Introduction

What do you like (or not) about poetry? What is poetry for? I guarantee that you will find poems that you like while doing this Subject Sampler. You may even find that you're a talented poet yourself! Try these sites and see what you can find, and do!

Web Activities

Giggle poetry

1. Read some funny poems from this site.
2. Which was your favourite? What was funny about it?
3. Think of something funny that happened to you or someone you know. Using ideas from the 'Giggle Poetry' Poetry Class page, write a poem about it. Illustrate your poem also.

Karla Kuskin's poem

1. Read Karla Kuskin's poem 'Me'. How does she feel about herself?
2. Think about how you feel about yourself. It can be what you can do, how you behave, what you look like, what others think about you, and so on.
3. Write a poem entitled 'Me', about yourself, using help from Karla Kuskin. It can be funny or serious. Illustrate your poem.

Jack Prelutsky's poetry writing advice

1. Read some of Jack Prelutsky's poems (New Kid on the Block). Do you enjoy them more when you hear them read?
2. Do some of the word warm-ups Jack suggests you do to warm up for writing poetry.
3. Try finishing one of the poems on his 'Write your poem' page.

Poetry Theater page of Poetry Teachers Page

1. Read some of the poems suggested for performance.
2. Choose one (from this page or somewhere else) and rehearse a performance with other students, using props if you wish.
3. What did you enjoy most about performing your poem?

Home page for haiku by children of different countries

1. Read lots of haiku poems by children from different countries. Which is your favourite?
2. Haiku poems usually describe something happening in nature, and have a special form. Try to work out this form from the poems you have read.
3. Go outside to a garden. Sit quietly and watch, listen, smell, touch. Write a haiku poem about something that impressed you.

Giggle poetry - contests - rap poetry

1. Read some rap poems aloud. What does your body want to do?
2. Read Bruce Lansky's advice on writing rap poems.
3. Write a short story in the form of a rap poem, and perform it for your class (or your mirror if you're shy!)

Conclusion

By now you should have discovered what kinds of poetry you like best. Remember that some of the sites you visited invite you to submit your poems for publication on the Internet, so the whole world can enjoy them!