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44 (and maybe more!) Ways to Celebrate | |||||||||||||||||||||
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|  | Aloud!Poetry is meant to be read aloud. Read poems to children, your neighbor, yourself. Visit Poetry Aloud! to hear some of my poems. Hear poems read aloud at The Favorite Poem Project. Listen to (and record!) some poems at The Poetry Foundation's Record-a-Poem project.AnthologizeThe original definition of anthology is "a gathering of flowers." Have students compile either classroom or individual anthologies of favorite poems. This project will be even more meaningful if students write a personal introduction explaining their theme and why they chose particular poems. (The introductions Naomi Shihab Nye has written for her various anthologies would be good models for upper-grade students.) Don't forget illustrations!Around the WorldUse push pins on a world map to locate the origin of poets students have read or studied.BalloonsRead and write poems about balloons. Send students home with a poem inside (or outside!) a balloon to share with family members. | |||||||||||||||||||
Gift Wrap PoemsWrap individual poems as gifts and have a gift exchange.
Pooch & Pet Poems
Fabulous First LinesDesign a bulletin board, paint T-shirts, or build a mobile featuring evocative and intriguing first lines from poems. (Such as: I can fly, of course…) (Bee Cullinan) | |||||||||||||||||||||
  | MemorizeLearn a poem by heart!
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Morning Announcements
Invite a student or staff member to read a poem during morning announcements. (Pat Spielbauer)Music and Poetry
When I read my poem "Music Class" from The Great Frog Race to children, I pass out triangles, maracas, silver bells, and a tambourine. Many poems have a musical "theme" and having a few simple instruments on hand will make reading these poems a special treat. Organize a poetry event with a musical theme. (See Poetry Aloud to hear poems from HUMMINGBIRD NEST with instrumental interludes.)Nursery Rhyme Writers
Older students can write original nursery rhymes and make a book to share with Kindergarten classes.
Picnic Poems
Spread the checkered tablecloth and read poems about picnics, ants, sandwiches, lemonade, etc.Poem in Your Pocket
Have students carry (and be prepared to share) a poem on a specific day. Students visiting a library or bookstore who have a "poem in their pocket" could be presented with a small gift such as a bookmark.Minstrels
Invite students to stroll from class to class reading poetry. Include a strolling minstrel at a library or bookstore event. (Those poetry lovers at Adventures for Kids in Ventura, CA have been known to wander the aisles reciting Edward Lear's "O' Frabjous Day!")Poetry & Punch
Invite parents, grandparents, and friends to a Poetry n' Punch celebration like the one at Babbitt-Embarrass Elementary in Babbitt, Minnesota. Have students memorize a poem and choose props and costumes to complement their selection. Using the microphone on the stage and a contest with trophies and ribbons adds to the celebration. (Betty Klemensich, 3rd Grade Teacher, Babbitt-Embarrass Elementary, Babbitt, MN)Poetry Posters
Cover a large table with paper and have students write poems on it. Finished poster could then be used as a large wall display. (Edith M. Fuller, Librarian, Portland, OR)Slam!
Wonderful resources at the site for Poetry Out Loud National Recitation ContestSurvey
Have students poll teachers and family members (especially older members) for memories about their favorite poems and report back to the class. Works well with "family history" projects. (Margaret, Nashville, TN)Poetry Trail
Student groups in Barren County Middle School, in Glasgow, Kentucky memorized a poem and prepared for a performance using props and costumes. On the day of the "poetry trail" student groups were posted across campus. As students followed the "poetry trial" they stopped at each group to hear the poem performed such as the student group playing basketball who performed a poem about basketball.
Poet-Tree
Read a poem to a tree. (Trees are not picky. They love all kinds of poems.) Tie your students' poems to the branches of a tree. Display your "poet-tree" during Arbor Day or Earth Day. Write a Tree-ific Poem to your favorite tree. See OLD ELM SPEAKS TREE POEMS.
Poetry Safari
Cut out or draw pictures of animals and find a poem about each animal. Arrange poems and pictures on a bulletin board for a catchy display.Postcard Poems
Students mail poems to their classmates or exchange poems with another class.Post-IT Poems
Each day, give a different student an opportunity to find and bookmark a favorite poem from your classroom collection. Then read the selected poem to the class. (Teresa Gibbons, 4th grade teacher)
Random Acts of Poetry
Random Acts of Poetry is just one of many creative ways librarians Gail Bush and Andrea Hynes connect students and school staff to poetry! Share a poem you love with a student, fellow teacher, your family.Scavenger Hunt
Build a display of ordinary items featured in poems—balloons, kites, monkey wrenches, paperclips, shoes—have students find poems featuring the objects.
Scavenger Hunt #2
Take students on a poetry scavenger hunt through books, signs, instruction manuals, etc. Their mission: To find the poems hidden in text. See Georgia Heard's anthology, The Arrow Finds Its Mark: A Book of Found Poems to get started.
Secret Pal Poems
Have students find and share poems that a secret pal would enjoy based on the pal's interests.Secret Notes
Invite students to leave letters or secret notes inside poetry books they loved that tell another kid why they should read the book. (Tracie Vaughn Zimmer, poet)Sponsor a Favorite Poem Project
Check out this link for everything you'll need to plan a successful event for a community, school, library, or bookstore: Favorite Poem Project.T-Shirt Poems
Students decorate T-shirts with lines of poetry or names of poets.Theatrical Touches
A few simple "props" such as a cape, hat, mask, etc., can spice up a poetry reading.Wash Dishes
Seriously! Anita Silvey's wise mother read poetry aloud while Anita washed dishes. Result: Clean dishes and a young child's heart filled with the the joy of poetry. [forward to 3:38]Around the web:
Watch. Connect. Read. Creative ideas from K-5 Teacher-Librarian, John Schu's blog
Poetry Bulletin Boards Get inspired!
Poetry Power More poetry teaching ideas and links.
Got a great idea? Share it!
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