Some children seem to get the idea of poetry like some
people naturally understand music or art. Other children struggle to see
the point and are resistant to lessons about poetry. The poetry project is a
collection of the favorite poems of the various people in a child’s life.
When my child did this I was totally amazed at how many people had one or more
poems that were special to them. It is also fun to see what kinds of
poems are important to whom. In addition, it involves writing practice
which is always a good thing.
Introduce or review poetry basics at an age appropriate
level. Explain the project. Spend a few minutes brain storming who
the child would like to invite to participate. Family, friends of all ages,
neighbors, care givers, and city leaders are a place to begin. If a child
has a hero, it would be fun to include them. Help the child write a
skeleton letter which can then be personalized for each person being
approached. Over the next few days, the child will write a note or letter
to each person. Mail the letters or send the emails.
As the responses come in, read the poems together.
If the contributor provided a note of explanation, read it. Read each
poem out loud a couple of times to hear any rhymes and feel the rhythm. Discuss
the type, the images created, and the feeling conveyed. Discuss why the
contributor might like the poem. Encourage your child to make notes about
the poem to keep with it and to use to write a “thank you.”
The collection of poems can be made into a scrapbook or
computer file. It is fun to add a picture and bio of each person.
The project is likely to become a prized possession.
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