Writing a poem activity

Aim: personal writing,,getting to know each other, group work.

Level: Intermediate/ advanced.

Time: fluid.

Preparation:

1.The teacher writes her/ his own poem and be ready to share it with the class.

2. The teacher brings small coloured cards for the pupils.

Procedure:

1. (This step is optional) The teacher writes the following quote on the board :

" There are no days in life so memorable as those which vibrated to some stroke of the imagination"

Ralph Waldo Emerson.

The teacher asks the pupil to explain and interpret the previous quote according to their points of view.

Then the pupils discuss the relation between imagination and poetry.

2. The teacher ask one of the pupils to read the following poem:

Justice

Imaginary and hard

Judging freely

Like a cat to her kitten

If only people followed God`s word

(Kholod Asad)

Then the pupils discuss the meaning of the poem.

(Advice: Say what you want to say and let others read and decide what it means).

3. The teacher gives the pupils different coloured cards. The pupils write their personal poems according to the following structure:

Line 1: One word title (a noun)

Line 2: 2 words (2 adjectives)

Line 3: 2 words ( Gerund and adverb)

Line 4: Complete the following sentence: Like .................. .

Line 5: Complete the following sentence: If only............... .

4. In small groups (according to the colored cards), pupils share their poems and choose one poem to discuss.

5. Spokesperson from each group present the poem to the whole class.

6. Two pupils collect all the poems, typed them and send them by e-mail to the whole class.

Suggestions:

1. The teacher together with the class, compose and write on the board a poem. (Hess,95)

2. Post the poems on the wall of your class.(Hess, 95)

3. If possible, provide a book of poems for each student and let the students write messages to one another on the page their poems appear. (Hess,95)

4. Each pupil reads his/ her poem to the class .(Hess,95)

Good Luck!!!

Kholod Asad Shbat

" There are no days in life so memorable as those which vibrated to some stroke of the imagination"

Ralph Waldo Emerson.