Happy Poetry Friday! Mary Lee is
hosting over at A Year of Reading today.
We got a head start on Poetry
Month at our library with a three-session BUILD A POEM workshop in March. The
children were so receptive and shared their deep wells of creativity. We
probably didn’t change any lives, as Ms. Mirabel did in Word After Word After Word, but spending this time with six kids
from my town was a gift to me. I encourage other poets to step out and share
your love of writing poetry with kids. Here are some photos and samples poems
generated by 4th and 5th graders. Our focus was strong
verbs and words that feel good on your tongue.
We started with a mask poem,
becoming the tree that was living before it became the wood we wrote on.
William Carlos Williams’ poem “This is
Just to Say” was our model for apology poems.
I’m
sorry I ate the last I’m
sorry for stuffing you
piece
of strawberry pie in
your cat carrier
which
was probably for dessert, and
leaving you for an hour.
but
the crust was so flaky I’m
sorry for forgetting you
and
the inside so red and
for missing your dinner.
and
juicy.
Please
forgive me.
We experimented with the Six Room
Poem exercise from Georgia Heard’s Awakening
the Heart to write about a special place.
At each session, we wrote on wood
and boxes and built a Poem
Center for display.
The culminating activity was a
cupcake poem about spring!
Joyce, this looks like it was a lot of fun! I couldn't get the video to play, but I love the idea of the cupcake poems - I may do that with sugar cookies for this weekend!
ReplyDeleteYou accomplished so much in three sessions. I love the boxes idea and the cupcakes, too! Yum!
ReplyDeleteHands-on, 3D poetry! So many great ideas here, Joyce--thank you!
ReplyDeleteWonderful ideas, Joyce. And what young poet wouldn't want to end with a cupcake poem!
ReplyDeleteLoved reading about your workshop. I'm, er, a little partial to the strawberry pie poem and the cupcake poem . . . very cool idea!
ReplyDeleteI wish I could have been there. What fun. I can tell from the photos that the kids had a really good time writing their own poetry. Thank you for making poetry a celebration for children.
ReplyDeleteWhy weren't you my teacher? This looks like so much fun!
ReplyDeleteThere are some great ideas here! I really enjoyed the poems on wood idea.
ReplyDeleteFabulous workshop! Writing on wood, boxes, and cupcakes - unique! The cat in the carrier apology poem tickled my funny bone - poor kitty! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteBrilliant ideas, well executed. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI love Sara's poem! Also, the cupcakes! You're giving me ideas -- thanks!
ReplyDeleteOh, I want to hug this post! What a beautiful beautiful time you must have had! I love what you shared at Tamara's about giving poems at church too. And on wood here....wow! I would like to try this. Thank you for the inspiration this morning! a.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate everyone's comments and glad that my workshop may spark some ideas for your own workshops. I did have a great time with this. Thanks for visiting!
ReplyDeleteWonderful ideas! I could hear the little writers excited about their poems. I love the writing on boxes and the building of a display. I will definitely be stealing/borrowing ideas here. And then delicious cupcake poems. Yum! Thanks for stopping by my blog so I was directed to this post.
ReplyDeleteWhat fun, Joyce. I love Sara's poem on wood, and I'm imagining the voices, the excitement, the ideas! Yay!
ReplyDelete