Introduction

The purpose of this Web page is to give you a sampling of some of the aspects of poetry. Each of the activities asks you to make a personal commitment to what you like, believe, or feel. Really try to find things that you can connect with. Good luck and have fun!

The following links come from all over the World Wide Web and represent a variety of viewpoints. You may complete the following Internet activities alone or by working in a group. You may complete all or only some of the activities depending on your goals.

Internet Activities

Rhyming Dictionary

1. Pick a word that you might use to desribe yourself.
2. Submit the word to find rhyming possibilities (Play around with perfect and imperfect rhymes).
3. Write a ten line poem using one of your rhyming words in each line. Try using rhyming words at the beginning of each line instead of the end.

Children's Poetry

1. Read through two or three of the listed poems. Which is your favorite?
2. Write down the line or lines that describes your favorite image from the selected poem.
3. Illustrate this image and post it in the classroom with a copy of your selected poem.

A Call to Poets

1. Which of John Glenn's accomplishment do you think is most notable? Why?
2. What makes a Hero?
3. Write a short poem, in any style, about John Glenn or your personal hero.

Koigi wa Wamwere

1. Read witness #2, record the most moving passage and share it with the class
2. What has happened in your life that might compare to this experience?
3. List for three minutes the feelings that you and Macaria share.

'Reluctance' by Robert Frost

1. Poems are in many cases meant to be read, to be heard, to be experienced. Click on 'hear' on the page and listen to 'Reluctance' by Robert Frost
2. Make a list of things you think are important to ''hear.'
3. Bring one item to class to share it. Make sure you bring a printed copy of the words/lyrics and an explanation of why we should 'hear' this as opposed to 'reading' it.

'Unicorn' by Shel Silverstein

1. Read this Poem by Shel Silverstein, a famous children's poet. Do you like this poem? List five of your reasons.
2. If you were to write a poem for children, what would you include?
3. Write poem for children using your own rules.

Beowulf - The Introduction

1. Read the introduction of Beowulf, an epic poem. An epic is a poem about the adventures of a hero or heroine. What are the adventures you think Beowulf will undertake?
2. What are your most memorable adventures? Next to each of your adventures describe the outcome. Where they negative or positive outcomes?
3. Make a time line of the adventures of your life

Conclusion

While exploring this sampler on poetry, we hope you've had fun, learned, and most importantly connected with some part of this topic. If you did not, please go back and explore some other links and look deeper inside yourself. Be prepared to explain how you feel more interested in or connected to the topic now than before you tried this sampler.