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Teaching Poetry with Sixth Graders |
Sixth graders present a different challenge. Much will depend upon whether they've been exposed to any poetry previously and, if so, what kind. The sixth graders I am working with currently have been writing poetry for me for the past two years; therefore, I have the advantage of knowing their capabilities and interests. In general, sixth graders will want to go a bit deeper than color poems or poems about nature. Subjects such as anger, conflict, dreams, changes, friendships, etc. will work well with these kids, most of whom will be going on to a different, larger school next year and have many changes in store for them. Try the following exercise. Persona Poems: Often children can be freer and more expressive if they can imagine themselves to be something or someone else. The use of a persona allows them to say things they might not ordinarily feel comfortable with. In this particular version of this exercise, I asked the students to imagine they were a Christmas tree in a lot. What would their emotions be? Would they be angry, frightened, excited, confused? Could they talk to other trees? I handed out the following example along with a blank form in the shape of a tree to make it more fun. |
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Eileen the Fir Tree I lean against the wire fence with my new friends. We whisper to one another the stories we've heard: stories of colored lights and ornaments, tinsel and candy canes. Strange and glorious things! A warm house with lots of children who think I'm wonderful! As we huddle together, people wander through in groups of twos and threes, speaking in clouds and stamping their feet -- the children scattering, then coming back, then scattering again like brightly colored birds. I lean out as far as I can, stretching my branches and willing the children to pick me, pick me! I may be missing all the action back in the forest but, oh! to go out in a brilliant blaze of lights and song! Poem by Amy Sacha |
