Referring to a Roman gravestone for inspiration, students use a foam carving medium and carving tools to create a bas-relief (low-relief) gravestone for a beloved pet. Students then write an epitaph for the pet using a standard form of poetry that is appropriate for the setting, such as an elegy, ode, or couplet.

Students compare the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald with the song, ŇThe Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald,Ó then create their own poetry about a historical event.

Archeology offers the most tangible evidence of earlier civilizations. Although archeology has already provided invaluable information pertaining to the life styles and skills of the peoples from this region of West Africa, the archaeological record is still incomplete. The figurative sculptures featured in this resource furnish one part of the historical puzzle of this region. These handsome terracotta sculptures are from the Inland Niger Delta region near Djenne (pronounced JEH-nay; also spelled Jenne), one of several important trading cities that grew and developed during the Mali Empire.

Students analyze the Gwendolyn BrooksŐ poem ŇWe Real CoolÓ and then write about how the characterŐs pool hall days might influence who the character becomes fifty years in the future.

Explore reading strategies using Edgar Allan Poe's 偁ĽThe Raven€_ŕ and other works. Students read Poe's works in both large- and small-group readings then conclude with a variety of projects.

This lesson provides everything you need (from the inspiration, anchor, lesson, templates, examples) to create meaningful and beautiful poems for mothers, fathers, teachers or anyone meaningful in your students' life!

Younger students - could do this together as a class or in groups.
Elementary and middle years - could write an example together, then write their own
Older students - could write these independently and pick a more complex comparison

Students read and discuss literature about intolerance and diversity. They work with a partner to write two-voice poems that illustrate situations of intolerance at their school and suggest a step toward acceptance.

Creepy crawlers, hoppers, and fliers are the focus of this lesson in which students chorally read poems about insects and use the Internet to locate facts about their assigned insects.

Students will brainstorm a list of adjectives to describe two early photographs called "cyanotypes." Next they will create their own cyanotype photograph. Students will then write original poetry using the previous list of adjectives to describe their own nature-inspired cyanotype photograph.

Make connections across genres and across cultures to engage students in the study of literary voice and themes. Comprehension skills and vocabulary also come into play, especially for English language learners, as students read a novel and related poems, then write and perform original poems related to the novel.

The student voice as to why we need PebL.

This poem was entered into the Mensa Canada Poetry contest and won 2nd place.

Students apply think-aloud strategies to reading and to composition of artwork and poetry. They research symbols of peace as they prewrite, compose, and publish their poetry.

Students play with and explore prepositions during a whole group reading of Ruth HellerŐs Behind the Mask, and then by composing and publishing prepositional poems based on the bookŐs style.

Podcasting is a powerful way for students to share their voice with the world. Along the way, they learn to communicate, engage in critical thinking, and go through the design process as they ultimately publish their work to an authentic audience.
This site offers 20 creative ideas for podcasts you can do with your students.

After reading John Updike's "Ex-Basketball Player," students write poems describing themselves five years in the future. The teacher takes the poems and mails them to students in five years.

Students put their heads together in a poetry circle to learn and practice different forms of poetry.

This webite includes a list of poems for all ages, collections and lists of poets and being able to listen to poems.

• Learn about different poetic terms
• Learn about a variety of different poem types
• Analyze a poem of your choosing using the TP-CASTT handout
• Learn how to write a variety of different types of poetry
• Write your own poem

Lila Gray instills her own love of poetry in her students by encouraging them to write original works and finding poems that express who they are. Her weekly open mic sessions create a perfect venue for building confidence and helping students find their voice while still hitting core standards and learning lifelong skills.