Spine Poetry
I've had great success with this activity I learned from a professor at Pepperdine University, Dr. Julia Corliss.
The activity could be used as a method to introduce a unit or simply to teach poetry and editing techniques.
SPINE POETRY
Please complete a draft of a Spine poem (instructions below). Turn at least a draft of this poem in today.
(Step 1) Choose 1-3 words or phrases per poem (on the following pages) and write them one per line below (you might have extra lines):
(Give students about 30 seconds with each poem, have students skim 4-5 poems)
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(Step 2) After choosing your words, now write a poem using these words. You can challenge yourself by trying to keep the words in the same order. You may write words on both sides of the ones you chose.
Example: I try not to Compare myself to others
though they might be more Lovely, more liked, more talented
I look to the Temperate skies and know that life is good.
(Step 3) Add in more literary devices (edit), such as simile, imagery, hyperbole, etc.
(Step 4) Look back at your poem for structure and punctuation (give a lesson on different uses of punctuation)
(Step 5) Have students hand write or type the poem using font that is appropriate to their poem. The poems look great when they are compiled together. Teachers can add the step of writing a precis for another student's poem.
The activity could be used as a method to introduce a unit or simply to teach poetry and editing techniques.
SPINE POETRY
Please complete a draft of a Spine poem (instructions below). Turn at least a draft of this poem in today.
(Step 1) Choose 1-3 words or phrases per poem (on the following pages) and write them one per line below (you might have extra lines):
(Give students about 30 seconds with each poem, have students skim 4-5 poems)
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
(Step 2) After choosing your words, now write a poem using these words. You can challenge yourself by trying to keep the words in the same order. You may write words on both sides of the ones you chose.
Example: I try not to Compare myself to others
though they might be more Lovely, more liked, more talented
I look to the Temperate skies and know that life is good.
(Step 3) Add in more literary devices (edit), such as simile, imagery, hyperbole, etc.
(Step 4) Look back at your poem for structure and punctuation (give a lesson on different uses of punctuation)
(Step 5) Have students hand write or type the poem using font that is appropriate to their poem. The poems look great when they are compiled together. Teachers can add the step of writing a precis for another student's poem.
