Poetry Writing Activities and Prompts

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Colorful Poetry (K-2 suggested grade level)

Explain how your favorite color makes you feel. Use your five senses to compare your color to other things.

Red
Red is boiling hot anger.
Red is the sound of fireworks exploding.
Red is taste of sweet strawberry pie.
Red is feeling of the itchy wool scarf Mom makes me wear.
Red is an apple with a bite missing.
Red is both happy and mad!

Word Pictures: Concrete Poetry (3-5 suggested grade level)

Words create pictures, literally, when using the poetic form of concrete poetry. The positioning of text is as important to the composition as the words that comprise the poem. Concrete poetry projects are a great way to connect writing to the visual arts. Try the following prompt ideas:

• Select a proverb or cliche to "rewrite" in concrete poetry form. (e.g., "Bird in hand is worth two in bush,")
• Using a text processor or drawing application arrange words and letters in such a way to create your self-portrait. The words should describe you or provide a personal history.
• Use calligraphy pens to write an excerpted line or two from a favorite poem to visually represent an important feature or meaning of the passage.

Outside the Window (6-12 suggested grade level)

Ask your students to think of a view from a window they know well. Ask them the following prompts, having them respond on paper after each question. Each of their responses will form one line of their poem.

• What do you see straight ahead of you?
• What is on the left and the right?
• Do you notice anything different outside?
• Use the words “sometimes” or “always” in describing your view.
• Include a detail that suggests time of day or time of year.
• Look for two more details, one of them so far in the distance you can hardly see it... or maybe can’t see it at all...
  

Adapted from: Intensive Writing: View from a Window by Peter Sansom: http://www.poetryclass.net/lessonj.htm

“I Can’t Write a Poem” Poem (all grade levels)

Make a list of your favorite excuses or complaints about writing poetry.
“I Can’t Write a Poem” makes a great title.
Add an ending such as: Time’s up? Uh oh!
All I have is this dumb list of excuses.
You like it? Really? No kidding.
Thanks a lot. Would you like to see another one?

Taken from: How to Write, an “I Can’t Write a Poem” Poem by Bruce Lansky, Giggle Poetry web site (retrieved May 31, 2006).

Mathematics and Poetry (3-12 suggested grade level)

Mathematics and poetry intersect in surprising ways. One of these ways is through structure. A poem’s stanzas, lines, syllables, and accents often follow set patterns. Manipulating language by counting syllables and accents so that it fits the pattern and conveys a message is part of the challenge of poetry. N+7 is a new poetic form created by Raymond Queneau, writer, philosopher and founder of a group of writers who explore literary structures. To write a N+7 poem, choose an existing poem and get a dictionary. Replace every noun by the noun seven words farther along in the dictionary—or if that one doesn’t rhyme or have the correct number of syllables, you may move on seven more words.

Adapted from: Growney, J. (2006). Mathematics in poetry, 6. Journal of online mathematics and its applications. Math DL web site (retrieved November 1, 2006).

In the Arts (6-12 suggested grade level)

Writing in the fine arts curriculum can improve observation and analytical skills. Maintaining a writing portfolio will assist students in tracking artistic development patterns and documenting strategies and techniques. Below is an assignment suggestion for areas in fine arts education.
MUSIC Write improvisational lyrics to a known piece of music. Explain why the subject, theme, tone, mood, etc., are appropriate.

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