Using Poetry in the Content Areas
A second grade teacher passed me a note during a faculty meeting….oops, I
mean…a second grade teacher put a note in my mailbox and asked me if I could
write her a poem with the following words: amphibian, eggs, froglet, life
cycle and tadpole. And, as usual, I think, “I can’t write a poem about that!”
Then, I get bored in the faculty meeting…oops, I mean…I have free time on the
weekends and I begin writing poems.
See sample poem "Life Cycle of a Frog "
Writing Found Poems
Another great way to incorporate poetry into the content
area is with Found Poems.
By Dr. Nile Stanley, UNF and Steffani
Gilligan
Have students look at a nonfiction passage and highlight
(or write) the words they like or find interesting. Ask the students to list the
words in poetry form. The Found poem does not need to rhyme in the body of the
poem. The poem is basically a list or summary of the passage. It is fun for the
reader if the poem can end with a pattern or a rhyme but it is not required.
(Rhyming is fun to read, but it is more important that the poem make sense.)
Students MAY add words, concepts and ideas that are NOT in
the passage. Poems will need a title and author. When teachers (and students)
read the poem they should always start with the title and identify themselves as
the author.
SAMPLE PASSAGE
Manatees are
aquatic mammals that are called sea cows. Manatees breathe air through nostrils
into their two lungs. Although they can stay underwater for up to 20 minutes,
they usually surface every 5 minutes. Manatees are known as “gentle giants” and
sometimes social animals. Their biggest predator is man. Manatees are often
killed by boaters when they are struck by propellers. Some scientist believe the
manatee is an endangered species . . .
MANATEES
By Nile Stanley and Third Grade Class
Sea cows –
Gentle giants –
Surface often,
Breathe air,
Boaters beware:
GO SLOW!
ENDANGERED mammal
Swimming below!
From N. Stanley (2004) Creating readers
with poetry. Gainesville, FL: Maupin House
http://maupinhouse.com
Leslie Rucker is a third grade science teacher at
Brentwood Elementary School of the Arts. Using an arts integration approach
and the found poem format, Mrs. Rucker wrote 3 nice poems to kick off her unit
on matter. This is one of her poems. Her students were amazed to read original
works by their classroom teacher! On that first day of their lesson on matter,
they discovered something new about the teacher they thought they had all
figured out! Give them and example of a found poem. Walk them though one as a
class. Ask them to try one – in your science class!
Changes
By Leslie Rucker
Solid stuff,
Lovely liquids,
Gases galore.
Melt them.
Freeze them.
Leave them alone.
Blow them.
Break them.
Compress or expand.
Solid stuff,
Lovely liquids,
Gases galore.
ThePoetryTeacher.com
