Celebrate Poetry Hunger Games Style!

I started working on a Hunger Games-themed poetry freebie and figured I would finish it over spring break. Oops... Since this is already April 12, I thought I better post some of the pages I HAVE completed so you can use them during poetry month! Of course, you can (and should) incorporate creative writing exercises any time throughout the year. It allows your students to think freely and differently than they normally do.

UPDATED: I completed the packet! You can download it here free:
The Hunger Games Creative Writing Exercises

Here's some Acrostic poetry-writing exercises you can use with your students. The first letter of each line will begin with a letter in the character's name. The content should relate to the character. Lines can be as simple as one-word, or full sentences, or a mixture of both. The "speaker" of the poem can be the character or written in third person.

Here's an example of one I wrote as if I were Katniss:
Knowing I will most
Assuredly die
Tomorrow, I toss aside the
Notion of hope I've recklessly
Instilled in my
Sister. But hope has a way of
Sneaking back.

Here's a more simple poem for Peeta with adjectives Katniss may use to describe him during the Games:
Patient
Emotional
Elusive
Traitor
Admirable

I have many more pages coming, so stay tuned for additional ones. You can download them {HERE}.

Happy World Poetry Day!

 March 21st is World Poetry Day, a celebration to promote and encourage poetry worldwide.

As we begin the week in our classrooms, recite your favorite poem to your students and ask that they share theirs. Talk about why you like the poem, why it holds meaning for you.

If you are teaching a unit that does not allow much time for a poetry recital, have students write a poem (rather than a journal entry, essay, or complete sentence response on a handout). Yes, song lyrics–including rap–count as poetry! I always tell my students to make sure it is school-appropriate, however. If you are currently reading The Hunger Games, have them summarize a chapter with a poem or rap. Or pick out your favorite dialogue between characters and arrange them into a poem. Encourage them to use words in a different, unexpected way.

To honor this day, I typed a lesson and handout that can be used with your students today or any day. It is free and you can download it HERE. It encourages using Twitter as a way to spread the love and appreciation of poetry (or Poetweet!). Download my lesson so you can create a poetweet or twaiku with your students!

For more information about today, check out the official site for World Poetry Day HERE.

  I hope you & your students have a great time reading, writing, and sharing poems. Happy World Poetry Day!