Happy Friday~Poetry Writing Stations! (with files)

Though we are all sort of burning the midnight oil by this time of year, at the end of a jam packed week, I thoroughly enjoyed my Friday today.  I thought I'd share this poetry lesson which has gone well every single time I've done it, in every class, for several years, and with middle school students, that's rare :)  The materials are provided below.

We've been studying poetry, paying lots of attention to rhythm, line breaks, punctuation, mood and figurative language.  Students had written and shared some of their own poetry, but it was time to give them more opportunities to generate their own poetry, and at the ripe date of May 27th with seventh graders, it was time for multiple modalities...

I created six stations at tables.  Each station has directions and materials on it.  At each station, students are required to read the directions, explore the materials, and attempt to write a poem.  The goal is really just to get some lines and ideas from each station.  At the end of the day, they choose their favorite exercise(s) to work into a full length poem or poems.  

The stations are as follows:

Station 1: Picture Poetry 

This station is filled with interesting images.  I have a set of postcards with Keith Haring's work (post card collections are great for this).  I have a set of large prints of Chris Van Allsberg's art, a book of photography, a book with photos of military jets, etc.  Students must choose an image as an inspiration for a poem.

Station 2: Listening Poetry

This station has laptops that are loaded with a folder with 8 instrumental songs from diverse genres and all over the world.  I include jazz, classical, drum & bass, Led Zeppelin, klezmer, hip hop scratching, choir music, Fela Kuti, etc.  Students explore the music, listening with headphones, and choose a piece to use as inspiration for poetry.

Station 3: Objects Poetry

This station has interesting, diverse, and curious objects. Today these included a jar of India ink, a squishy rubber buffalo, a Mexican Day of the Dead miniature diorama, a lock with a key, a worn cloth bracelet, etc. Students must choose an object to observe and explore kinesthetically, then use as the inspiration for a poem.

Station 4: Stole Lines Poetry

This station has a bin full of poetry books.  Students must peruse the books, reading through a few poems.  Then they choose one line from a poem to "steal" and use as the first line to their own poem. The can use the mood of the original as inspiration or not.  (Students used their own judgement about whether to put quotations around the line and cite the poet, depending on the nature of the line. In some cases the lines are so innocuous as not to need it; ie "My father always said.")

Station 5: Letter Poems

In this station students are given an example to read of a poem that is written as a letter.  It begins, "Dear tomorrow..."  They must choose a person, object, animal, or idea to which they will address their own letter poem, and then write their poem.

Station 6: Cinquains

Students had already learned about the American form of poetry invented by Brooklyn poet, Adelaide Crapsey, in 1871, called the Cinquain.  It has five lines and they follow the particular syllabic pattern or 2,4,6,8,2.  Students write cinquains at this station.  I have a box full of possible "first lines" with two syllables, for example, "listen" or "If I" or "gray shark." Students may pick these out of the box if they want.

Students rotate through the stations in their table groups (approximately 4 students per group.)  I have found that about seven minutes is an ideal time to spend at each station.  It is always interesting to see how students respond to different modalities.  All students seem to enjoy the day, and many students who resist writing poetry are finally inspired to experiment with language and their thoughts on the page.  Students who are avid poets, but who get stuck in the same time of writing every time usually get some fresh ideas.  It is also a great lead in to revisions of poems. 

Attached below are the printed materials I used today.  

First, a packet which I printed double sided, and double stapled so it opens like a booklet.  It begins with some general directions for the day and is formatted for them to write everything inside.  If your students have special poetry notebooks to write in, there is no need for something like this.  Also attached are the directions I used for each table, designed by me and my co-teacher (learning specialist) Daniel Brink-Washington. (Note: not presented in the order listed above.)  I put several copies of directions printed on colored paper on each table in transparent binder sleeves.  

Download Poetry stations packet

Download Poetry Stations Directions Sheets

If you try this activity, or already do something like it, please share about it!

 

[image credits~  Keith Haring piece: blogs.hightechhigh.org; headphones: goodhousekeeping.com; inkwell: superstock.com; letters: aldispainters.blogspot.com]

Comments

[laniza]

Thank you for the resources. This sounds like a fabulous lesson & hands on learning for the students.

[Pandora Beads]

Thank you for the resources.

[Rosie Virok]

Thank you for sharing. Can't wait to use these ideas next school year.

[logo design]

I am already convinced that a collaborative approach is the hallmark of a great classroom, now I see how twitter can add in professional development. Call me a recent convert and thanks for the hashtag listing.

[Glass dining table]

I really like your post Thanks for sharing such a nive information