Reading and Writing Poetry
October 16th 2009 13:49
Reading and Writing Poetry - page 1 of 6
Print above image and use with pages 2 to 6.
Printing Instructions
Reading and Writing Poetry - Notes for Teachers.
Writing Poetry
Notes for Teachers
This activity integrates reading with writing poetry.
The children become poets.
This activity can also easily be integrated with Art, Listening and Speaking, Writing, Science, Health, Society and Environment.
Children love the rhythm of language, especially poetry, and they enjoy writing their own poems. As with everything else, the more practise they have the more proficient they become and the more they appreciate poetry that is read to them.
This activity can be used at any Year Level. Each child will work at his/her own level of development and vocabulary.
Each child has reading practise as he/she reads the poems and instructions on the worksheet(s).
Comprehension and following instructions skills are improved as they carry out the written instructions given on the worksheet and oral instructions given by the teacher. These are important skills for each child to develop.
The children are also encouraged to be responsible for their own learning and presentation of their work when they are asked to ‘Admire/Rate’ their own work at the end of the activity.
An interesting and easy way to introduce/extend poetry writing is:
• Each child chooses a topic (or the whole class could write on the same topic, chosen by the teacher, which integrates the activity with another Learning Area. eg Science (plants, flowers, animals, water … ), Health (happy, sad, exercise, food …)
• Write the topic on the first line.
• The lines following the topic are words or phrases about the topic. Each word or phrase goes on a different line.
• Conclude with a ‘rounding off’ word or phrase.
This activity can easily be integrated with the Art Learning Area with each child illustrating their poem.
The illustrations and poems make a colourful display.
The illustrations can be created on the same piece of paper as the poem or a larger illustration on another piece of paper.
You may wish to present some (all) of the poems at a School Assembly.
Another idea is to create a class mural (colourful Art activity) using a topic being studied in one of the Learning Areas.
eg. Plants, Insects, Planets, Dinosaurs, Frogs, Flowers, Seasons etc.
Each child writes a poem about the topic and attaches it to/around the edge of the Mural.
This activity can be used to write poems using ‘Christmas’ as the topic. A colourful Christmas
display can be created when integrated with the Art activity.
The poems do not have to be displayed on the rectangular piece of paper. After the poem has been written the paper can be trimmed into any ‘cloud’ shape.
Hint: Drawing around the edge of each shape with a broad tipped colour marker enhances the display.
Two worksheets follow:
• one for writing the poem
• the second one for creating an illustration to accompany the poem
Teacher Notes accompany each worksheet.
You can choose to cover one or both worksheets, depending on your programme and time constraints.
Reading and Writing Poetry - page 2 of 6
Print above image and use with pages 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6.
Printing Instructions
Reading and Writing Poetry - Poems to read.
My cat,
fluffy,
ginger,
playful,
little,
purrs,
He’s the best.
Flowers,
roses
and pansies
and daisies,
grow in the garden,
are colourful,
red and pink and yellow and white,
I love flowers.
Happiness is,
singing,
dancing,
birthday parties,
going to the beach,
playing with my friends,
Lots of things make me happy.
I am happy when I make other people happy too.
Reading and Writing Poetry - page 3 of 6
Print above image and use with pages 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6.
Printing Instructions
Let's Write a Poem.
Name: .
Let’s Write a Poem - Worksheet
Today you are going to write a poem.
1. Read the poems on the page your teacher has given you.
2. Listen to your teacher’s instructions for discussing the poem in pairs, small
groups or as a class group.
===========================
3. Now that you have studied the poems and understand the structure required,
your teacher will give you a special piece of paper on which you will write the
draft of your own poem.
When you have written your poem tick the box.
4. Edit your poem.
When you have finished editing your poem tick the box.
5. Take your work to your teacher who will enjoy listening to you reading your
poem and discussing it with you.
Your teacher will give you a special piece of paper on which you will write the
final copy of your poem.
6. Carefully copy your poem onto the paper. Make this your very best work as this
copy is going to be displayed (published). It should be neat, with no spelling or
punctuation mistakes. This is why you edited your work.
Remember, you are the poet so write your name on a line of its own at the
end of your poem.
When you have finished the final copy of your poem tick the box.
Have you checked your work to make sure it is ready to be published?
When you have tick the box.
7. Rate your work:
My poem is:
GOOD VERY GOOD MY VERY BEST WORK
Reading and Writing Poetry - page 4 of 6
Print above image and use with pages 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6.
Printing Instructions
Let's Write a Poem - Notes for the Teacher.
Let’s Write a Poem
Notes for the Teacher
Suggestion: Divide this task into two or three lessons, as best suits your situation.
Remember – children need time to produce their best work.
============================= ====
Give each child a copy of the poems.
1. Children read the poems.
2. Children discuss the poems – in pairs, small groups or class group – to discover the structure of the
poems.
Discuss findings in a class group and black/white board the suggestions.
With skilful questioning from you the class will come up with the following:
• Write the topic on the first line.
• The lines following the topic are words or phrases about the topic. Each word or phrase goes on a different line.
• Conclude with a ‘rounding off’ word or phrase.
Discuss length of lines (no restrictions), shape of poems, punctuation etc
Note: The quality of these discussions will benefit the quality of the poetry created by the children.
The children need to have a clear idea of what is being asked of them.
3. Give each child a piece of paper on which he/she will write the draft of his/her poem.
Ticking the box encourages the child to complete the task and be responsible for her/his own learning.
4. Each child edits his/her own poem.
If the children are not used to editing their work now is a good time to start.
Children need training in what is required in the process of editing their work for eg spelling,
punctuation, any other improvements they wish to add.
Ticking the box encourages the child to complete the task and be responsible for his/her own learning.
5. Discuss the child’s poem – tactfully suggest corrections missed during the editing process (this is
teaching at an individual level – time consuming but reaps huge rewards)
- give praise for effort.
6. Each child will copy his/her poem – from the edited draft - on to another sheet of paper.
This may be lined or blank paper – white or coloured – depending on where it is to be
displayed (published).
As the child has written the poem (is the poet) remind her/him to write her/his name at the end of the
poem.
Children (especially older children) like to use ‘fancy’ printing/writing.
Depending on time constraints – each child may create a border for their work.
Because this version of the poem is to be displayed (published) it should be neatly written and
presented, with no spelling mistakes and all punctuation correct. This encourages the child to take a
pride in her/his work.
Ask each child to read his/her poem to someone – a partner, the whole class, a small group, your
buddy class, a parent helper …
Reading and Writing Poetry - page 5 of 6
Print above image and use with pages 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6.
Printing Instructions
I am an Artist.
Name: .
I am an Artist
Today you are going to illustrate your poem.
1. Thinking Time:
Think about your poem and how you can best create a colourful illustration to accompany it.
Look at the piece of paper you are going to use. How will your idea fit on a piece of paper this size? You don’t want it too small or too big. You want it just right.
What background will your illustration have?
What materials are available for you to use?
What materials will be the best for you to use for your illustration?
When you have answered the above questions in your mind tick the box.
2. Pick up a lead pencil and LIGHTLY draw your illustration.
It is important to draw lightly so you can easily rub out and improve your drawing as you go. If you rub too heavily on your paper you may break the surface of the paper.
Look at your work. Improve it until you are happy with it.
When you have finished lightly drawing your illustration tick the box.
3. Pick up a black crayon and trace over the outline of your illustration.
Press firmly as you draw with the black crayon so you get a firm black outline,
just like a colouring in book. Giving your work a firm black outline makes it look
smart.
When you have finished tracing over the outline of your illustration with the black crayon tick the box.
4. Colour your illustration.
Using the materials of your choice colour/decorate your illustration.
When you have completed your illustration tick the box.
5. Admire your work.
Tick one of the boxes below:
My illustration is:
GOOD VERY GOOD FANTASTIC
Reading and Writing Poetry - page 6 of 6
Print above image and use with pages 1 to 5.
Printing Instructions
I am an Artist - Notes for the Teacher.
I am an Artist
Notes for the Teacher:
After the children have ‘published’ their poems explain to them they are now going to illustrate them.
Borrow an illustrated anthology of poetry from the Library and read selected poems to the children.
Look at the illustrations and discuss with the children how the artist has chosen to illustrate the poem.
How has the main character/object/feeling been represented? What colours have been used? Discuss the background.
Give the children the paper on which they are going to create their illustration - maybe A4 or A3 – do they have a choice of colour?
Discuss with the children the materials they will be allowed to use – (paint, crayons, textas, pencils, … ?)
Are they allowed to use glitter, feathers, ribbon, …?
Can they use sponge or cork prints for the background? Are they going to use the ‘wash’ technique for the background?
What you make available for the children to use depends on their experience and maturity – you know what your class can handle or what special effects you wish to create.
Encourage each child to use his/her imagination and be creative. This activity provides an opportunity for the child to express him/herself. Accept the final result and praise effort.
Remind the children of classroom and safety first rules which apply to this activity.
Hint: If you have a teacher assistant schedule this art activity to coincide with the time she/he is with you.
Parent helpers are invaluable to have in the room to help with art/craft activities.
The Activity:
Give each child the worksheet entitled ‘I am an Artist’.
a) Read through the sheet with the children, discuss each point as necessary, and then let the children work through it at their own pace.
OR
b) Read point number one with the children, discuss, and then ask the whole class to work number 1.
Read through and discuss point 2, then the whole class works number 2
… and etc – the whole class working together through each point.
Suggestion: Work this activity sheet over two lesson times. Children need time to think and create and
work thoroughly.
Lesson One: Work numbers 1, 2 and 3.
Lesson Two: Work numbers 4 and 5.
| 31 |
| Vote |
Subscribe to this blog
