Discover the Poet in You. By Sara Brennan-Slowkowski Introduction Do you like poetry? Does it have to rhyme? This lesson will help you the answers to these and many other questions you may have about poetry reading and writing. You may even discover that you are a poet at heart. Try out all of the web sites in this project to get ideas, suggestions, and helpful hints from the experts.

Materials Needed: Internet Access Internet Access Student Journals Student Journals Paper Paper Pencils Pencils Construction Paper Construction Paper Glue Glue Scissors Scissors Crayons Crayons Markers Markers Stickers Stickers Glitter Glitter Various Other Decorative Material Various Other Decorative Material

Before you read: Choose one of the following activities to be done in your writing journal: Write an acrostic poem using the letters of your first and last name. Click here to see an example of acrostic writing. Write an acrostic poem using the letters of your first and last name. Click here to see an example of acrostic writing.Click here to see an example of acrostic writing.Click here to see an example of acrostic writing. Visit CHILDREN'S HAIKU GARDEN and experiment with writing and illustrating your own Haiku. Visit CHILDREN'S HAIKU GARDEN and experiment with writing and illustrating your own Haiku.CHILDREN'S HAIKU GARDENCHILDREN'S HAIKU GARDEN Explore How to Write a Limerick and try it out! Explore How to Write a Limerick and try it out!How to Write a LimerickHow to Write a Limerick

While you read: 1. Visit Poems for Children and Barking Spiders, (and other Such Stuff). Poems for ChildrenBarking Spiders, (and other Such Stuff)Poems for ChildrenBarking Spiders, (and other Such Stuff) 2. Read at least ten different poems posted on these sites. 3. In your journal, take notes on each poem that you read. Include information like title, author, subject, type of poem, mood of the poem, description of illustrations, and any other information that you feel is important. 4. Choose your favorite poem and write me a letter that describes the poem and tells me why you liked it.

After you read: Visit one of the following sites to and complete all stages of the poetry workshop, (including meeting the poet, reading his or her poems, brainstorming, writing your own poem, revising, and publishing online): Poetry Writing with Jack Prelutsky Poetry Writing with Karla Kuskin Kristine O'Connell George's Tips for Young Poets

Beyond Reading: 1. E dit, revise, and finalize your poem for the final steps. 2. M ake two copies of your poem, one handwritten and one typed in Notepad. CCCC llll iiii cccc kkkk h h h h eeee rrrr eeee t t t t oooo b b b b eeee gggg iiii nnnn t t t t yyyy pppp iiii nnnn gggg U se the construction paper, glue, and decorative materials to illustrate and frame you completed, handwritten poem. (These will be put on display outside our classroom!) 4. E nter your typed copy into a poetry contest found at G G G G G iiii gggg gggg llll eeee P P P P oooo eeee tttt rrrr yyyy.

Congratulations, you have discovered the poet in you!

Print and complete the following checklist Did you: Write a limerick, haiku, or acrostic poem in your journal? Yes/No Read a minimum of ten poems and take careful notes? Yes/No Write a letter to me describing the poem you liked best and telling me why you liked it? Yes/No Choose and complete all aspects of one of the three poetry workshops? Yes/No Write, illustrate, frame, and type your completed poem? Yes/No Did you learning something new about poetry? Yes/No Did you enjoy this project? Yes/No Comments/Reflections: Click here to access checklist as a Word document Click here to access checklist as a Word document

RubricComplete (1 point) (1 point)Incomplete (0 points) (0 points) Before Reading Journal Entry 10 poems read with notes in journal Favorite poem letter Poetry Workshop Original poem Handwritten poem, illustrated and framed Typed poem submitted into poetry contest