Art as Muse
Inspiration for poems can come from anywhere, including works of
art and writing poetry in response to art is both challenging
and exciting. I was asked to submit poems for two
anthologies - one in which I chose the art and the other in
which I was assigned a specific piece of art. I enjoyed both
approaches.
For Jan Greenberg's
Heart to Heart: New Poems Inspired by Twentieth-Century American
Art Asked to choose a contemporary piece of art as the
inspiration for my poem, I found that Kiki Smith's "These Eyes" haunted me.
The poem I wrote in response to Smith's art is titled "Pantoum
for These Eyes."
Anthologist Lee Bennett Hopkins had a talented artist in mind
when he conceived of his anthology
Hoofbeats, Claws & Rippled Fins: Creature Poems.
Stephen Alcorn's relief-block prints were evocative and happily,
Lee assigned me the frog!
Use these fine anthologies as a starting point to help students
discover how different poets responded to self-selected or
assigned works of art. Then, use art posters, slides, art books,
or even a trip to a local art museum as the foundation for a
poetry writing exercise. I hope your students have as much fun
exploring "Art as Muse" as I did.
Observation Walks
I like to take students on observation walks (not runs!). It
really doesn't matter where we wander - the idea is to simply
slow down, and look. I often bring poems that relate to what we
might see. (Such as poems about fog for a foggy day.) I let
the children write about whatever catches their fancy. The only
"rule" is that they try to find something new to say: the fire
hydrant is a stout soldier - the fog is hiding in the tree
branches... (The only time I haven't loved doing this with
children was the day we discovered a dead mouse in a field...)
"Mr. T."
Children (and adults!) have difficulty writing about topics
in the abstract. Sometimes I bring intriguing "show and tells"
such as "Mr. T." a caged pet tarantula. The students "tarantula
poems" - written from direct observation - were fresh and
engaging.
This is Just to Say...
A class of 4th graders had a great time writing parodies of
William Carlos Williams' poem "This is Just to Say" in which he
confesses to eating all the plums in the refrigerator and
justifies his little indiscretion - "they were so sweet and
cold." The students "confessed" to eating the last cookie,
peeking in gifts, "borrowing" money from mom's purse... This
exercise worked particularly well with two of the reluctant
writers in the group.
Read on for some great ideas from teachers and librarians across
the country:
Introducing Acrostics!
by Joy Acey, a talented poet and teacher in North Carolina.
Thanks, Joy!
Sometimes you need a quick way for the members of a group to
get to know each other. Writing an acrostic poem is a great way
to do this. I like using paper bags for this exercise.
An acrostic poem forms a word vertically from horizontal
lines. (Doesn’t that sound confusing?) Just have each person
write their name vertically down the bag and then use one letter
to start the word for their line of poetry.
My name ends up looking like this:
Jubilation
Oh
Yeah!
See how the letters reading down spell my name JOY? You can use
single words or whole phrases.
Here’s another example:
Frantic roosters
Ring up the sun
Each day at
Dawn
When everyone is done line the bags up on a table or along
the wall so people can walk by to read the poems.
To find out more about Acrostic poems you might want to
read:
Janeczko, Paul B. How to Write Poetry. Scholastic, 1999, page
17-20.
Padgett, Ron (Ed.) Handbook of Poetic Forms. Teachers and
Writers Collaborative, 1987, page 5-6.
Priminger, Alex (Ed.) The Princeton Handbook of Poetic Terms.
Princeton, 1986, page 3.
Poetry Parties
Cathy, a teacher from California writes:
"I teach third grade, and we have begun a Poetry Party.
During the week the children either look through poetry books,
or search the Poetry Box for a poem to bring on Friday. One
student each week is the "host" of the party and provides a
nutritious snack to have after the students have all had a
chance to either read or recite the poem they have chosen. Some
of the students even write their own poem to share with the
class. I have found that this has been a wonderful way to end
the week!"
Poetry Gifts
Maureen Meyers, a 2nd grade teacher from Conover Road School in
Colts Neck, New Jersey writes:
"Give the gift of poetry. A love of poetry can last a
lifetime! Have students consider creating poetry magnets,
bookmarks, and postcards as the gift giving season draws near.
Find or create poems with special meanings for the person who
will receive it. A love of poetry can be contagious.... so help
to spread it!"
Beach Poem Party
Rhonda Gatlin a teacher at Andrew J. Mitchell Elementary in
Boulder City, NV writes:
"I just finishing doing a Beach Poem Party at my school with
another teacher. I teach 2nd and she teaches first. We had the
children write acrostic, rhyming and free verse. We invited our
parents with beach towels, decorations of the beach and had
lemonade and pecan sandies for a treat. Each read their poem
using a microphone. Then the poems were bound and given to the
parents to keep from the poem party. This was a wonderful
experience and I will try it again next year with maybe a few
more teachers. This is really the first time I have made poetry
such a big part of my curriculum. Thanks for letting me share.
I am looking forward to sharing your books."
Rhymes and Rhythm
Carol Wallen, a librarian in Indiana writes:
"I had to write again to share an idea for teaching poetry to
small children (3-5 age range): since kids naturally love strong
rhythms and fun rhyme, I am putting together "Rhythm and Rhyme"
- a public library program (I am employed in the Johnson Co.
Pub. Lib. System). My basic idea is to use a large area
(outdoors or a conference room), lots of old paper towel tubes
and various other noise makers, and our bodies. I will read
strongly rhythmic rhymes/poems and the kids and I will
march/jump/skip/beat - according to particular poem's "feel"!
It will be noisy fun, and should, I hope, instill the fun and
music of language in the kids. I know this isn't anything
"new", but it will be to myself and the area's kids. We'll have
a good time!"
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