Poetry Friday, Week 21: Preparing a Poetry Lesson

Patricia at Reverie is hosting Poetry Friday this week. Patricia is sharing a beautiful cento in honor of her fortieth wedding anniversary.  Congratulations, Patricia.


​Maybe I put the cart before the horse by posting the student poetry project last week. So this week, I'm sharing my process.

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​I Am

I am a blue dragonfly flitting
from word to word
I wake to the joy of sunrise 
I dream of the ocean and the full moon
I am a blue dragonfly flitting
from word to word
I understand my fingers are typesetters, typing words into poems
I worry about those I love
in the middle of the night
I believe the world needs more kindness
I am a blue dragonfly flitting
from word to word

© Jone Rush MacCulloch

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I started with writing in my note book figuring out what I might say. I wrote  a list: fruit or vegetable, animal, verb, color, machine and location.  
Thinking about students, decided to provide a few more options as shown below.

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Because I was in the class for two days. students were able to create the hands on one day and write the poems the next day. I wanted the students to think a little about the collage so they had this planning sheet. Not that they had to stick with it when creating the collage.
I find it helps a little.  

I brought in a container of papers and items for collage (benefits of creating mixed media).  I gave them a half sheet of 8 X 10 to collage on. Collage first. Trace hand.  Cut out  It is so interesting that some students were challenged to trace their hand and then cut it out.

I offered papers with words that might have some connection with students. At least one student wrote and cut out his own words.  I wished that I had more photos in my paper stash of a variety of animals. Students are resourceful because some of the kids drew their animals.

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Mrs. Fisher's Fifth Graders Poetry Art