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Teaching Poetry with Fifth Graders |
This is the age group I've spent the most time with over the past three years. They are awesome! I've done lots of different exercises with them, some more successfully than others, so I'll pass along the ones that have worked well. This is one they responded to quite enthusiastically: |
Apology Poems: Introduce this exercise by talking about how sometimes we apologize when we don't want to or when we're really not sorry for what we've done. Talk about compromise and keeping the peace, even when it's not something you want to do. Tell the students they're going to do apology poems saying that they're sorry for something that they aren't really sorry for. I begin by reading William Carlos Williams' "This is Just to Say" (found in Reflections on a Gift of Watermelon Pickle, edited by Stephen Dunning). Then read several other examples (two of my own are printed here). As I start reading my poems, I can see the kids starting to catch on to how fun this is going to be and by the time I pass out the form, they can't wait to get started. Get ready for lots of giggling and whispering. The kids really enjoyed the concept of using deception and sincerity together. Note: After you have read several examples, it may be helpful to brainstorm a few ideas and leave them on the board, such as "I'm sorry I . . .": took your favorite _____________, broke your ______________, read your diary (always popular with the girls!), told a secret, left you out when ___________, etc. Here are two examples that I wrote: |
I'm sorry I didn't make my bed like you told me to, Mom. I know you were counting on me to do it before Grandma came to visit. Forgive me. But the bed looked so comfortable the way it was And now when Grandma looks in my room she'll see the real me! |
I'm sorry I teased you about your new haircut. I know we're best friends and I shouldn't have done it. Please forgive me. But you looked just like a bird I saw once on tv and the laughter came up out of me like a big squawk before I could help it! |
The Form: What you did ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ Why someone is likely to be unhappy about it ______________________________________________ Your apology or request for forgiveness ______________________________________________ Why you did it and why you're not really sorry ______________________________________________ |
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