This spring, our High School Resource class ended its Literature class with a unit on poetry. After first learning many poetic terms, we read and analyzed a variety of poetry forms, learning that everyone reacts differently to poetry, but that the best poetry creates images in our minds. We also spent some time writing our own original poems, including limericks, diamantes, acrostics, and “Five Senses.” In this last type, we popped popcorn and spent time observing it in terms of our five senses. How did it sound while popping? How did it smell? What did it look like once it was popped? What did it feel like? And finally, how did it taste?
After using a graphic organizer and jotting down personally relevant words in each of the five categories, each student crafted his or her own poem. Once in final draft form, each student had the chance to share their poem with the class, reading aloud in an informal “poetry café,” and receiving valuable feedback from classmates.
Students came up with a wide variety of formats, and all were creative and interesting to listen to. Our last touch was to “publish” our poems on popcorn-themed paper.
