Discover the Poet in You. By Sara Brennan-Slowkowski

1. Discover the Poet in You.By Sara Brennan-Slowkowski Introduction Do you like poetry? Does it have to rhyme? This lesson will help you the answers to these and many other questions you may have about poetry reading and writing. You may even discover that you are a poet at heart. Try out all of the web sites in this project to get ideas, suggestions, and helpful hints from the experts.

2. Internet Access Student Journals Paper Pencils Construction Paper Glue Scissors Crayons Markers Stickers Glitter Various Other Decorative Material Materials Needed:

3. Before you read: Choose one of the following activities to be done in your writing journal: • Write an acrostic poem using the letters of your first and last name. Click here to see an example of acrostic writing. • Visit CHILDREN'S HAIKU GARDEN and experiment with writing and illustrating your own Haiku. • Explore How to Write a Limerick and try it out!

4. While you read: Visit Poems for Children and Barking Spiders, (and other Such Stuff). Read at least ten different poems posted on these sites. In your journal, take notes on each poem that you read. Include information like title, author, subject, type of poem, mood of the poem, description of illustrations, and any other information that you feel is important. Choose your favorite poem and write me a letter that describes the poem and tells me why you liked it .

5. After you read: Visit one of the following sites to and complete all stages of the poetry workshop, (including meeting the poet, reading his or her poems, brainstorming, writing your own poem, revising, and publishing online): Poetry Writing with Jack Prelutsky Poetry Writing with Karla Kuskin Kristine O'Connell George's Tips for Young Poets

6. Beyond Reading: • Edit, revise, and finalize your poem for the final steps. • Make two copies of your poem, one handwritten and one typed in Notepad. Click here to begin typing. • Use the construction paper, glue, and decorative materials to illustrate and frame you completed, handwritten poem. (These will be put on display outside our classroom!) • Enter your typed copy into a poetry contest found at Giggle Poetry.

7. Congratulations, you have discovered the poet in you!

8. Print and complete the following checklist Did you: Write a limerick, haiku, or acrostic poem in your journal? Yes/No Read a minimum of ten poems and take careful notes? Yes/No Write a letter to me describing the poem you liked best and telling me why you liked it? Yes/No Choose and complete all aspects of one of the three poetry workshops? Yes/No Write, illustrate, frame, and type your completed poem? Yes/No Did you learning something new about poetry? Yes/No Did you enjoy this project? Yes/No Comments/Reflections: Click here to access checklist as a Word document

9. Rubric