Write "Moving" Sports Poetry

Activity Description

Why This Is Helpful

 

Activity Description

Running! Reaching! Jumping! Are these words that might describe a basketball player, gymnast, soccer player, or tennis whiz? It’s all in the eyes of the beholder! After looking at video footage and photos of athletes in motion on the Web and in books and magazines, children will create a list of words that describe the many types of movement they see. They’ll also go on a field trip to the gym or the park, taking pictures of the people they see playing and exercising. With all this inspiration, they’ll be able to create their own original poetry poster about movement.

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Why This Is Helpful

Children love the excitement of sports, and they also love working on the computer. What better way to strengthen reading and writing skills than by combining these two high-interest areas? By looking at images and short films of athletes in motion—and then finding the words to describe those movements—children will think critically and practice their research skills. But what really lets creativity shine is writing an original poem using those “moving” words and then turning that poem into a photo-filled poster.

This activity was modified from the ReadWriteThink lesson plan “A Race With Grace: Sports Poetry in Motion.”

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