http://www.readwritethink.org/parent-afterschool-resources/activities-projects/poetry-walk-31110.html
Read and discuss poetry with nature imagery with children. Then take the children on a poetry walk around the neighborhood or community to observe and collect sensory images from nature. The children will then use the sights, sounds, smells, and textures of the things they encounter outdoors to create poetry.
Poetry is most powerful when it is created by a poet’s own unique experiences and observations. Exploring nature allows the poet to get outside and find inspiration from nature. This activity allows students to learn about different types of poetry, challenge their vocabulary, and construct multiple types of poetry.
Adjust your level of involvement depending on the child’s age and personality. A younger child might want more guidance while a teen is likely to prefer more independence.
Once you’ve finished your poem, use the saving capability within the interactive tool to save your file.
Observe |
When children and teens observe, they may be following a formal process with a checklist of things to look for, or they may be exploring such a new experience that they can ask questions only after observing. Either way, observing should involve children and teens in the process of watching something closely, asking questions, and discussing what they have seen. |
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Theme |
A major idea, message, or lesson that is told in a story or conveyed in a piece of art. A theme may be stated directly or not, but clues to the theme can usually be found when the ideas or messages are repeated. |
Grades K – 5 | Mobile App | Writing Poetry
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Grades 5 – 10 | Activity & Project
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Grades 2 – 8 | Activity & Project
Use the sun-splashed days of summer to inspire children to write poetry. Interactive, online poetry tools guide them as they explore the writing process.
Grades 3 – 5 | Activity & Project
Explore and Write About Nature
In this activity, children look closely at living things in their natural environments and then make books about what they see.
Grades K – 6 | Activity & Project
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Children incorporate materials from outdoors with paints or crayons to create pieces of art to display on their clotheslines, fences, or porches for a neighborhood art show.
Grades K – 6 | Tip & How-To
Encourage creativity and word play by helping a child recognize the elements of a poem and explore different ways of writing one.
Grades 3 – 5 | Printout | Writing It Out
Encourage children to ask questions about the natural world, to make observations, and to use their imaginations. They use their findings to create their own book.
Grades 6 – 12 | Podcast Episode
In honor of National Poetry Month in April, tune in for recommendations of a variety of poetry books for teens.