a…
Lesson 9: Writing poetically using extended metaphors
The Moon
The moon is a daddy to the sun
So when the moon
tucks in the sun
For the night
And kisses his son
And says sleep tight
The moon takes over his son’s place
He holds the sky.
Compass
It stands
On bright silver leg,
Toe sharp and pointed.
The other leg draws
A perfect circle
Like a skater gracefully
Tracing
Half a figure eight
On paper ice.
Its silver skirt above
Measures out inches
--two – three – four --Widening spheres
Of mathematical perfection.
Her voice was a river
Category - Humans
Eyes
Mouth
Heart
Hair
Veins
Bones
Category – Nature
Trees
Lakes
Mountains
Streams
Boulders
Volcanoes
Dusk
Her voice was a river,
seeping through my veins.
An aroma from nature.
Attempting to ease my pain.
Her touch echoed in the breeze;
stroking my emptying soul.
But her words were boulders,
crushing my brittle bones.
My heart became a raging volcano.
Touch
Stroke
Pour
Breeze
My eyes pouring streams.
My head bowed to the darkness.
Broken.
I collapsed to my knees.
Choose one of these metaphors to extend or use one of
the metaphors from your H/W list from last night
1. The house was blue
2. The fog strangled the land
3. His face was novel
4. The classroom is a battlefield
5. Spaghetti writing
Tip: First…Think of synonyms for the red words
Session 10: Using Figurative Language
The Taste of Summer
Outside
Showing
Blades of grass blended into one
The sun a moon but not the stars
Telling
Color
Shape
Texture
Shining and inviting to the touch
The smile that dessert always brings
Smell
Inside
Color
Shape
Texture
Smell
Taste
White and wet and filled with freshness
Two halves separating brotherly moons
Harsh when touched
But ready to be baked
Creating almost instantly
The taste that summer makes
TASK. Create an Inside/Outside that describes yourself
Outside – How others might see you
Inside – How you really are/feel
Appearance
A. Decide on categories
Size
Emotions
B. Decide on a Format
Outside
Outside
Outside
or
Inside
Inside
Outside
Inside
Inside
C. Create Powerful ending
D. ‘Show’ don’t Tell – Use Poetry Format
Lesson 11 – Strategies to read and understand poetry
T. = Title and presentation
e.g. Look for clues related to the topic of the poem
E.= Eye Images
e.g. What can we see/hear/feel through the poem (imagery)
P. = Perspective
e.g. Look for clues to decide who is the speaker and their perspective on the
topic
R. = Retell
e.g. Clarify the meaning of words and phrases and retell the poem in your words
Y. = WhY
e.g. search for reasons why this poem was written. Is there a message/big
idea?
O. = Offer your opinion of the poem
e.g. Support your ideas with evidence
Lesson 11 – Strategies to read and understand poetry
P. = Perspective
e.g. Look for clues to decide who is the speaker and their perspective on the
topic
O. . = Offer your opinion of the poem
e.g. Support your ideas with evidence
E. = Eye Images
e.g. What can we see/hear/feel through the poem (imagery)
T. = Title and presentation
e.g. Look for clues related to the topic of the poem
R. = Retell
e.g. Clarify the meaning of words and phrases and retell the poem in your words
Y. = WhY?
e.g. search for reasons why this poem was written. Is there a message/big idea?
Session 11: Narrative Poetry
Largest steamboat ever created
A devastating piece of history awaited
Unsinkable they boasted
First class people hosted
Sailed off from Great Britain to N.Y.C.
People in ballrooms sipping hot tea
People in third class relaxed
As the ship’s crew past
The Titanic hit an ice burg at twelve o’ clock
Everyone wished they hadn’t left the dock
Children and women crowded the lifeboats
Others clamored for anything that floats
Rowing in the cold as ice weather
Carpathia saved 705 altogether
It was one of the most terrible accidents at sea
That left us with all the great mysteries
Event___________
What events is being
described in the poem?
Can you put arm
movements to the poem
that communicate the
poem’s message?
Session 11: Where Poetry Hides:
The Five Doors of Poetry
Heart Door
How My Mom Left
My mom left long ago
We came here long ago
I look at the stars
I wonder which one
My mom lives on
I look at a big one
It fills up my heart
And that’s the one
I think she’s on.
The Wonder Door
I wonder???
I wonder where the frogs sleep,
And where they hide?
Maybe they are hiding in the water,
And they don’t sleep at all.
I wonder what they just ate?
How do they communicate?
I wonder.
I WONDER
By: Jeannie Kirby
I wonder why the grass is green,
And why the wind is never seen?
Who taught the birds to build a nest,
And told the trees to take a rest?
O, when the moon is not quite round,
Where can the missing bit be found?
Who lights the stars, when they blow out,
And makes the lightning flash about?
Who paints the rainbow in the sky,
And hangs the fluffy clouds so high?
Why is it now, do you suppose,
That Dad won’t tell me, if he knows?
Why? How? When? If?
Teaching the poem "I Wonder" by Jeannie Kirby
Observation Door
Settling Nightfall
Night settles on the earth
As all is quiet.
None but the crickets speak
In voice or word.
But many things speak in silence
While the world goes by.
And people wonder
Why there is a night
And why it comes
And why they are dreaming about it
Just then.
Firecrackers explode and bang.
Cymbals and temple bells have rang.
dragons parade through the street.
Chinese new year, a yearly treat.
Fireworks Explode in the skies,
a special treat for children's eyes.
celebrations are all we hear,
For the animal of the year.
This year, however, is the best.
dragons are king o'er all the rest.
sixty years passed reaching her own.
Golden dragon is on her throne.
What does this student
write about?
Concerns about the World Door
The Homeless
Beauty in the world,
Is almost done,
Beauty in the world
Is leaking through,
Love is soaring all around,
But in the wilderness
Some people wonder,
If they’ll ever have hope,
The happiness is beyond their reach,
Love is still not done.
Questions Door
 the world?
 your lives?
 what you’re studying in school?
 the universe?
Sometimes I sit and wonder
About topics I don’t get
Just like the simple question
Why is water wet?
Is it wet to set off fires,
to save innocent people’s lives?
Or is it wet to rinse off soap
On spoons, forks, and knives
Is it wet to mix with powders,
To make drinks like lemonade?
Or is it wet to water the plants
So they don’t feel betrayed?
Is it wet to create new elements
Or forms of plant earth
Or is it wet because…it is wet
Really, what else could it be worth?
Lesson 12 Poetry has Music and Meaning
The Living Years
Every generation blames the one before
And all of their frustrations come beating on your door
I know that I'm a prisoner to all my father held so dear
I know that I'm a hostage to all his hopes and fears
I just wish I could have told him in the living years
Crumpled bits of paper filled with imperfect thought
Stilted conversations I’ m afraid that’s all we’ve got
You say you just don't see it. He says its perfect sense
You just cant get agreement. In this present tense
We all talk a different language. Talking in defense
Say it loud, say it clear.
You can listen as well as you hear
Its too late when we die
To admit we don't see eye to eye
So we open up a quarrel. Between the present and the past
We only sacrifice the future. Its the bitterness that lasts
So don't yield to the fortunes. You sometimes see as fate
It may have a new perspective. On a different day
And if you don't give up, and don't give in
You may just be o.k.
Lesson 13 – Strategies to read and understand poetry
T. = Title and presentation
e.g. Look for clues related to the topic of the poem
E.= Eye Images
e.g. What can we see/hear/feel through the poem (imagery)
P. = Perspective
e.g. Look for clues to decide who is the speaker and their perspective on the
topic
R. = Retell
e.g. Clarify the meaning of words and phrases and retell the poem in your words
Y. = WhY
e.g. search for reasons why this poem was written. Is there a message/big
idea?
O. = Offer your opinion of the poem
e.g. Support your ideas with evidence
Invictus
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeoning of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.
Bank of Poems
The next group of slides are just a
collection of poems that you might
want to share with your students
THE ROAD
NOT TAKEN
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that, the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
two roads diverged in a wood, and I -I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
Robert Frost
Quilt
Our family
is a quilt
of odd remnants
patched together
in a strange
pattern,
threads fraying,
fabric wearing thin—
but made to keep
its warmth
even in bitter
Cold
by Janet Wong
18 Flavors
18 lucious flavors, scrumptious flavorschoclate, lime and cherry,
coffee, pumpkin, fudge-banana,
caramel cream, and boysenberry,
rocky road and toasted almond,
butterscotch, vanilla dip,
butter-brickle, apple ripple,
coconut and mocha chip,
brandy peach and limon custard,
each scoop lovley, smooth, and round,
tallest icecream cone in town,
lying there (sniff) on the ground.
- Shel Silverstein
Went to the corner
Walked in the store
Bought me some candy
Ain’t got it no more
Ain’t got it no more
Went to the beach
Played on the shore
Built me a sandhouse
Ain’t got it no more
Ain’t got it no more
Went to the kitchen
Lay down on the floor
Made me a poem
Still got it
Still got it
by Eloise Greenfield
April Rain Song
Langston Hughes
Let the rain kiss you.
Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops.
Let the rain sing you a lullaby.
The rain makes still pools on the sidewalk.
The rain makes running pools in the gutter.
The rain plays a little sleep song on our roof at night –
And I love the rain.
When the Roses Revolted
The roses were fed up.
They were sick sick sick
Of being symbols for love.
One night they revolted,
crept out of flower shops,
jumped out of windows
and touched the dirt!
They spent that night
drinking real night air,
carousing with clover,
boogying with bluebells,
dancing with dandelions,
and in this way
rediscovered their
roots.
My People
by Langston Hughes
The night is beautiful,
So the faces of my people.
The stars are beautiful,
So the eyes of my people.
Beautiful, also, is the sun.
Beautiful, also, are the souls of my people.