Poetry Project Ideas

Create a short film:

• Have your students select a poem they've written and turn it into a short film. Using their phones or other video recording technology, students can create a live-action version of the poem casting friends and family members into the story. Editing is easy and FREE with WeVideo. For students that don't want to record something live, they can use still images and text on a Google Slide then narrate the poem with a voice-over using Screencastify!

Become a contributing member of wattpad

• Students can join anonymously or with their real names, but either way, they'll be joining a highly active group of readers and writers online. Students from all over the world publish, share, and read each other's work here. Students can expect that if they read and comment on others' work here, the favor will be returned. This is a great option of you are looking for an authentic audience experience for your students.

Create a portfolio

• After writing a series of poems, it's exciting to assemble them, revise them, and then publish. Electronic portfolios are a great option and easy to share with a wide audience. You might consider Atavist (an ebook publishing company), Google Sites, Wix, Weebly, or other webpage building sites. Old school portfolios of printed poems assembled in a folder or booklet of sorts is also a great option. Your crafty students might even be able to make these cereal box covers and bind their poetry together...

Host a Poetry Slam or Open Mic Night event

• Gather together some other poetry fanatic teachers at your school, pick a night, and organize a poetry event! Check back on my Slam Poetry page for ideas and an outline of rules and regulations. Plan it as the culminating event after your poetry study is over and invite friends and parents to check out their amazing work!

Create a Poetry Wall or Bulletin Board

• There is a plethora of ideas on Pinterest when it comes to making beautiful poetry displays in your classroom or in the hallways. Check out this cool Poetry Station that one high school created for students in the library. I also love the idea of Push Pin Poetry where students assemble words together and with just one push pin connect them to make a beautiful stanza or short poem. And of course, there are a lot of different versions of the Poet Tree that teachers have created for display - create a tree and publish student work in the branches!

Submit Student Work to Writing Contests

Every year I have several students submit to some of these contests and every year I have at least one student that wins! Most of the prizes are publication or recognition, which is such an amazing success for students to feel. I encourage them to put "published poet" on their resumes and college forms :) Some of the contests even have prize money, so why not have them give it a shot? Check out Teen Ink, the National YoungArts Foundation, Poetic Power, and JustPoetry!! for starters.