If middle school teachers are in need inspiration for a great fall poetry lesson, this lesson will include taking a short field trip, writing a Haiku and/or Tanka, and making an art piece. The wind is turning colder and the smell of fall is in the air. This change of seasons will help students to focus on nature and its beauty.
Besides, some middle school students will be spending their afternoons or weekends helping rake leaves from the lawn. Teachers can turn these gorgeous leaves into inspiration for a creative writing poetry lesson.
Take a Short Field Trip
Some middle school teachers may stop reading right here because there is no money in the budget to get on a bus and go somewhere. However, there probably is a tree dropping its leaves within the vicinity of the school.
This field trip will allow students to go outside and take a lovely stroll. They are to find at least one interesting leaf for the poetry lesson. If the teacher does not want to go on a walk, then he or she can ask students to bring in a leaf from home or from the neighbor's yard.
Write a Haiku or Tanka
After students have found the perfect leaf, they can press them between books or just tape them to a piece of paper. Next, they will need to write a Haiku or Tanka about the particular leaf or fall in general. Students can focus on the shape or color of the leaf. Or, they can discuss what fall means to them or how fall makes them feel.
Teachers may need to review how to write a Haiku or Tanka. The Haiku usually focuses on nature. Here are the basic directions.
To write a Haiku, students will need to write a three line poem:
- line one contains five syllables
- line two contains seven syllables
- line three contains five syllables
To write a Tanka, students will need to write a seven line poem:
- line one contains five syllables
- line two contains seven syllables
- line three contains five syllables
- line four contains seven syllables
- line five contains seven syllables
Make Art Piece
Once students have written their poems, they need a piece of tag board, construction paper, or nice paper. There are several ways to use the leaves. Students can affix the leaf to the paper. Or they can place the leaf under the paper and color on top of the paper to reveal the veins and shape of the leaf.
Next, students need to write the poem neatly on the paper. It should include the title and their names.
This poetry lesson includes a trip outside and an art lesson to write poetry. Students should be inspired by nature and all its beauty during the wonderful season of fall.
References:
- The Process of Composing Your Own Haiku
- Haiku for People
Kellie Hayden - She is a 19 year veteran teacher with a master's degree in education and NBCT, 2000. Kellie teaches 8th grade language arts, TAG and ...
Join the Conversation