Hello my friends of the Omschool! Teacher Omi here and I'm soooo ready for warm spring vs. cold toesies! So I'm looking ahead to April which is Earth Month and National Poetry Writing Month in th US. So, here are free printable poetry writing lesson plans. poem templates, poetry frames, poetry prompts and poetry slam activities that you could use for tween or teen poetry party activities. These creative writing prompts are easily adaptable to homeschool or classroom or even teen birthday parties.
I've been lucky enough to call probably thousands of kids friends, in my decades of teaching. And one thing I've found is that young people love expressing themselves in poems. Those who say they don't like poetry or creative writing activities are often simply afraid that their poems won't be good enough. And you know what Teacher Omi is going to say. All your poetry is good enough because you wrote it! In fact, I'm always wowed at how REALLY good it is! So with that in mind, here are creative writing prompts and poetry writing activities to help access your inner poet laureate! .
* Call it a poetry party not a teen poetry writing contest. Take it from a teacher of Montessori, adult education and special education--competition in academics doesn't work. Even the most confident creative writing students begin to feel shy about it around age 11 or so, even if they loved it when they were little. They fear sounding silly (more often boys). They're daunted by what they perceive as superiority of others peoples' poems. So nix competitive poetry writing contest. Please. Poetry writing is too intimate to do for a prize and contests inhibit creativity.
* Journal. Assign teen poetry writing activities in journals. This gives kids a voice without the awkwardness of everyone reading or hearing their poems. Pass out 10-cent notebooks (bought cheap at back-to school sales).
*Let kids decorate journals with drawings, stickers and other crafty stuff. Pass out colored calligraphy pens so authors can write in vintagy-looking font. These make great poetry party crafts.
* Provide for privacy. Students might want to design a cool steampunk-esque "lock" from paper or recycled stuff. Other kids should respect this, Give kids the option of bookmarking personal journal pages. Teachers, check to make sure creative writing activities are done, but don't read pages marked private. This protects the integrity of writing and the bond of trust without making students feel too vulnerable. And sometimes, kids need to share really raw or uncomfortable things which are for their journal's ears only. I wish I'd been able to do this when I was young. It would have saved me a lot in therapy.
* Host Writers Workshop activities. Fridays, sub teacher days and movie days make good teen poetry writing days. Students should respect personal writing space. No talking.
* Go on nature poetry walks to the park, lake or woods, whatever you have nearby. A zoo would be great too, so kids could write poems about the animals. My grandkids favorite "Brown bear, Brown Bear What Do You See?" is essentially a simple animal poem and would make a great poetry frame.
* Use teen poetry writing prompts in Writers Workshop. Here are free printable poetry writing prompts and poem frames from past winners of National Poetry Competition in the UK. I know I said no contests but that doesn't mean we can't use their ideas if they are willing to share. Use these to jumpstart writer's block.
* Create your own poetry writing prompts and poem frames (a basic poem with the details removed, like the old Mad Libs. Here are free printable poetry mad libs to fill in). It's easier than you might think. And really, any poetry can be used as poem patterns. Start with the basic rhythm and personalize. Just make sure student versions are uniquely different. Here's an example of using poetry writing prompts. In 1996 Nobel literature laureate Wislawa Szymborska's poem "Possibilities" the author simply lists preferences. Here's a snippet.
"I prefer the (oaks along the Warta). I prefer (Dickens to Dostoyevsky). I prefer (myself liking people to myself loving mankind) . I prefer (keeping a needle and thread on hand, just in case). I prefer the color (green)."
Now take out the things he liked (the bits in parentheses) and have kids fill in blanks with their own preferences.
You can also use my poem "A Silly Little Rondo of Song" in which different sounds musical instruments play to each other and pass along the song, in a round. Then end up back at the original. Take out the sounds I used, choose 10 or so of your own and write a line or verse about each passing the song along. Enchanted Learning has free printable poetry writing prompts.
* Play music in poetry writers workshop. Music stimulates poetry writing synapses. Try Rachmaninoff Concerto #3 (it's a little dark which is great for accessing deep moods). Ravel's Bolero, Mozart Requiem in D Minor, Bach's Brandenburg Concertos or Miles Davis "Kind of Blue" work well, too. Or throw on a little punk or rock, from Jack White or Nick Cave. Kids will resonate with that. Students might turn their poetry into song lyrics and write music to set them to.
* Illustrate poems. Poetry and art are linked. Teenagers might feel more comfortable expressing feelings in art than words. Have them create pieces to go with teen poetry writing. Provide clay, paint, pastels, paper and drawing pencils in writers workshop. Art-intimidated students like me might prefer creating picture collages or videos to illustrate writing.
* Call it a poetry party (emphasis on party!) Poetry is something to celebrate. After the poetry writers workshop, host recitations. Frame companion art and illustrations and display. Set out plants to decorate. Encourage sharing but don't make it mandatory. Invite guests. Make it a dress-up event. Ask orchestra or bands students to perform background music. Serve dessert and coffee.
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