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IMAGINATION STATION

WHY? integration of reading and writing, motivation to read
WHAT? Use some of the materials below to create books. Your students can write original poems for the books or copy favorite poems.
Big Book of Poems – Cut the sides off large paper grocery sacks and give one to each child. Ask them to write a poem on the bottom and illustrate it on the top. Put the children’s sacks together and bind with book rings to make a big book.
Gift Bags – Cut the front and back off a gift bag. Cut paper the size of the bag and give a sheet to each child. Encourage them to write a poem about their birthday, going to a party, a present, etc. Staple the poems in between the front and back of the bag.
Cookie Poem – Cut the front and back off a cookie box or cereal box. Cut paper the size of the box and give a sheet to each child. Children write a poem and illustrate it. Put the children’s papers in between the front and back of the box and bind with a book ring to make a book.

Bathtub Poem – Cut paper the size of a zip bag. (You can use the sandwich size or gallon size.) Have children write and illustrate a poem on their paper and then insert it in the bag and zip it up. For homework they read their poem in the bathtub!
Peek a Boo Poem – Give each child a file folder. Cut a 3 sided tab in the front of the folder as shown. You can also cut out a peek hole. Let children write and illustrate a poem on the inside of the file folder. Friends can “take a peek” and then read the poem.

Musical Poems – Play distinguishing music (classical, country, lullaby, march, jazz, etc.) for children to listen to. Ask them to write a poem suggested by the music.
Picture Poems – Cut out pictures from magazines, calendars, catalogs, etc. Let children choose a picture, and then write a poem about it.
Hand and Foot Poems – Children trace around their hand or their foot and then write a poem on the shape.
Fast Food Poem – Children bring in a bag from a fast food restaurant and then write an original poem on the bag. Put bags together to make a book.

Non-fiction Poetry

Let children write poems, rhymes, or riddles about concepts you are studying in science or social studies. They could write a poem about an animal, season, plant, community, historical character, etc.

Around the room – Write the first line of a poem on a sheet of paper. As you pass the sheet of paper around the room, each child adds another line to the poem. Hint! You could also put the first line of a poem on the board or on a poster and let the children add to it throughout the day.
Found poem – Children cut out words from a magazine or newspaper and then glue these on a piece of paper to create a poem.
Out and About Poems – Take children out on the playground for this activity. They will need to take paper, pencils, and something to write on. Have them “sit and watch.” After they are inspired by what they observe, invite them to write a poem.
Raps – If children are into rap music, have them take a nursery rhyme and turn it into a rap. They could also write original raps relating to a unit of study, holiday, etc.
Songs – Let children “read” the words to songs. You could also let them “sing” a poem. Give them the opportunity to create a poem and then sing it.
Rime Rhymes – Give every child a rime (all, at, ike, oat, eep…). Have them brainstorm words they can make from the rime and then write a rhyme with their rime.
Parodies of Familiar Rhymes – Let children take traditional nursery rhymes and songs and change the words, endings, characters, etc.
Grab Bag Poems – Each child brings an interesting object from home. Ask them to put their object in a sack so no one can see it. Children exchange sacks and then write a poem about what is in the bag.
Partner Poems – Divide children up into groups of two and challenge them to write a poem with their partner. (Small groups of 4 could also be used to write and illustrate poems.)
Giant Poems – Take children outside and let them write poems on the sidewalk with chalk.
Teeny Tiny Poems – Cut paper into 3” squares. Staple four squares together to make a small book. Ask children to write “tiny” poems in their “tiny books.”
Candy Poems – Save candy containers from mini M&Ms, breath mints, etc. Ask children to write poems about “sweet things” and store them in the empty candy containers. Have children share their poems with their classmates.
Spring Poems – Write poems about spring and fold them up to fit into plastic eggs. Keep the eggs in a basket and encourage children to read each other’s poems.
Long Poems – Give each child a strip of paper 11” long and 1 ½” wide. Have them write a long sentence or rhyme on their strip of paper. Roll it up and tie it with a ribbon.

COLLABORATIVE CLASS POETRY BOOK

WHY? motivation to read and write, editing skills
WHAT? construction paper, art media, binding machine or stapler
HOW? After students have had many opportunities writing poems, suggest that the class “publish” their own poetry book. Let each child choose one poem that they are proud. Work in small groups or with a partner to enable the children to edit their poems. Have children type their poems on a computer and illustrate with a black pen. Run off a copy for each child. Let them decorate a cover from construction paper and bind or staple to make copies of their classmates’ poems. Add a page for the “dedication,” “copyright date,” “publisher,” and “authors and illustrators.”
Hint! Let children vote on who they would like to dedicate their poetry book to.
The copyright date would be the day you complete the book.
The publisher would be your school.
Have all the children sign their names as contributing authors and illustrators.
You could also let the children make a table of contents, number the pages, add an ISBN number and bar code, etc.
Make sure you put a copy of your book in the school library!

PATCHWORK POETRY QUILT

WHY? motivation to read and write, cooperation
WHAT? paper cut in 10” squares, yarn, glue, colored butcher board paper, markers, crayons
HOW? Give each child a square and let them write an original poem or rhyme on the square. Let them decorate a frame around their poem with crayons. Glue the children’s squares to a large sheet of bulletin board paper. Be sure to leave at least an Inch between the squares. Take 12” pieces of yarn and tie them in bows. Glue the bows between the squares so it will look like a quilt. Hint! You can also punch holes in the corners of the squares and tie them together with yarn.
MORE? Use this technique to write poems about holidays, seasons, or units of study.

POETRY SCRIBES

WHY? motivation, creativity
WHAT? paper, colored pencils, pens, markers, crayons, samples of medieval writing
HOW? Show children pictures of writing from medieval times. Call their attention to the detail. How does the art compliment the words? They didn’t have copy machines or printers, so how long do you think it would take to do everything by hand? Sometimes the scribes would spend their whole lives copying manuscripts and drawing. Would you like to do that? Let children write an original poem or copy a poem on a sheet of paper. Then let them add details with curlicues and decorations.
MORE? Make paper that looks like parchment by soaking copy paper in coffee or tea for about ten minutes. Hang to dry and then it will look like parchment paper. You can also let the children wad up the paper several times before soaking it and the paper will look wrinkled!

POETRY ARTS

WHY? creativity, motor skills, motivation
WHAT? Use one the materials and activities below to help children make poems come alive through the arts.
Illustrations – After listening to a poem, have children close their eyes and make a picture of it in their heads. Then let them draw that picture on paper with crayons, markers, or colored pencils.

Paintings – Have children paint pictures of their favorite poems with water colors or tempera. These could be realistic or symbolic.
Collage – Let children choose a favorite poem and make a collage with magazine pictures, photographs, natural objects, or art media.
Windsock - Give children a sheet of paper 12” x 8”. Let them illustrate or write an original poem on the paper. Next, glue 12” x 1” tissue paper strips on the bottom of the paper. Bring the edges together to make a cylinder and staple. Punch 3 holes in the top and tie on 12” pieces of string. Bring the ends of the string together and knot.
Pennants and Banners – Cut pennant and banner shapes out of construction paper and let children write or illustrate poems on them.
Puzzle Poems – Cut cardboard or tag board into 12” squares. Let children write original poems or copy poems on the cardboard. Then give them makers and crayons to illustrate their poems. Finally, have them cut the square into puzzle shapes. Store in a zip bag. Let children exchange puzzles and put them together and read.
Poetry Posters – First, each child should write an original poem. Edit their poems. Next, have children type their poems on the computer. Finally, glue the poems to a poster board and have children decorate with paints, markers, and other art media. Hint! Children could also select a favorite poem or nursery rhyme and make a poster from it.
Presents – Invite children to copy favorite poems or make up original verses as gifts for Christmas, Mother’s Day, etc. Frame the poem with cardboard, construction paper, puzzle pieces, etc.
Puppets, Sculptures, and Bookmarks – Let children use a “scrap box” or “junk box” to create other “artful” objects for poems.

LIGHTS, CAMERAS, DRAMATIZE!

WHY? multiple intelligences, creativity
WHAT? poems
HOW? After reading poems several times, let children suggest movements to enhance the poems.
Sound Effects - Let children listen to a poem and add sound effects. (Wind, rain, animal sounds, etc.)
Pantomime - Divide children into small groups and let them choose a poem that they would like to present to the class. One child could read while the others pantomime or create a human statue.
Movie - Make a video recording of the children dramatizing poems, and then play it back for them to enjoy. You could also let students take the video home to share with their families.
Music - Children select a favorite poem and then find music that reminds them of the poem. Play the music in the background as you read the poem.

MOVING TO THE BEAT

WHY? rhythm, creative expression, exercise
WHAT? poems, songs, paper towel rolls, paper plates, rhythm instruments
HOW? Encourage children clap, dance, snap, hop, march, and make other movements as you read poems. Let children make up original motions or dances for poems.
MORE? Each child will need 2 paper towel rolls to make rhythm sticks. Let them paint their rolls or decorate them with markers. Use the rolls to keep rhythm by beating them on the floor or tapping them together as poems are read or recited. Paper plates can also be used like rhythm instruments to keep the beat.

POETRY PROPS

Microphone – Make a microphone from a paper towel roll. Cover the roll with aluminum foil and attach a piece of string.

Soap Box – Use a plastic milk crate or large wooden block as a platform for children to stand on as they recite poems.
Recording Studio – Cut one side off a large cardboard box and place it on a table. Put a tape recorder inside and invite children to go to the “recording studio” and read or recite a poem.
Laureate Crowns – Make crowns from the outer rim of paper plates. Glue on construction paper leaves or real leaves. Let children wear their crowns as they read.

Hats and Vests – Make hats or vests out of grocery sacks and construction paper and use for poetry recitations.

HOME/SCHOOL POETRY CONNECTIONS

WHY? parental involvement; modeling
WHAT? no materials are needed
HOW? Ask children to go home and interview their parents about poetry. Involve them in generating questions they would like to ask their parents. Do you like poems? Why? Why not? What’s your favorite poem? Do you have a favorite poet? Did you learn any poems when you were a child? Do you have a poetry book? Let children share results of parent surveys with classmates.

• Invite parents in to read poems to children.
• Encourage children to read poetry with their parents.
• Share poetry sites for children in newsletters or post on your class website.