Create Poetry

Using one of the photographs or poems as inspiration, create poems and verse. Students can write their # or One Sentence responses (see below) on small pieces of paper that can then be moved around and arranged into poems.

If more than one class is working with this resource, you can display the inspiration photographs and poems and students’ poetry and haikus in a common hallway or area, such as the school library or cafeteria. You can also have two or more classes meet in a larger area to share their poems and haikus aloud while projecting the inspiration photographs or poems.

At a school Open House or other event, display the inspiration photographs and poems and either display the students’ poems and haikus with them or have students read their poems aloud.

# (Hashtag) (Suggested  for all grade levels, 4-12)
Ask students to choose a word or two to describe what the photograph communicates to them as if they were creating a #. Have students share their # with the group or class. Each # description becomes an opportunity to ask leading questions, such as “What about the photographs suggests this # to you?”  Students should cite specific details seen within the work to support their responses. It’s fine for more than one student to have the same #.  One-by-one have students say their # aloud to create a group or class poem inspired by the photograph.

One Sentence  (Suggested for all grade levels)
Have each student write one sentence to describe what the photograph communicates to them. Each one-sentence interpretation becomes an opportunity to ask leading questions, such as “What about the photographs suggests this sentence to you?”  Students should cite specific details seen within the work to support their responses. Options: one-by-one, have students recite their sentences to create a group or class poem inspired by the photograph; or collect the sentences and read them aloud, one after another, with few pauses, to create a group or class poem.

Haiku 
Using one of the resource photographs or poems as inspiration, create a haiku, or Japanese verse in three lines. Line one should consist of 5 syllables. Line two should consist of 7 seven syllables and line three should have 5 syllables.

Rap
Using one of the resource photographs or poems as inspiration, create a Rap, which is a spoken or chanted poem or song, sometimes using rhyming lyrics and sometimes accompanied by music. Students should focus on content, flow (rhythm and rhyme), and method of delivery.