Discover the Poet in You. By Sara BrennanSlowkowski

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Discover the Poet in You.By Sara
Brennan-Slowkowski
Introduction Do you like poetry? Does it have to
rhyme? This lesson will help you the answers to
these and many other questions you may have about
poetry reading and writing. You may even discover
that you are a poet at heart. Try out all of the
web sites in this project to get ideas,
suggestions, and helpful hints from the experts.

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Materials Needed

• Internet Access
• Student Journals
• Paper
• Pencils
• Construction Paper
• Glue
• Scissors

• Crayons
• Markers
• Stickers
• Glitter
• Various Other Decorative Material

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Before you read

• Choose one of the following activities to be done
  in your writing journal
• Write an acrostic poem using the letters of your
  first and last name. Click here to see an example
  of acrostic writing.
• Visit CHILDREN'S HAIKU GARDEN and experiment with
  writing and illustrating your own Haiku.
• Explore How to Write a Limerick and try it out!

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While you read

• Visit Poems for Children and Barking Spiders,
  (and other Such Stuff).
• Read at least ten different poems posted on these
  sites.
• In your journal, take notes on each poem that you
  read. Include information like title, author,
  subject, type of poem, mood of the poem,
  description of illustrations, and any other
  information that you feel is important.
• Choose your favorite poem and write me a letter
  that describes the poem and tells me why you
  liked it .

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After you read

• Visit one of the following sites to and
  complete all stages of the poetry workshop,
  (including meeting the poet, reading his or her
  poems, brainstorming, writing your own poem,
  revising, and publishing online)
• Poetry Writing with Jack Prelutsky
• Poetry Writing with Karla Kuskin
• Kristine O'Connell George's Tips for Young
  Poets

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Beyond Reading

• Edit, revise, and finalize your poem for the
  final steps.
• Make two copies of your poem, one handwritten and
  one typed in Notepad. Click here to begin typing.
• Use the construction paper, glue, and decorative
  materials to illustrate and frame you completed,
  handwritten poem. (These will be put on display
  outside our classroom!)
• Enter your typed copy into a poetry contest found
  at Giggle Poetry.

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Congratulations, you have discovered the poet in
you!
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• Print and complete the following checklist
• Did you
• Write a limerick, haiku, or acrostic poem in
  your journal? Yes/No
• Read a minimum of ten poems and take careful
  notes? Yes/No
• Write a letter to me describing the poem you
  liked best and telling me why you liked it?
  Yes/No
• Choose and complete all aspects of one of the
  three poetry workshops? Yes/No
• Write, illustrate, frame, and type your
  completed poem? Yes/No
• Did you learning something new about poetry?
  Yes/No
• Did you enjoy this project? Yes/No
• Comments/Reflections

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Rubric