FeedWacky Wednesday: National Poetry Month Activities with Young Students
March 17, 2010 in Elementary Educators, Katz Bobbi, Making Personal Connections, Picture Book, Preschool to 1st grade teachers, Wacky Wednesday, Writing Skills, poetry, six traits of writing Tags: Bobbi Katz, More Pocket Poems, National Poetry Month 2010, poetry for elementary students, poetry month April, Wacky Wednesday
I talked about this book last week, too, for one that is great to share during National Poetry Month 2010 or any poetry unit you do with elementary students. More Pocket Poems edited by Bobbi Katz is a sequel, of course, to Pocket Poems. So, actually, either one is nice for sharing poetry with young students. Today, I wanted to point out some poems from More Pocket Poems and activities you could do with them.
One of the first poems in the book is “March” by Emily Dickinson. It starts: “Dear March, come in!” Children could take any month they want to write about and follow Emily Dickinson’s format to write their own poems. For example, you could write: “Dear May, come in! How excited I am! I looked for you before. Put down your hoe, you must have worked, In the garden ’til you’re sore.” Or something like that. . .:)
Another poem in the book is “August Ice Cream Cone Poem,” and it’s two words long: “Lick quick.” This is a great one to discuss with students, starting with, “Why is this a poem?” and talking about how important poem titles are. Without this title, the poem would not make any sense. Children can try to come up with their own rhyming word pairs and then a title and illustration to create a poem.
The poem “The Taste of Purple” is filled with great imagery that makes you want to eat some grapes. Bring in some grapes while you enjoy this poem with your students; of if you home school, share some grapes with your children. Then ask them to write a response to this poem in their reading response journals. (Part of National Poetry Month 2010 activities can be writing and discussing poetry as well as creating some.) SO, in their journals, they should write if they agree with the author that her poem describes what purple tastes like. They should also discuss what they think other colors taste like. For example, children can pick their favorite color, think of foods that are that color, and then write a poem based on these thoughts.
Do you have any poetry activities you do on a regular basis in your classroom or at home to celebrate National Poetry Month 2010 in April or during a poetry unit?
March 19th, 2010 at 6:19 pm
“PAWS FOR POETRY” CONTEST INSPIRES KIDS TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL POETRY MONTH BY WRITING ODES TO THEIR FAVORITE FOUR-LEGGED FRIENDS
April is National Poetry Month. The 3rd Annual “Paws for Poetry” Contest Challenges Kids to Write Sonnets to Spaniels, Prose for Persian Cats
Colorado Springs, CO (March1, 2010) –April marks the 14th anniversary of National Poetry Month.
To help celebrate, budding Emily Dickinsons and Edgar Allan Poes are encouraged to participate in the 3rd annual “Paws for Poetry” Contest (PawsforPoetry.org). To enter, children ages 5-12 are to write a poem to, and provide a photo of, their favorite animal friend. The contest is co-sponsored by kids’ virtual field trip Web site Meet Me at the Corner (MeetMeAtTheCorner.org) and Flashlight Press (FlashLightPress.com ).
Original poems of any length may be submitted in one of two categories: Group One (ages 5-9) and Group Two (ages 10-12). One grand prize winner in each category will receive a prize package worth $50.00. Two runners-up in each category will receive a $25.00 gift package. Children’s author, poet, and Iraqi war veteran Thad Krasnesky, writer of the upcoming “That Cat Can’t Stay” (Flashlight Press, 2010) is the contest judge.
In addition to the prize packages, winning poems and pet photos will be highlighted in an upcoming Meet Me at the Corner video pod cast. The pod cast will be videotaped at New York’s Angellicle Cat Rescue Center. Local students will present the winning poems.
All submissions should be mailed to “Paws for Poetry” Contest, c/o Meet Me at the Corner, 20 West Del Norte, Colorado Springs, CO, 80908. The contest deadline is April 15, 2010.
For more information, rules and submission guidelines, visit PawsforPoetry.org.
March 23rd, 2010 at 11:28 pm
I like your blog and your book recommendations.
Thanks for posting them.