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All of the poetry activities below are stations set up in our library during the month of April each year to celebrate National Poetry Month. If you are inspired to create a poem any other time throughout the year ask at the circulation desk for the materials to make any of these poems below.
All of the poetry activities below are stations set up in our library during the month of April each year to celebrate National Poetry Month. If you are inspired to create a poem any other time throughout the year ask at the circulation desk for the materials to make any of these poems below.
Black Out Poetry
Black Out Poetry
A blackout poem is created when you take a marker (usually black) to a piece of printed text, such as newspaper, magazine article or page from a book–and starts covering words with the marker until a poem is formed. This is a great option if you struggle coming up with the words to write your own poem, instead in this activity you choose the words to keep. In the end, you will end up with a great visual poem.
Create your own Blackout Poem:
1. Scan the page first before reading it completely. Keep an eye out for an anchor word as you scan. An anchor word is one word on the page that stands out to you because it is packed and loaded with meaning and significance. Starting with an anchor word is important because it helps you to imagine possible themes and topics for your poem.
2. Now read the page of the text in its entirety. Use a pencil to lightly circle any words that connect to the anchor word
3. Reread the words you have circled with a pencil, then add additional circles to make sure the lines of the poem make sense or erase words that no longer fit. You will want to make a poem that flows and makes sense to your readers.
4. When you have finished selecting your words, start by putting a box around the words that you want in your poem with a thin black marker.
5. Next, using a thick marker, cross out all of the other words on the page so only the words of your poem remain. Put a piece of scrap paper under your poem as you fill in with the black marker so it does not bleed through to the table.
6. Finally, glue your finished poem to a piece of cardstock. Also, title your poem and sign your name on it.
7. If you would like us to display your poem in the library please bring it to the circulation desk.
Create an online Blackout Poem using the Blackout Poetry Maker. On this site you can upload your a text of your choice on the left hand side, or use one of the 3 supplied texts from Alice in Wonderland, Pride and Prejudice or Heart of Darkness. Click on the words that you want to keep, in the text box on the right, once you are happy with your poem, click black out and see what you have made. If you aren't happy yet, just click reset. Once you are finished and satisfied with the poem you have made, you can click Render Full Image below and then save your finished poem to keep or share.
Paint Chip Poetry
Paint Chip Poetry
Use a paint chip to create a poem. On each color square write one line of the poem. You will have to get quite creative as you are supposed to use the color names in your poem, and paint colors always have some unique and interesting names.
Create your own Paint Chip Poem:
1. Select one of the paint chip cards.
2. Plan out on scrap paper first in case you need to make any changes.
Write one sentence for each color
Use the color name in that line of the poem
3. Read your lines all together to make sure your poem makes sense, if not make some changes.
4. Copy your final poem on to your paint chip, then put a title at the top and sign the bottom.
5. Take your poem with you or bring it to the circulation desk and we will put it on display.
Click on the image to the left to access the Google Slides of paint chips. You will have to Make a Copy of the presentation to be able to edit it. Create textboxes on the slides that you want to use and type your poem--directions on how to write the poem are above. Do one column or as many as you would like. Once you are finished with your poem, take a snip of your completed poem and save it as a photo to your drive account.
Poetry Creation Station--Ransom Note Poem
Poetry Creation Station--Ransom Note Poem
Using Words cut from magazines or newspapers, create a ransom note poem. You can use the words that are pre-cut and available on the table, or cut your own from the magazines and newspaper provided. Also, if you cannot find a word you need it is ok to write in a few with a sharpie, try to find most of the words for your poem though.
Create your own Ransom Note Poem:
1. Select words from the baskets on the tables, or cut out your own.
2. Arrange the words on the background paper you have selected. DO NOT start gluing until you have selected all of the words for your poem and they are arranged in a way that makes sense.
3. Once you are happy with you final poem, glue the words on your background paper.
4. Be sure to select a name for your poem and write it at the top of the paper, also sign your name at the bottom of the paper.
Two options for creating your Found Poetry poems online:
Two options for creating your Found Poetry poems online:
Ransomizer Poem
Ransomizer Poem
Use this online generator to type in the text of your own poem in a fun and creative way.
Clip Words Online
Clip Words Online
Visit your favorite website, one with unique fonts, colors, sizes of text etc. and use the Snipping Tool to cut the words for your poem. Paste them into a Google Document to create your poem.
Book Spine Poetry
Book Spine Poetry
Book Spine Poetry is an internet meme that goes back to the work of artist Nina Katchadourian. In the early 1990s, she took photographs of stacked book titles that, when read together, created short sentences and stories.
Creating a book spine poem is quick and easy. Search around the library for books with great titles that work together to create a unique and visually appealing poem.
Create your own Book Spine Poem:
1. Walk around the library and look for book titles that go together.
2. Select 5-7 books that when stacked and read from top to bottom make a poem. Read through your poem and make sure it makes sense, if not, switch books or switch the order.
3. Once you are happy with your poem, copy the final draft of the poem onto one of the pink final copy sheets.
4. Take a picture of your finished poem or ask someone at the circulation desk to take a photo of your poem. If you take your own photo you may print it in color (size 4x6) from one of the printers on the counter next to the color printer. You will need to upload it to your Google Account to print it. If we take the photo we will print it for you.
5. Return the books you used to the cart near this station.
If it is ok with you, we would like to display a copy of your poem in the library.
Click on the Book Spine Poetry Sheet to the right and for a Google Slides version of this form to complete online.
Exquisite Corpse Poetry
Exquisite Corpse Poetry
Exquisite Corpse is a collaborative poetry game that traces its roots to the Parisian Surrealist Movement. Exquisite Corpse is played by several people, each of whom writes a word on a sheet of paper, folds the paper to conceal it, and passes it on to the next player for his or her contribution.
Create your own Exquisite Corpse Poem:
1. Get a group of 3-5 people.
2. Decide if you would like to:
· Alternate Words
· Alternate Lines
Select the correct paper for the way your group is planning to complete the activity
If your group is alternating words:
If your group is alternating words:
1. Cut the paper apart so each line is separate
2. The first person with each line fills in the first word and then passes the paper on to the next person
3. The second person writes the second word, then folds the paper so only the 2nd word is visible and passes it to the 3rd person
4. Continue the process until all of the words are filled in for the first line and then move on to line 2. If you have a 5 person group, you will want to vary who goes first so each group member is not always doing the same word in each line.
5. Once you have finished all of the lines, lay them out on the table and read through your poem.
6. Copy your final draft of your poem onto the salmon paper.
7. Name your poem, write all of the authors’ name
8. If you would like, a member of your group can draw or print a picture to accompany your poem
9. If you would like us to display your poem in the library please drop it off at the circulation desk.
If your group is alternating lines:
If your group is alternating lines:
1. The first person in the group will write the first line of the poem and pass the paper to the second person in the group.
2. The second person writes the second line of the poem, then folds the paper so only the 2nd line is visible and passes it to the 3rd person
3. Continue the process until all of the lines are filled in.
4. Once you have finished all of the lines, unfold the paper and read through your poem.
5. Copy your final draft of your poem onto the salmon paper.
6. Name your poem, write all of the authors’ name
7. If you would like, a member of your group can draw or print a picture to accompany your poem
8. If you would like us to display your poem in the library please drop it off at the circulation desk.
Zip Ode Poetry
Zip Ode Poetry
An Ode is a poem written about something, it is positive and usually praising of it’s subject. A zip ode is a poem that uses your zip code to inspire a poem about where you live.
Create your own Zip Ode:
1. You will be creating a 5-line poem (one line for each digit of your zip code.
2. For each line, the digit from the zip code determines the number of words in each line.
3. For the digit zero, you are free to select how many words you want for that particular line.
4. Plan your poem on scrap paper, when you are happy with your final poem, copy it to one of the post card papers.
5. You can also add a picture (drawn or printed) to the front of the postcard. Add a poetry month stamp to the corner too if you want.
Reverse Poetry
Reverse Poetry
Reverse poetry is a poem that can be read forwards (top to bottom) and have one meaning, but can also be read backwards (bottom to top) and have a different or opposite meaning. For this activity, you will fill in a template with negative and positive statements mixed in with general statements such as, "I believe that" or "It is not true that".
Create your own Reverse Poem:
1. Select a theme for your poem. Often reversal poems are about topics that can have 2 different points of view, but choose any thing that interests you and when you fill in the blanks you will need to focus on the topic you select so your final poem makes sense.
2. Using the paper provided, fill in the blanks on the left-hand side of the paper following the directions in parenthesis.
3. Read your poem top-to-bottom and then bottom-to-top, making any edits necessary to fix the flow of the poem.
4. Write the final version of your poem on the right-hand-side of the paper. Cut them apart. On your final copy, put a title at the top and then sign your name at the bottom.
5. If you would like you can write or type out your poem and illustrate it like on the examples, be creative!
Here are two examples of Reverse Poems being read so you can hear how the Reverse Poem works.
If you want to complete this activity online, use the document below. You will have to Make a Copy of this in your own Drive Account to be able to edit the document.
Magnetic Poetry
Magnetic Poetry
Visit this poetry station in the library and arrange the words into your unique poem. This is a great option for people who thing writing poetry is hard, the words are all there for you, you just put them in an order that makes sense to you.
Create your own Magnetic Poem:
1. Take a cookie sheet and select magnetic words to arrange on the tray to make your poem.
2. Read your poem making sure that it makes sense, if not, look for additional words or different words.
3. Once you are happy with your final poem, copy it onto one of the blue worksheets at this station.
4. Take a photo of your final poem, which you can print from the computers near the color printer. If you need us to take a picture for you, please stop at the circulation desk.
5. Fill out the blue Magnetic Poetry sheet, writing down your poem, adding a title and you name. Also put the photo of your poem to your final sheet. If it is ok with you we will display a copy of your poem in the library too.
Magnetic Poetry Online
Magnetic Poetry Online
Limericks
Limericks
A Limerick is a humorous, verse of three long and two short lines rhyming aabba, popularized by Edward Lear.
Create your own Limerick:
1. Limericks consist of five lines. The rhyme scheme is aabba. In other words, Lines One, Two, and Five all rhyme with each other, and Lines Three and Four rhyme with each other (in some limericks, Lines One and Five end with the same word and rhyme with Line Two).
2. Plan out your limerick on the planning sheet provided, or a sheet of scrap paper. Then copy your final copy Limerick onto one of the Limerick papers (with the green and orange banner at the top).
3. If you want you can also illustrate your Limerick at the bottom of the paper.
4. See the Edward Leer poems at this station, or here online if you need inspiration.
You can complete this activity online (the final copy paper can be accessed through Google by clicking he image below.
Car Window Poetry
Car Window Poetry
Words matter. For that reason, we invite you to share encouraging poems with unsuspecting people in your community. We all have the ability to share words, even if you don't consider yourself a poet. When people come together, write together and choose to go out and share their words together, hope happens. Beauty happens. Our communities are made better. Start sharing words today!
Create your own Car Window Poetry:
1. This station is for you to create poetry to inspire, or spread poetry to your friends, neighbors, and community.
2. Take one of the Car Window Poetry cards, write your own poem, or find a poem that you would like to share with someone else.
3. Nicely decorate the card and cut it out.
4. Place your Car Window Poems on people’s car windows to share the joy of poetry throughout the month of April.
5. You can share photos of your car window poetry with us by completing the form on the CPPHS Library Poetry Page.
Remember this is a chance to share joy and kindness, please make your poems positive, inspirational, funny kind, something to brighten someone’s day!
If you want to participate in this but can't get to the library to pic k up the supplies you could always write your poem on a post-it or any paper you have at home. Be sure to label it Car Window Poetry so the recipient know what they received. If you have access to a printer attached below is a copy of the Car Window Poetry squares.
carwindowpoetry_sheet.pdfReport abuse