Bring Words to Life for World Poetry Day
March 21 is World Poetry Day, a day UNESCO has created to recognize “the unique ability of poetry to capture the creative spirit of the human mind.”
In this post, I explore some of the reasons to engage in poetry with your students (no matter the subject you’re covering), and share some of my favourite Edwin resources on powerful poetry.
When students build a relationship with poetry, they come into contact with the real creative power of words—poetry, after all, means “to make.” The Edwin Library has a diverse selection of poetry to work with. Rather than providing detailed lesson instructions, this collection brings together some of Edwin’s most compelling poems with simple suggestions to support student engagement. I’ve paired up four key qualities of poetry with selections in the collection.
Poetry Can Be Hard. Make It Fun Instead.
Unlike prose descriptions and narratives, students are unlikely to encounter poetry in the normal course of an average day. Poems are language for its own sake, and because of this they usually stand out as different from other forms of writing.
As creative texts, their full meaning isn’t always obvious. They can require work to understand, and this can be frustrating. So, starting with something fun is a great way to get students over that first hump!
Poetry Is Everywhere
Poetry isn’t just difficult reading about complicated topics. It can be oral as well as written. It can be read quietly, shared with others, and quoted in many contexts. It can be set to music as a song. It could even mean the motion of an amazing athlete or an animal. Ask students what we mean when we say “it was pure poetry” about something: we mean that it was good and beautiful.
Reading and Rereading
Unlike novels, shorter poems can be read and reread many times in one sitting. Like a favourite song, a good poem can stand being heard and read many times. Letting students know that poems should be read slowly and repeatedly is an important part of the process.
Poetry as a Primary Source
One of the best ways that poetry can contribute to a rich classroom is as a primary source for important cross-curricular concepts. Once students are equipped to read and understand (and enjoy) poetry, topically significant poems can be used to enrich curricular discussions in social studies, health and wellness—even math and science—with complementary or contrasting perspectives.
This week is also UN’s Week of Solidarity with the Peoples Suffering from Racism and Racial Discrimination. What better time to share powerful, personal poetry from marginalized voices?
Summing up
We’ve looked at a few of the unique characteristics of poetry that make it challenging, versatile, and most of all, meaningful! Using any of the strategies outlined above, try making it a priority for students to read one poem every day using Edwin. Doing so will build reading comprehension and vocabulary and make the sources that students engage with across the subjects more diverse.
😀 Bonus! Student Choice Board
Spring into a new season, and explore poetry through Edwin! Discover different forms of poetry that share personal stories of identity, respect for the Earth, and modern-day messages. When you explore this Learning Object you can hover over each image to choose a poetry activity.