Lesson Introduction
One of the wonderful things about poetry is its ability to be both specific and generous at the same time. Remarkably, it seems that the more specific a poem becomes -- the more it roots itself in a place, time, or mood-- the more its readers delight in seeing themselves reflected in its lines. This lesson is about finding ways to be specific, and as an added bonus, includes a way to get your students’ writing outside of the four walls of your classroom -- an act of generosity on their part, for sure!
Learning Objectives
In this lesson, students will have opportunities to:
- Read, discuss and respond to a poem.
- Write a poem of their own.
- Edit their poem with a peer.
- Collaborate with classmates on a community poetry project.
- Get their writing out into the world.
Materials and Resources
To teach this lesson, you will need:
- copies of “Lines for the Fortune Cookies” by Frank O’Hara
- a fortune cookie for every member of your class
- paper, pens
- slips of paper about the size of a bookmark.
- a shoe box, or other box that can be turned into a fortune teller
- materials to decorate the box (markers, glue, paint, etc.)