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15 Fun Poetry Activities for High School

April 8, 2019 //  by  Lindsay Ann //   3 Comments

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High School Students + Fun Poetry Activities

If you’re an English teacher, looking for fun poetry activities for high school or middle school students, I’ve got you covered. I’m opening up my poetry toolbox and sharing some of my favorite (and most successful) poetry games and activities!  Whether you’re looking for a stand-alone lesson or something more, there’s something here for everyone.

Pop Sonnets

The creation of pop sonnets is one of my favorite poetry activities to use in conjunction with the reading of a Shakespearean play, but it can be used as a stand-alone lesson. The hook is that modern-day songs have been turned into Shakespearean sonnets. You can study one of Shakespeare’s sonnets and ask students to modernize it. Then, work in reverse by re-working a modern-day song as a sonnet. Or, just use this as a “hook” to help students feel more comfortable with Shakespearean language.   Take a look and thank me later.

Songs as Poetry

Studying modern-day songs is a great way to teach about figurative language and poetic devices while studying poetry. Try reading the lyrics, but omitting or re-writing the metaphors and talking about the change in message/meaning. Look for examples of imperfect rhyme in one of Eminem’s cleaner songs. Study poems as paired texts . Analyze lines from a famous soundtrack. Ask students to bring in their favorite songs and discuss. So. Many. Options!

Here are 12 great songs to analyze if you aren’t sure where to start:

• “Across the Universe” by the Beatles
• “Angel” by Sarah McLachlan
• “Blank Space” by Taylor Swift
• “Chasing Pavements” by Adele
• “Infinity” by Mariah Carey
• “Stereo Hearts” by Gym Class Heroes
• “Counting Stars” by One Republic
• “It’s Time” by Imagine Dragons
• “Imagine” by John Lennon
• “Mad World” by Gary Jules
• “Zombie” by The Cranberries
• “Letter to Me” by Brad Paisley

Slam Poetry

Students need to know that poetry is not dead. It’s living. It’s breathing. It’s storytelling. It’s cool. In April, my classes come alive with the magic of slam poetry as students become authors and performers. They re-discover wonder and learn to let down their guard. They learn that there is intersectionality between their story and the stories of others. They are appreciated. They appreciate others. When I use this fun poetry activity for high school students , my classroom really becomes a true community.

Grab my slam poetry “mini” unit to get your students started with slam poetry!

Not sure which slam poems are school-appropriate and engaging? Here are 40 of my favorite slam poems !

Paint Chip Poetry

This poetry writing activity is FREE if you’re willing to grab some paint chips from your local hardware store, preferably ones with multiple colors in one. Or, Amazon sells an awesome paint chip poetry “game.”

• Have students use one of the color names as the title for a poem.
• Have students write poems in stanzas, using each of the color names as inspiration.
• Have students use all of the color names somewhere in a poem.
• Have students choose two contrasting colors and make a poem of contrasts.
• Have students choose two complimentary colors and make a poem.
• Have students choose a color and write an identity poem.

Blackout Poetry

This is an oldie, but goodie poetry writing exercise for high school students. Copy a page or two from a whole class novel. Or better yet, choose a completely divergent text, maybe a science textbook or page from a dictionary. Students string together words on the page to form a poem, and black-out the rest of the words. If they want to go above and beyond, they can create an original illustration to accompany their blackout poem.

Book Spine Poetry

Take your students to the library (or have them browse a site like Goodreads) and challenge them to create poems from book titles. Each title becomes a line in the poem. An optional challenge: have students choose (or randomly draw) a theme, and their poem has to relate to their chosen theme. If you’re looking for some FREE templates, I’ve got you covered: Click Here !  I created these templates as a quick fun poetry activity for high school sophomores after my librarian told me that having my classes pull so many books would be a pain to re-shelve.

Poetry Tasting

A lot of teachers are loving my reading progressive dinner stations . Poems are short and accessible texts that always rock when used with this activity.

Here are some options for poetry stations, a fun group poetry activity: 

• Choose a certain kind of poem or a certain poetic movement to explore at ALL the stations, i.e. the ghazal or Imagist poetry.
• Choose different kinds of poems or movements to explore at each station.
• Choose poems related to ONE thematic idea.
• Choose poems written by teenagers.
• Choose “famous” poems.
• Choose slam poems.

Poetry Transformations

If you’re studying word choice and tone in poetry, why not have students transform a poem, switching from one tone to another? Then, have students write a reflection analyzing why they made 4-5 important changes.

Found Poems

This poetry activity is exactly what it sounds like. Have students choose / cut-out words from magazines to form “found” poems. Or, have students listen to a TED talk or story, writing down a certain # of words they hear. Then, ask them to use these words + ones of their own to write an original poem.

Easter Egg Poems

If ’tis the season, you might as well use those plastic easter eggs you may have lying around. Put “poetry inspiration” in each egg. At the very least, I suggest a word or phrase. If you want to go “all-in,” create a combination of the items below:

• Random household objects, i.e. a piece of string, a bead
• Newspaper/magazine clippings
• Words/phrases
• Famous first lines
• A “mentor” poem, copied and folded up

Tell students that their challenge is to write a poem inspired by these objects. Or, if you prefer, have students incorporate words / ideas from each object in their poem.

Favorite Poem Project

If you’ve never seen the site “ Favorite Poem Project ,” I suggest checking it out as a poetry unit resource. The site’s goal is to interview a variety of different people about their “favorite poems.” In each short video, an individual shares a personal connection to his/her poem and reads the poem out loud.

After being a fan of this site for some time, I decided to have my students make their own “favorite poem” videos . They explored, chose a poem that they liked “best,” and created videos on Flipgrid discussing their thoughts about the poem and reading it aloud. These videos were then viewed by classmates. Everyone enjoyed this a lot!

Metaphor Dice

Poems as Mentor Texts

Using mentor texts for writing is a powerful strategy for poetry instruction, yet one that I find myself “skipping” because there isn’t time. I have to remind myself to “make” the time because it’s important. If we’re going to spend time analyzing texts, it only makes sense to have students try to use those writing moves in their own writing. After all, students should be writing frequently, and not always for an assessment grade.

Here are 12 great mentor poems if you’re not sure where to start:

• “ We Real Cool ” by Gwendolyn Brooks
• “ Montauk ” by Sarah Kay
• “ This is Just to Say ” by William Carlos Williams
• “ Mother to Son ” by Langston Hughes
• “ My Father’s Hats ” by Mark Irwin
• “ Chicago ” by Carl Sandburg
• “ Entrance ” by Dana Gioia
• “ My Father is an Oyster ” by Clint Smith
• “ If ” by Rudyard Kipling
• “ Ode to a Large Tuna in the Market ” by Pablo Neruda
• “ The Bean Eaters ” by Gwendolyn Brooks
• “ The Summer I Was Sixteen ” by Geraldine Connolly
• “ Where I’m From ” by George Ella Lyon (As a bonus, students can submit their poems to the “I am From” project. ) p.s. If you’re looking for ready-to-use templates,  here you go !

Magnetic Poetry

A fun activity to fill extra class time, or just for fun: magnetic poetry . Give each student (or pairs of students) a handful of magnetic poetry pieces. See what they come up with. Take pictures and display around the room.

Interactive Poetry Bulletin Board

Sort of like magnetic poetry, but with a twist, it’s fun to set-up an interactive bulletin board as a fun poetry activity for high school students to try before or after class. You can do this in several different ways.

• Poem of the day + a “feel-o-meter” for students to rate the poem on a scale from “mild sauce” to “hot sauce.” You can have students use push pins to vote.
• Large scale magnetic poetry + a bulletin board becomes “push pin poetry.” You choose the words. Students move them around to form poems.

Hey, if you loved this post, I want to be sure you’ve had the chance to grab a FREE copy of my guide to stream l ined grading . I know how hard it is to do all the things as an English teacher, so I’m over the moon to be able to share with you some of my best strategies for reducing the grading overwhelm. 

Click on the link above or the image below to get started!

About Lindsay Ann

Lindsay has been teaching high school English in the burbs of Chicago for 18 years. She is passionate about helping English teachers find balance in their lives and teaching practice through practical feedback strategies and student-led learning strategies. She also geeks out about literary analysis, inquiry-based learning, and classroom technology integration. When Lindsay is not teaching, she enjoys playing with her two kids, running, and getting lost in a good book.

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100 Creative Poetry Prompts for High school Students (2024)

• Post author By Onyemechi Nwakonam
• Post date September 20, 2023
• No Comments on 100 Creative Poetry Prompts for High school Students (2024)
• Sticky post

High school is a period of immense growth, self-discovery, and complex emotions. 

Exploring creative poetry prompts can help students process their experiences and gain self-awareness during this transitional time.

 Whether required for a class or simply for enjoyment, poetry provides high schoolers an enlightening outlet for self-expression. 

Carefully crafted prompts allow students to hone their skills while unpacking their innermost thoughts and feelings into verse.

 From lighthearted to solemn, the prompts empower students to capture the poignancy of adolescence. 

In this blog post, we will explore thought-provoking poetry prompts tailored specifically for the high school demographic. 

Get ready to inspire the next generation of poets!

1. Write a poem about your family. Focus on describing the relationships between family members and how they make you feel.

2. Write a poem inspired by your favorite song. Include some lyrics from the song and describe how the song makes you feel.

3. Write a poem about a meaningful experience or event in your life. Try to capture the emotions you felt during this experience. 

4. Write a poem from the perspective of an inanimate object, like a pencil, chair, or pair of shoes. What does this object observe throughout the day?

5. Write a poem about your biggest fear. Use vivid imagery and metaphors to fully describe this fear.

6. Write a poem inspired by a famous speech or quote. Include parts of the quote in your poem and reflect on its meaning.

7. Write a humorous poem about an annoying habit someone you know has. Use hyperbole and silly imagery to exaggerate this habit.

8. Write a poem lamenting the end of summer. Capture what you will miss most about summer break.

9. Write a poem celebrating your favorite season. Use sensory imagery to convey why you love this season.

10. Write a poem reflecting on a time you failed at something. How did this experience change or motivate you?

11. Write a poem from the perspective of an animal, like your pet. Imagine what a day in that animal’s life is like. 

12. Write a poem about a historical event or figure. Make sure to include factual details as well as reflective commentary.

13. Write a poem inspired by a place that is special to you. This could be somewhere you’ve traveled or somewhere you visit often. Capture the sights, sounds, and feelings of this place.

14. Write a poem about someone who has deeply impacted you or shaped who you are. This could be a family member, teacher, or friend.

15. Write a poem envisioning where you see yourself in 10 years. Describe your future goals and dreams.

16. Write a poem about regret. Reflect on something you wish you could change or do differently.

17. Write a poem inspired by a work of art, like a painting or sculpture. Describe the artwork and your reaction to it. 

18. Write a haiku about nature. Try to capture a fleeting moment from the natural world in just three lines.

19. Write a poem using repetition. Repeat a certain line or phrase throughout the poem to emphasize an idea.

20. Write an acrostic poem using your first name. Let each letter represent an aspect of your identity.

21. Write a list poem describing ten small moments that bring you joy. Keep it brief but vivid.

22. Write a poem personifying love or heartbreak. Give human traits and actions to this emotion.

23. Write a poem in the form of a letter to your future self. What wisdom do your current self have for your future self? 

24. Write a poem inspired by a meaningful friendship or relationship. Reflect on cherished memories together.

25. Write a poem envisioning a utopian world. Imagine a society with equality, peace, and justice for all.

26. Write a poem about your heritage or family history. Include details about your cultural background and ancestry. 

27. Write a poem inspired by a current event. Make sure to move beyond summary into reflection and commentary.

28. Write a poem from the perspective of someone whose beliefs differ from your own. Strive to humanize and understand them.

29. Write a poem using a specialized form like a sonnet, villanelle, or sestina. Look up the rules for that form first.

30. Write a poem incorporating rhyme or intentional line breaks for emphasis. Consider the power meter and form can bring.

31. Write an ekphrastic poem describing a scene from a book, movie, or TV show. Focus on imagery over plot summary.

32. Write a poem made up entirely of questions about life, the universe, and everything. Don’t feel pressured to answer them.

33. Write a poem inspired by a piece of short fiction you’ve read. Consider characters, symbols, themes, and your interpretation.  

34. Write a poem describing a fictional character you admire. What traits make them admirable? Why do they inspire you?

35. Write a poem inspired by a daydream or flight of fancy. Let your imagination run wild. 

36. Write a poem personifying insomnia, or sleeplessness. What does this experience think and do at night?

37. Write a poem mourning the extinction of an animal species. Help readers understand the gravity of this loss.

38. Write a poem praising an overlooked everyday object, like a spoon, doorknob, or paperclip. Why is it taken for granted?

39. Write a poem criticizing a social media platform. What are its negatives effects on society?

40. Write a poem celebrating diversity in all its forms. Explore different identities, cultures, and perspectives.  

41. Write a poem exploring a scientific concept that fascinates you. Some examples are space, plant life, or weather.

42. Write a poem reflecting on the current political climate. Express your thoughts and feelings.

43. Write a poem envisioning an alternate reality or timeline. How does this world differ from our own?

44. Write a poem told from the perspective of a mythological creature, like a unicorn or dragon. What is their daily life like?

45. Write a poem inspired by a dream you’ve had. Use vivid imagery to describe the oddities and strangeness of the dream world.

46. Write a poem describing an emotion. Avoid just naming the emotion – use imagery and actions to show the emotion.

47. Write a poem celebrating an important woman from history. Make sure her accomplishments are highlighted. 

48. Write a poem mourning how the pandemic has changed the world. Reflect on what has been lost but also what has been gained.

49. Write a poem describing a fictional utopian city. What does this ideal community look like?

50. Write a poem criticizing how technology has changed society’s values and communication styles. Include both positives and negatives.

51. Write a poem praising a physical place that makes you feel peaceful and relaxed. Use sensory details to convey this calm feeling.

52. Write a poem reflecting on the fleeting nature of time. Consider how quickly life changes and time passes.

53. Write a poem about two contrasting emotions you feel simultaneously, like grief and gratitude. How do they interact?

54. Write a poem giving advice to your 15-year-old self. What wisdom have you gained?

55. Write a poem envisioning how the world could look in 100 years. Will humanity advance or slide backwards?

56. Write a poem reflecting on a famous myth or fairy tale from a new perspective. Offer your unique take.

57. Write a poem inspired by a piece of music without words. Describe how the melody, instruments, and rhythm make you feel.

58. Write a poem celebrating the beauty of Imperfections. Why are flaws important?

59. Write a poem told from the perspective of Mother Earth. How does she feel about how humans treat her?

60. Write a poem reflecting on the different types of love. Consider passionate, companionate, unrequited, and self-love.

61. Write a poem in the form of a recipe, with the final product being an abstract concept like hope, heartbreak, or wonder.

62. Write a poem personifying death or grief. Try to humanize these challenging concepts.

63. Write a poem describing how books or literature have impacted you. Convey your passion for reading and learning.

64. Write a poem told from the perspective of an inanimate object in your room. What secrets does it observe?  

65. Write a poem celebrating an influential teacher you had. What made them so impactful?

66. Write a poem advocating for an important social cause. Try to inspire and motivate readers.

67. Write a poem mourning how humans have damaged the environment over time. Convey a tone of urgency.

68. Write a poem reflecting on the complexity of family relationships. Explore both closeness and conflict.

69. Write a poem describing the feeling of wandering or being lost, whether literally or metaphorically. Where might you find your way?

70. Write a poem inspired by a news story that moved you. Respond with your perspective on this event.

71. Write a poem celebrating the eccentricities that make you uniquely you. Embrace your quirks!

72. Write a poem reflecting on a difficult period in your life. How did you grow from this experience?

73. Write a poem envisioning where humans will be exploring 100 years from now – other planets? galaxies? Include your hopes and predictions.

74. Write a poem from the perspective of an animal in a zoo. How does this creature feel about captivity?

75. Write a poem describing a single moment you want to remember forever. Freeze this memory in vivid detail. 

76. Write a poem inspired by a photograph or image. Let visual details launch your words.

77. Write a poem arguing why an underrated food deserves more appreciation. Make this food enticing.

78. Write a poem exploring the ways simple, everyday objects represent bigger ideas. Reveal their symbolic meanings. 

79. Write a poem describing how the changing seasons make you feel. Convey the emotional impact of autumn, winter, spring and summer. 

80. Write a poem praising someone who showed you kindness. What did their gesture mean to you?

81. Write a poem honoring someone you admire but don’t know personally, whether it’s an author, activist, or historical figure. 

82. Write a poem envisioning where human technology might lead us in the future. Will it bring progress or disaster?

83. Write a poem reflecting on the costs and benefits of intensely pursuing a passion. Is the struggle worth the reward?

84. Write a poem from the perspective of someone who lived through a major historical event. Describe their experience and insights.

85. Write a poem exploring the way colors invoke different emotions. Why does yellow seem cheerful while grey seems somber?

86. Write a poem inspired by a piece of abstract art. Let shapes and visual patterns guide the words.

87. Write a poem contrasting the city and countryside. What distinguishing traits define these two settings?

88. Write a poem expressing nostalgia for your childhood. What moments or memories feel most poignant? 

89. Write a poem challenging gender stereotypes. How can we redefine gender roles and assumptions?  

90. Write a poem giving personified voice to an issue you care deeply about, like poverty, discrimination, or pollution.

91. Write a poem exploring the ways humans interact with animals and nature. Do we dominate, respect, exploit?

92. Write a poem reflecting on the joys and pains of growing older. Consider both losses and gains over time.

93. Write a poem envisioning an unusual superpower you wish you could have. How would this power improve your life?

94. Write a poem describing an unpleasant but necessary task. Try to reframe it in a positive light.  

95. Write a poem told from the perspective of a vampire, android, ghost or other mythical creature. Describe their experiences.

96. Write a poem weaving in idioms or common expressions. Give their abstract meanings concrete visualization.

97. Write a poem reflecting on the different phases and milestones of life. Consider how perspective shifts with age.

98. Write a poem exploring the ways landscapes shape culture and identity. How does geography influence who we become?

99. Write a poem celebrating imagination and the uniquely human ability to dream. Why is fantasy as valuable as fact?

100. Write a poem expressing your hopes and dreams for the future. What do you aspire to achieve for yourself and the world?

Guiding high school students to engage with thoughtful poetry prompts has immense value at their developmental stage. 

The prompts help unlock stanzas that lend voice to students’ inner worlds. 

Whether tackling writer’s block or expressing vulnerabilities, students can flourish when provided creative avenues. 

Remember, as high schoolers share their poems, some delicacy and discretion is required. 

While not every poem will be profound, the consistent practice strengthens skills and self-awareness. 

Encourage students to appreciate their evolution by occasionally revisiting their body of work.

 Most importantly, ensure poetry remains an enlightening, not intimidating, endeavor for teenagers through choice prompts and supportive feedback.

By Onyemechi Nwakonam

Hi ,I write poetry and short prose. I am excited to help you organise your writing journey.

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• Our Mission

Every Student Can Be a Poet

Five easy-to-implement strategies to make poetry writing accessible and fun for all students.

Each year, when I tell my students that we are going to write poetry, a few are excited, but the majority let out an audible sigh. They often have the misconception that poetry is about following a lot of rules and using words that they don’t understand. They’re more open and excited when the focus shifts toward sharing their ideas and feelings with others in a creative format.

With each new type of poetry I teach, I work through writing a poem with them and talk through my thinking. Showing students that their teacher’s writing is far from perfect and sometimes comes out a lot different than envisioned empowers them to create their own work. I also model the risk-taking of starting a poem and the beauty of improvement through revision.

The poetry-writing process can become more inclusive and engaging when you offer a variety of poetry-writing exercises.

Blackout Poetry

Start with a page from any text and ask students to choose words from that text to create a poem. They black out any words they don’t want in their poem with a marker. They then rewrite all the remaining words into a poem.

Ask students to plan what they want to black out by lightly underlining in pencil before they begin marking through words. The only rule is that they must use these words in the order that they appear.

Students enjoy using texts that seem uninteresting at first glance, such as pages out of discarded grammar books. They love turning something boring into a fun poem.

Blackout poetry is a good starting point for new poets because the words are already on the page and students only need to determine which words to use. This strategy can also be used as an interdisciplinary assignment in which students use text from specific content to create a poem about that content, such as using the Bill of Rights to create a poem about the Revolutionary War.

Word-Scramble Poetry

This strategy begins with a pile of words cut out on individual pieces of paper. They can be specific words chosen by the teacher or words collected from students. Students organize the words to create any poem they would like without adding new words. This strategy allows students to see that there is not a right way to write a poem, and everyone leaves class with a completed poem. When I model this for students, they love to see me moving words around, changing my mind and wishing so much for words that I don’t have.

There are several variations of the word-scamble poetry method. One involves giving all students the same group of words and discovering how many different ideas are formulated using those same words. Another involves giving students different groups of words and allowing them to trade words. A last variation involves a bit of stealing by the teacher: Periodically walk around the classroom and distribute new words or take some words away.

My Life in ___ Words

Students are given the task of writing the story of their life using only the same number of words as their age. This helps students practice word choice and takes a little of the pressure off because it is, by default, a short piece.

A variation of this method is to use a different cap on the number of words that students may use. I’ve asked students to write about a specific topic using fewer than five or 10 words.

Prose to Poetry

Students write out their ideas for a poem without worrying about format. They are encouraged to write freely about whatever emotion or topic they would like to convey in their poem. Then students follow four steps to turn the prose into poetry:

• Decide what emotion or idea is most important for you to convey in your poem, and keep that in mind as you make revisions.
• Cut the word count by at least half by eliminating unneeded words and phrases. Highlight the most important words and phrases that you want to keep and delete the rest.
• Highlight what you think is the most important phrase, and make it your title.
• Rearrange the remaining words and phrases in a way that helps you convey your idea. Consider starting and ending all lines with a noun, adjective, or verb.

My Worst Poem

Ask students to write the worst poem ever about something they feel strongly about. Then have them go through a few revisions, making edits to turn it into something they are proud to share. This takes the pressure off of getting something on paper. Once they get over the stress of what to write and just start writing, they almost always realize that their “worst poem” isn’t that bad at all.

Celebrating Successes

After working through a few of these activities, students often comment on how surprised they are about how many poems they wrote and how much fun they had. I end the unit celebrating their writing with a poetry café, where students share their poems with their classmates and enjoy a few snacks. Creating easy and accessible exercises for poetry writing can turn skeptical students into poets.

Loving. Healing. Touching.

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• School Resources - Help With Poetry

School Resources

Are you a student or teacher looking for help or inspiration with a school poetry assignment? Welcome, you are not alone! A recent survey we conducted, revealed that one out of every four visitors to our website is here for that purpose. So, we created this page for you.

Below you will find four sections:

• Recommended Poems For Students . These poems were selected by our editor because they use popular basic poetic techniques . View the "Analysis of Form and Technique" beneath each of these poems to explore the techniques used.
• Short Tutorials exploring basic poetic techniques , Try It Yourself "Templates", explanations of poetry forms and much more!
• Best Teen Poems is a section of our website devoted to the most popular poems by teens for teens. Over 450 poems, (teen selected, editor approved), from the tens of thousands submitted to us.
• Famous Poems have long been known to strike fear in the hearts of both students (and teachers), well no need to fear our selection, like all the poems on our website, our collection of famous poems contains only poems easy to understand and relate to.

Poems With Analysis

• Phenomenal Woman
• But You Didn't
• Christmas Bells
• A Poison Tree
• The Importance Of A Sister
• What I Love About You

Poetic Techniques & Writing Poetry Help

• Rhyme Schemes And Patterns In Poetry
• Narrative Poems
• Free Verse Poems
• Structure In Poetry
• Common Poetic Forms
• Five Senses In Poetry
• Similes And Metaphors In Poetry
• How To Write A Haiku Poem
• Stanzas - Couplet, Tercet And Quatrain
• Repetition In Poetry

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Best Teen Poems

Poetry about teen life requires a section all its own. Being a teenager is a complicated business and Teen Poets write some of the most intense poems. The teenage years are a time when we experience some of life's most difficult issues for the first time. Teens are dealing with adult problems, but without any valuable past experiences to guide their decisions.

Take your time and enjoy browsing through our large collection of Best Teen Poems

Hurting Poems by Teens Can Anybody Hear Me?

• Shares 5725

Inspirational Poems by Teens The Old Oak Tree

• Shares 1042

Inspirational Poems by Teens United

• Shares 4086

Love Poems by Teens I Want To Be...

• Shares 25945

Inspirational Poems by Teens For All Those People

• Shares 8164

Hurting Poems by Teens Just My Mask

• Shares 4020

Hurting Poems by Teens Imagine

• Shares 3746

Hurting Poems by Teens My Apology To Me

Depression Poems by Teens Her Habit

Depression Poems by Teens I'm The One To Blame

• Shares 1058

Famous Poems

Since the dawn of civilization, artists of all forms have sought to express the essence of the human condition and the full range of human experience. Poetry has been one of the most common forms of this expression from the ancients until now. These words have an ability to capture the abstract emotions and concrete experiences that have been part of our humanity throughout the ages. Turning to the words of classic poems can help us to clarify and understand our own experiences better by connecting us to those others who have sought to do the same.

Love Song For Lucinda by Langston Hughes

When We Two Parted by George Gordon, Lord Byron

She Walks In Beauty by George Gordon, Lord Byron

Dear March - Come In - by Emily Dickinson

I'm Nobody! Who Are You? by Emily Dickinson

Wild Nights - Wild Nights! by Emily Dickinson

My Heart's In The Highlands by Robert Burns

A Red, Red Rose by Robert Burns

The Flower That Smiles To-day by Percy Bysshe Shelley

Ozymandias by Percy Bysshe Shelley

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Poetry Center

Five Poetry Lesson Plans for Middle & High School Students

Here are five hot-off-the-presses poetry lesson plans for middle and high school students, from our Writing the Community teaching artists!

How This Machine Works (Rachel Mindell)

Listen to Limón read her poetry on VOCA.

"Border Boy" by Alberto Ríos (Teré Fowler-Chapman)

Listen to Ríos read his poetry on VOCA.

Writing Toward Our Lost Loved Ones (Matisse Rosen)

How I Honor What I Carry (Eva Sierra)

Listen to E. Garcia Naranjo read a poem on VOCA.

In the Last 24 Hours (Sophie Daws)

Images by Jamie Street , Hennie Stander , the Laverne Harrell Clark Photographic Collection , Ekaterina Shevchenko , and Nick Fewings .

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Classroom Resources

High school and college lesson plans.

Seeking Poems, Sharing Connections: Initiating Activity (Variation 1)

Seeking Poems, Sharing Connections: Initiating Activity (Variation 2)

Seeking Poems, Sharing Connections: Midpoint in Unit

Seeking Poems, Sharing Connections: Culmination/Extension

Introduction to Poems in Translation

Listening for Tone

Passing Poetry On, Part I

Passing Poetry On, Part II

Poetry and Loss, Part I

Poetry and Loss, Part II

Reading Poems Aloud, Sound and Meaning

Student Favorite Poem Videos

Terms for the Tools of Poetry

Middle school lesson plans.

Favorite Poems: Ours and Others’

Learning the Lines

Poetry and Culture

Students as Editors

Veterans Day or Memorial Day Poetry Lesson

Elementary school lesson plans.

Family Introduction to the Favorite Poem Project

Favorite Poem Response Board

Friday Fishbowl

Poetry Circle

Sharing with Parents

Student Videos in Their Own Voices

The Favorite Poem Project seeks to improve poetry’s place in American classrooms by encouraging active, engaging poetry lessons that emphasize a direct, vocal connection to poems. These lessons were developed by teachers as part of their participation in the Favorite Poem Project K-12 Summer Poetry Institute hosted annually for over a decade by Boston University.

In keeping with the goals of the Favorite Poem Project, the lessons presented here focus on appreciating poetry—reading, discussing, and enjoying poems—rather than on the writing of original poetry. Several of the lessons emphasize pleasure in the words and sounds of poems as a place to begin—reminding students that poetry is art, and that it is satisfying and exciting to discover a poem that enthralls you and to say it in your own voice. If poetry is first presented in classrooms as something to seek out and enjoy, rather than something to pick apart, label and decipher, students are more likely to become interested in developing a deeper understanding of meaning in poems, in looking more closely at forms, in learning the tools poets use and the terms that identify those tools.

Many of these lessons make use of the Favorite Poem Project video segments available for free on this website. The FPP anthology An Invitation to Poetry is a great addition to these lessons for any poetry educator.

Though the lessons below are organized by grade level, many of them could easily be adapted for students in higher or lower grades.

School Events

Getting Ready: A Year-Long Template

Community Poetry Day

Favorite Poem Project Assembly

Poetry Lesson to Favorite Poem Event

Seeking People’s Stories

Poetry on the PA

The “Guess-Whose Favorite” Bulletin Board

Family Poetry Night

Asking students, as the Favorite Poem Project asks people in general, to read poems aloud and say something personal about them demonstrates that those processes can be joyous rather than intimidating or dry. To recite a poem aloud fulfills a natural need, stimulated by the pleasurable, moving experience of the poem.

There are different approaches to organizing a Favorite Poem Project reading, but the goal remains the same: autonomous, individual connection with a work of art, and the ability to communicate that connection by speaking the poem in one’s own voice and by saying something about it in one’s own words.

Favorite Poem Project readings tend to create an atmosphere of respect and attention, as students listen to their peers share poems that mean something to them. The format for a reading within a single classroom is simple: each student reads a poem and says a few sentences about why this particular poem is important as a personal choice. (Our advice is to rule out written statements or notes: the only piece of paper allowed would be the text of the poem itself.) It may seem risky, but our inclination is to allow all sorts of material such as song lyrics, nursery rhymes, or anything that has found its way into print. If the student chooses to start with the words of a silly song—even in a defiant or teasing spirit—the requirement to say something to one’s peers about the importance of the choice can lead to the fulfillment of the educational goal.

For the students’ in-class reading, photocopies can be useful, but there is much to be gained from careful listening, with no text to rely on, and for welcoming the idea that a poem or parts of a poem can be heard over again, the way one plays or sings a favorite song more than once.

The anthology assignment (detailed elsewhere in this guide) is good preparation for a Favorite Poem Project reading, perhaps at the end of the term, with students choosing one poem from their collection to share with the rest of the class. It may be beneficial to have a Favorite Poem Project reading early in the term, and then again toward the end, with students choosing a different poem each time. Perhaps their tastes or interests will have changed over the course of the semester. Another option would be to begin each class with one or two students presenting a favorite poem.

A more ambitious step, beyond an in-class Favorite Poem Project reading, would be to organize an evening event inviting others from the university community to participate—several students, the high school principal or university president, custodial staff, administrators, professors of various subjects, maybe a coach. Another approach would be to extend the reach even further, finding readers from the broader community, the city or town—a mayor or alderman, a grade school student, a radio or TV personality, a doctor or banker or librarian. Students might get involved in tracking down readers and helping put together such an event. Many schools, colleges, and universities have presented events of this kind with wonderful results.

By involving the school community, or reaching out to the broader community, a Favorite Poem Project reading can help build important ties between a school and the community that supports or contains the school. For more information about planning an event that involves the community, visit Host a Reading . These readings demonstrate that poetry is part of life as well as an object for study. They create the opportunity to learn something more about poetry from people who take pleasure in it—not only or primarily scholars or poets, but anyone who loves a poem.

The above is an excerpt from the comprehensive classroom resource for instructors written by Robert Pinsky, Maggie Dietz, Todd Hearon and Jill McDonough that accompanies the t extbook edition of the Favorite Poem Project anthology An Invitation to Poetry .

Different from lesson plans for the classroom, these school event ideas can be a wonderful addition to the year, or a great tradition to organize regularly. Below are specific ideas for a variety of school events, designed by teachers who’ve written to us about their successes: 

11 Fun Poetry Activities Middle School Students Will Love

Did you know April is National Poetry Month? I’m so excited for it. I love, love, love poetry, and I want your middle schoolers to love it too! Writing poetry got me through some tough times as an angsty middle schooler and teen, so I always look forward to exploring poetry with my students. I hope some of these poetry activities for middle school will help you get excited about teaching poetry to your students too!

Outdoor Poetry Activities for Middle School

Learning is always more fun in the sun! Here’s a  super simple outdoor writing activity  you can use with your class on the next sunny day. Take students outside and challenge them to pick one thing that they think is beautiful (and yes, it should be a  thing,  not a person…). Get them to describe that item with the most vivid language possible. You could also challenge them to use only figurative language. Later, have them to pick their favourite phrases and build a poem around them.

If you’re teaching students how to write haikus, there’s no better place to be than in the great outdoors! Traditionally, haikus are written about nature, which makes this lesson the perfect opportunity for outdoor learning. I have this vision of finding a cherry blossom tree near my school and getting my students to sit around it as they write some haikus…

Half the fun of writing poetry is getting to share it. Have your students make a  poetry walk  on the school grounds with sidewalk chalk. Give them all a section of the sidewalk and let them write one of their favourite poems! For this activity, shorter poems like couplets and haikus are generally better. They’re easier for people passing by to read, and they’re easy to write with fat pieces of chalk.

Teaching Rhyme or Structure

Games for teaching rhyme.

Rhyme Challenges  are one of the easiest poetry activities middle school teachers can use to help students practice rhyme. Put a one-syllable word up on the board, break students into groups, and challenge them to come up with as many rhyming words as possible. Then, as a class, take some time to share all the words students brainstormed. To make this into a competition, coordinate with another teacher so your classes can compete

One thing to note: many students will find that coming up with multisyllabic rhymes are difficult. If you want to incentivise them to think out of the box, tell them each syllable is worth one point! These challenges are a great opportunity to model how you come up with rhymes. Personally, I do a mental run-through of the alphabet. For example, if I’m rhyming with “cat”, I’d think  bat, chat, drat, fat,  etc. 

Around the World  is another one of those fun poetry activities middle school students will love. Begin by having all but one of the students sit in their seats. That one student stands behind a classmate. This is the starting point. On the count of three, the teacher calls out a word. The student who is standing and the student sitting in front of them both try to think of a word that rhymes. Whoever comes up with one first gets to move on and stand behind the next student. The person who loses this round sits in the seat, whether that means they stay where they were seated or trade places with the person they were standing behind. The challenge is to see if any students can make it ‘around the world’ (around the classroom and back to the seat they started in).

Buzz In: A Game for Poetic Structure

If you’re teaching a poetic structure with rules, like limericks or haikus, here’s a fun way to practice them. I call it Buzz In,  but it’s really just gamified collective writing. Start off by picking a particular poetic form. For this example, let’s go with limericks. Choose three or four students to come up to the front and give each one buzzers or some way to signal when they’re ready. 

Tell students the first line of the poem they’ll be “playing”. For this example, let’s start with – “There once was a girl whose name was Ann.”

The first student to buzz in and share a second line gets to stay in the game. Perhaps they say something like, “who played in an angry rock band.” The students who did not buzz in first return to their desks.

• Call three more students up. Recite the two lines of the poem as it currently stands. 
• Whoever buzzes in first with the next line gets to stay. The others return to their desks.
• Continue until the poem is complete.
• See if students can break the class record for staying in the game for the most rounds! 

Analyzing Poetry Activities

Poetry puzzles.

• The first student to buzz in and share a second line gets to stay in the game. Perhaps they say something like, “who played in an angry rock band”. The other three return to their desks.
• Call three more students up. Recite the two lines that you have now (yours and the one from the student who won the last round).
• Whoever buzzes in first with the next line gets to stay, and the others return to their desks.

Cross-Curricular Poetry Analysis

If you teach multiple subjects,  consider tying poetry into a math unit on patterns . Patterning and rhyme schemes go hand in hand! You can even tie in math, poetry, and art, by having students represent the rhyme scheme of a poem in a visual arts piece.

Another way you can make your poetry unit cross-curricular is by having students  represent a poem through dance, drama, visual arts, or music . Students could come up with a short skit that showcases an event they think may have inspired their chosen poem. They could also create an illustrated poetry anthology. I have criteria and rubrics available for a poetry anthology project  here .

If you’re looking for guaranteed buy-in for your middle school poetry unit, bring in some music by sending students on a  Music Hunt ! Get them to look for songs that have examples of specific literary devices or follow a particular rhyme scheme. Let them play the song for their classmates (as long as it’s school-appropriate, of course), and demonstrate how it fits the criteria.

Poetry Books for Middle School

I ntroduce your students to the world of free verse poetry! It’ll blow the minds of kids who were raised to think   Cat in the Hat   was the height of poetic sophistication. Here are some free verse poetry books middle school students will love:

• Inside Out and Back Again  by Thanhha Lai
•  Forget Me Not  by Ellie Terry
• Other Words for Home  by Jasmine Warga
• Anything by  Kwame Alexander
• Here Was Paradise  by Humberto A’kabal

Looking for something shorter? Try out  Can I Touch You r  Hair? Poems of Race, Mistakes, and Friendship . It’s a picture book written from the perspectives of a white girl and Black boy who are paired together for a poetry project… what a great anchor text for a poetry unit!

Just because you’re teaching big kids, it doesn’t mean that you have to ditch your rhyming picture books! Older kids enjoy a just-for-fun read aloud too. You can totally use simple poetry books for middle school lessons. Make your students work a little by pausing as you read and getting them to shout out their rhyme predictions. Some of my favourite go-to books for rhyme predicting are  Thelma the Unicorn ,  The Girl Who Thought in Pictures , and  The Doctor with an Eye for Eyes .  If you want to be extra tricky, you can cover the rhyming words with sticky notes.

Poetry Activities as Morning Work

If you’re into morning work, try some of these poetry warm up activities!

• Free verse  can be daunting for young writers who are used to thinking of poetry as words that rhyme. It’s almost like they’re intimidated by the lack of structure! Attempting it in small, manageable chunks with familiar topics makes it much less scary. For example, you might have students write a free verse poem about their happy place as a morning work activity.
• Finish This:  Begin by putting part of a poem on the board; it can be one you made up or something you found online or in a book. Challenge students to come up with the rest of the poem, then take some time to let volunteers share their completed poems with the class. It’s so neat to see all the different ways students run with the same text!

Poetry Teaching Activities: Gallery Walk or Pass-Along

 Middle school students are old enough to stretch themselves when it comes to poetry. We can start expecting them to move away from basic rhymes. And, for the love of all things literary, we can ditch those horrid “I Am” poems. Any poem that works as a fill-in-the-blank is not going to stretch your students as writers.

If we want students to write quality poetry that doesn’t sound like they used a template, we need to actually expose them to high-quality poetry. We need them to know that poetry can take many different forms. Here’s the thing, even the best poets in the world are not going to excel in every poetic form… and that’s OK. When teaching poetry, I think it’s important to let students experiment with a bunch of different poetic forms so they can find what makes their hearts sing.

This is where one of my favourite poetry teaching activities comes in:   poetry gallery walks !   This set of poetry gallery walk posters features example poems for nine different poetic forms. Before I  introduce a new poetic form, students can go on a poetry gallery walk to explore some examples. I always like to see if they can figure out the ‘rules’ of the poetic form as they go.

Students move at their own pace and don’t have to read all the examples, but they should read at least a few. Afterward, we debrief by talking about what the poems had in common and what made them different. We share favourite lines and see if anyone has questions or comments they’d like to share about the meanings of or words in the poems. I like this structure because it makes the students do the work of figuring things out on their own rather than just listening to me tell them the  ‘rules’.

If space is limited in your room, see if you can use space in the hallways or outside for your gallery walks! I often do mine outdoors; our portable is magnetic, so I just stick the posters in whiteboard pockets and hang them up with magnetic whiteboard clips. However, if space isn’t available, you can also do a poetry pass-along with these little poetry cards (see below)!

Looking for more poetry teaching ideas for middle school or upper-elementary?

If so, check out  this blog post  that outlines how to structure a middle school poetry unit!

Want to remember these poetry activities middle school students will love? Pin the imge below to save them for later!

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• Famous Poems About School: Celebrating the Power of Education

School is not just a place of learning, but also a source of inspiration for countless poets throughout history. From capturing the joys and struggles of student life to reflecting on the significance of education, poetry has beautifully immortalized the school experience. In this article, we delve into the realm of renowned poems about school, showcasing their profound impact and timeless relevance.

1. "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost

2. "if" by rudyard kipling, 3. "the schoolboy" by william blake, 4. "theme for english b" by langston hughes, 5. "the daffodils" by william wordsworth.

One of the most beloved poems in American literature, "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost explores pivotal choices in life, often relatable to the decisions faced during our school years. Frost's iconic lines, "Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—I took the one less traveled by," resonate with students as they stand at crossroads, making important decisions that shape their academic and personal journeys.

Rudyard Kipling's "If" is a timeless piece of poetry that imparts valuable life lessons, many of which are learned within the walls of a school. The poem offers guidance on perseverance, self-discipline, and resilience, qualities that students often strive to develop. With lines such as "If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster, and treat those two impostors just the same," Kipling's words serve as a reminder that school is not only about academic achievements but also about personal growth.

In "The Schoolboy" , William Blake captures the struggles of a young student yearning for freedom and a connection with nature amidst the rigidity of the school system. This thought-provoking poem emphasizes the importance of balancing academic pursuits with the inherent need for exploration and the nurturing of one's spirit. Blake's words, "How can the bird that is born for joy sit in a cage and sing?" poignantly reflect the longing for a more holistic education.

Langston Hughes' "Theme for English B" explores themes of identity and race, which often intersect with the school experience. The poem presents an African American student's perspective on his assignment to write an essay about himself. Hughes' powerful lines, "I guess being colored doesn't make me NOT like / the same things other folks like who are other races," challenge societal expectations and highlight the universality of human experiences within the school community.

While not explicitly about school, William Wordsworth's "The Daffodils" resonates strongly with students and teachers alike, capturing the essence of the beauty and inspiration found in nature. This poem serves as a reminder of the importance of taking a break from the confines of the classroom and embracing the wonders of the natural world. Wordsworth's famous lines, "I wandered lonely as a cloud / That floats on high o'er vales and hills," evoke a sense of tranquility and rejuvenation that can be discovered even in the midst of a school routine.

Poems about school provide a rich tapestry of emotions, thoughts, and experiences that encapsulate the transformative power of education. They remind us that school is not merely a place for academic pursuits, but a space for personal growth, self-discovery, and the exploration of the world around us. Whether capturing the choices we face, the challenges we overcome, or the beauty we find within and beyond the classroom, these famous poems continue to resonate with generations of students and educators, celebrating the profound impact of learning and the enduring relevance of the school experience.

• Famous Poems About Friendship by Shakespeare
• Poems about Food and Friendship: Nourishing Bonds

Entradas Relacionadas

Poems about Academic Validation: Celebrating the Journey of Knowledge

The Power of Education: Exploring Two Poems

The Beauty of Haiku: Celebrating Teachers in Poetic Form

Poems That Capture the Journey of University Students

Poems That Illuminate the Journey of Black Education

Poems on Education Inequality: Giving Voice to the Silent Struggle

13 Poetry Lesson Plans For High School

Teach your students what a poem is as well as all the important information necessary while  teaching poetry, like: vocabulary, sound devices, types of poetry, figurative language, how to analyze a poem, and how to find rhyme scheme.

In this resource, you will receive a packet of graphic organizers/guided notes along with a Powerpoint lesson that teaches the following terminology:

poem, speaker, line, stanza, quatrain, couplet, cinquain, tercet, refrain, symbol, theme, mood

tone, imagery, juxtaposition, oxymoron, pun, paradox, allusion, proverb, foot, iamb, iambic pentameter, enjambment, anaphora, metonymy

FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE

simile, metaphor, personification, idiom, hyperbole, irony

SOUND DEVICES

rhyme, rhyme scheme, slant rhyme, rhythm, meter, alliteration, consonance, assonance, onomatopoeia, repetition

TYPES OF POETRY

narrative, lyrical, haiku, ballad, sonnet, limerick, free verse, acrostic, concrete, blank verse, blues poem, elegy, ode, prose, villanelle

HOW TO ANALYZE A POEM

HOW TO DETERMINE RHYME SCHEME

This resource includes a copy of the poem “The Raven” by Edgar Allan Poe and 26 close reading questions. The analysis includes an in-depth look at academic vocabulary, poetic devices, and literary elements in the poem. (An answer key is also provided.)

Poetic and Literary Devices Covered in this Activity:

alliteration

• rhyme scheme
• gothic literature

In this  poetry analysis activity,  your students will read and answer questions regarding the famous poem  “To an Athlete Dying Young” by A. E. Housman.  Next, your students will listen to the song  “If I Die Young” by The Band Perry  that carries a similar message. Then, students will take a closer look at how these two texts relate. Comparing and contrasting these paired texts will help your students better understand point of view, tone, mood, and theme! Add music to make poetry fun for students! This resource includes:

• Full text of the poem “To an Athlete Dying Young” by A. E. Housman
• Analysis questions for the poem “To an Athlete Dying Young”
• Song analysis questions based on the lyrics “If I Die Young” by The Band Perry
• Compare and contrast question about the song and poem
• EDITABLE copy of the questions so you can make modifications if needed
• ANSWER KEYS for everything

In this  Paired Texts Poetry Analysis , your students will analyze the two poems:  “An Obstacle” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman & “Do not go gentle into that good night” by Dylan Thomas.

This resource includes:

• Full text of “An Obstacle” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman (Due to copyright law, I am unable to provide a full text of the poem “Do not go gentle into that good night” by Dylan Thomas)
• Graphic Organizer that closely examines both poems for: meaning, tone, figurative language, setting, imagery, and theme (PDF)
• Answer key for poem analyses
• Constructed Response task which requires students to develop an answer in paragraph form. (The first CR question asks students to compare the themes in each poem. The second CR question requires students to personally connect with the theme.)
• Editable copy (word document) of the poetry analysis graphic organizer

As your students watch the 1989 Film  Dead Poets Society  (directed by Peter Weir), have them answer these  film analysis questions  to help them better comprehend and understand the film’s meaning and purpose. Additionally, have them personally connect to the theme of the film by  writing their own free verse poem  in response to Walt Whitman’s poem “O Me! O Life!” The film is 2 hours and 8 minutes in length.

Included in this lesson:

• 22 Comprehension and Analysis questions based on the film  “ Dead Poets Society” — these questions require students to connect to the characters in the film and use inferencing skills
• Answer key to the film’s analysis questions
• Free Verse Writing Activity: prompt and rubric in response to Walt Whitman’s poem “O Me! O Life!”
• Editable copy of the lesson for teachers to make modifications if needed

Teach your students all about  Sonnets  with a unique analysis of  William Shakespeare’s Sonnet 138.

1) First, use the Powerpoint presentation to familiarize your students with:

• Sonnet definition and structure
• Shakespearean Sonnets
• Petrarchan Sonnets
• Spenserian Sonnets
• Miltonic Sonnets
• Iambic pentameter
• Two-part thematic Structure
• Rhyme Scheme

Guided notes worksheet included!

2) Then, have your students analyze Shakespeare’s Sonnet 138 by answering comprehension and literary analysis questions. Answer key included!

3) Lastly, have your students  write their own original Shakespearean Sonnet . Directions and guidelines included.

Students will read and  analyze the famous poem by John Keats, “Ode On A Grecian Urn.”  This resource is great for any poetry unit!

This lesson includes:

• Full text of the poem “Ode On A Grecian Urn”
• 14 Questions about the poem: a mix of comprehension and literary analysis questions
• Write Your Own Ode Poem Activity for Students (Directions and Requirements)
• EDITABLE Word Document so you can make modifications if you wish to

Teach your students all about  Blackout Poetry with this fun lesson and activity!

In this resource, you will receive:

• Teacher Guide
• Powerpoint lesson on Blackout Poetry with step by step directions for students to create their own blackout poems in a variety of ways
• 10 Examples of blackout poems
• 40 Pages of printable texts your students can use to make their own poetry
• Editable word document Rubric and Prompt for students

In this  High School Poetry Packet , your students will read, study, and analyze six famous poems! Perfect for any Poetry Unit!

This packet is a wonderful tool because you can have students complete the literary analysis questions in a variety of ways: whole-class, independently, or collaboratively.

The 6 poems included in this packet are:

• Sonnet V by Shakespeare
• “Fire and Ice” by Robert Frost
• “I’m happiest when most away” by Emily Brontë
• “The Tyger” by William Blake
• “When I have Fears That I May Cease to Be” by John Keats
• “If” by Rudyard Kipling

In this packet, students will work on poetry skills such as: rhyme scheme, rhyme, imagery, assonance, consonance, caesura, anaphora, alliteration, theme, tone, mood, personification, enjambment, connotation, and more.

Your students are going to love this  Poetry Digital Escape Room!  Students will read and analyze the poem  “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” by Robert Frost.

They will solve puzzles in this peaceful scene of snowy woods, glistening mountaintops, and a beautiful, serene frozen lake. In this  360°  digital escape room, students will try to escape the woods before the sun goes down! This activity is designed to work for a laptop, tablet, or smart phone.

This game requires reading comprehension strategies, knowledge of poetic devices, and critical thinking skills. Watch the preview video and see exactly what’s inside the digital escape room!

Included in this download are teacher instructions, student instructions (digital), the master lock graphic organizer, answer keys, the full text of the poem, and a reflection sheet (optional).

Assign your students  a one pager poetry analysis project  and have your students share their understanding of ANY POEM by imaginatively blending their written ideas with colorful images from the text. You can pick one poem for your whole class to use or have all your students pick their own individual poems! Students’ artwork make for unique and creative analyses of the literature and also make great bulletin boards!

Included in this purchase is:

• Student directions for the one pager project
• Rubric for the one pager project
• Example one pager (based on the poem “Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night” by Dylan Thomas)
• 10 BLANK TEMPLATES (printable — optional)
• EDITABLE word document so teachers can modify instructions or rubric

Students are encouraged to include several of these literary devices, poetic devices (sound devices), and figurative language elements into their final projects: metaphor, simile, personification, hyperbole, imagery, pun, oxymoron, paradox, idiom, allusion, symbolism, assonance, consonance, alliteration, anaphora, rhyme, rhyme scheme, repetition, onomatopoeia, cacophony, mood, tone, and theme.

This resource includes a  Poetry Assessment for high school  students (9th-12th grade ELA). You will receive a printable PDF copy of the test as well as an  EDITABLE  word document in case you would like to make modifications. A detailed answer key is also included!

The format of this test includes:

• 10 fill-in-the-blank questions with a word bank
• 8 matching questions with poem types
• 5 matching questions with sound devices
• 7 matching questions with figurative language
• A poetry analysis of two poems:  “A Psalm of Life”  by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and the Sonnet  “Death, be not proud”  by John Donne.
• Students will answer 5 multiple choice questions regarding each poem
• 1 constructed response where students will compare the themes of each poem in a minimum of two fully developed paragraphs

(41 questions in total including the written response)

The Poetry Test covers the following literary terms:

narrative poem

lyrical poem

onomatopoeia

personification

Have your students create a collaborative poster and learn about  William Shakespeare  in a fun and engaging way!

Your students will create an author biography by researching Shakespeare and establishing his profile on a poster.

Students will learn about Shakespeare and his body of work as an influential author.

Additionally, they will learn the importance of collaboration and effective communication. This project is perfect for   National Poetry Month.

Project Steps:

1) To construct the author study poster, your students will work in groups to conduct research on Shakespeare.

2) Students will then transfer their findings to boxes on the poster.

3) Next, they will work together to color or paint the pieces of the poster.

4) Lastly, students will tape together the final product.

The poster is made up of six pieces of paper, which can be printed on regular copy paper or card stock.

Once taped together, the final product will be  28″ x 15″  and can last a lifetime if you laminate it!

This resource includes the following:

• Step by Step Student Directions (PDF & editable word document)
• Author Study Project Rubric (PDF & editable word document)
• Author Study Graphic Organizer for Students (PDF & editable word document)
• 6 Blank Coloring Pages that come together as one beautiful poster (PDFs)
• William Shakespeare Author Study Answer Key
• Example of Final Project: Completed Text & Fully Colored Body

Check out more from my LITERARY LEGENDS Collection:

• Emily Dickinson
• Langston Hughes
• George Orwell
• Robert Frost
• Walt Whitman

This resource is a  FULL POETRY UNIT for High School English, Grades 9-12!

You will get a collection of various lessons, activities, and projects, plus an awesome digital escape room, and final test! I’ve also included a schedule for teachers to follow day-by-day! This bundle is so diverse and your students will read at least 18 different poems within this unit!

Included in this  high school poetry unit bundle:

• Introduction Poetry Lesson & Guided Notes
• The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe Poem Close Reading
• To an Athlete Dying Young by A. E. Housman & Song Comparison Activity
• Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night & An Obstacle Paired Texts Analysis
• Dead Poets Society Movie Guide & Free Verse Poem Writing
• Sonnet 138 William Shakespeare, Sonnet Lesson & Writing Activity
• Ode On A Grecian Urn | Poem by John Keats & Ode Writing Activity
• Blackout Poetry Lesson and Creative Art Project
• Poetry Packet: Analysis of 6 Poems
• Poetry Digital Escape Room using Robert Frost Poem
• Poetry One-Pager for ANY POEM
• Editable Poetry Test with Answer Key
• William Shakespeare Author Study: Collaborative Poster Project!
• Teacher guide with day by day schedule for 4 weeks of Poetry

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30 Captivating Poetry Activities for Middle School Students

September 30, 2022 //  by  Christina Swiontek

Are you tired of using the same poetry lessons year after year? If so, it may be time to update your teaching toolbox. It is important for teachers to create captivating content that motivates students to learn about poetry. Incorporating online resources for teaching poetry is an effective way to make learning poetry fun. Students will always learn best when they are interested and actively engaged.

I hope these 30 resources will help turn your middle school students into poets!

1. Poetry in Motion Baseball

This is the perfect activity if you have learners that are interested in baseball or sports in general. You will need a stack of poems printed out and enough students to create two teams. What an awesome way to connect poetry to playing sports!

Learn more: Bored Teachers

2. Friendship Poetry

Students will be tasked with writing their own poems to commemorate an experience with a friend. They will also have the option of sharing the poem with their special friend. I love this because it encourages students to be in the moment.

Learn more: Joanne the Poet

3. Studying Song Lyrics

Analyzing song lyrics can be very appealing to the music lovers in your classroom. You can easily connect song lyrics to the elements of poetry. I recommend using popular songs that are school-appropriate for this activity. Students will also be eager to select their own songs.

Learn more: Gem Tracks

4. Poetry Prompts

Sometimes the most challenging part of writing a poem is getting started. One way to support students in getting started is by providing writing prompts for them to choose from. This is an awesome way to guide beginning writers.

Learn more: Doodle Learning

5. Acting Out Poetry

Bring poetry to life by acting out poems in your classroom. This will be especially captivating for students involved with drama clubs or community acting groups. This hands-on activity will allow your students to not only read poetry but interact with poetry in a unique way.

Learn more: Homeschool Resource Room

6. Word Mover

Word Mover is an online poetry game that allows students to interact with the text to form poems. This is a fun poetry activity that will engage students with technology and encourage them to think creatively. A graphic organizer can be used to supplement this activity.

Learn more: Read Write Think

7. Digital Poetry Escape Room

Poetry escape rooms are a great way to immerse middle schoolers in the learning experience. They will be prompted to solve a variety of problems to solve on their own or in teams. This promotes exposure to poetry and engages students in critical thinking .

Learn more: Amped Up Learning

8. Poetry Slam Class Competition

Creating slam poetry allows students to focus more on the enjoyment of poetry rather than the technical aspect of writing. This activity is a great way for students to build self-confidence and support one another. Check out this resource to learn more and see examples of slam poetry.

Learn more: Study Smarter

9. Blackout Poems

Blackout poetry is a type of found poetry in which students will scan through pages of existing text and highlight words that create a poem. Blackout poetry can also double as an art project!

Learn more: Chomping at the Lit

10. Moving to Poetry

Body movements can be added to motivate students to read. This can be applied to teaching the basics of poetry.  Movements can be choreographed with poetry for elementary students through high school. What a great way to get the blood flowing and the brain ready for learning!

Learn more: Edutopia

11. Collage Poems 

If you are looking for a cool poetry activity, you may be interested in having your students make collage poetry. You can gather all kinds of materials for this project. Students will cut out words from magazines to craft poems and create a one-of-a-kind collage.

Learn more: Tate

12. Poetry Wall

A poetry wall is a useful space for students to post their favorite poems.  The poems can be modern-day song lyrics they enjoy or poems they encounter in their everyday lives. You can use colorful paper to decorate the poetry wall and students can be creative with their designs.

Learn more: Just Add Students

13. Haikubes Game

Are you interested in having your students play a clever poetry game? If so, you might want to check out Haikubes.  This is a fun game for students with basic instructions that are easy to follow. Students will be engaged with creative thinking while learning about Haiku poetry .

Learn more: Amazon

14. Mad Libs Inspired Poetry

Mad libs are even more entertaining when you use them to learn poetry. You can put this activity into action by selecting any poem and removing several adjectives, nouns, verbs, and adverbs. Students will replace them with their own words. Then students will read their new poems and laugh together.

Learn more: Advancement Courses

15. Poetry Workshop

Poetry writing workshops are a great way for students to practice writing poetry. You can focus on a specific form of poetry or allow students to choose their own types of poems. Students can work with a partner for a more collaborative poem activity.

Learn more: Chick Time

16. Brain Pop Poetry

Brain Pop is an online resource with a ton of fun games for students of all grade levels. The poetry games are interactive and will challenge students as they practice their skills. This is definitely a top favorite poetry activity for students and teachers.

Learn more: Brain Pop Jr.

17. Catch the Beat 

Catch the Beat is a game that teaches students about using meters in poetry. Students will sit in a circle and pass a small drum to one another. The player with the drum will be expected to drum along with the beat of the poem as it is read aloud.

Learn more: Imagination Soup

18. Silly Poems

There are many techniques that are useful exercises for poetry writing. Having students write silly poems is one of those techniques. They will select a consonant sound they will use consistently throughout the poem using a prompt. This activity is fun and entertaining for middle school students.

Learn more: Write Shop

19. Revolting Rhymes Activities

"Revolting Rhymes" is a poetry book by Roald Dahl. These companion activities are suitable for elementary grades and middle school students. Students will be entertained by the humorous writing style of Roald Dahl.

Learn more: Pen & the Pad

20. Printable Poetry Worksheets

There are several free printable worksheets to help your students understand poetry. These worksheets are enjoyable because they include engaging topics such as "I Think My Dad is Dracula" and "I Eat Spaghetti with a Spoon" just to name a couple.

Learn more: Poetry 4 Kids

21. Acrostic Name Poetry

Students will use their names to create their own poetry!  I love this activity because they can think creatively and use words that positively represent them. This is a great way to include social-emotional learning in your poetry lesson.

Learn more: Scholastic

22. Magnetic Poetry Tiles

Magnetic poetry tiles allow children to interact with words. This kit includes everything you need to assemble various poems, stories, and phrases. I would recommend allowing students to work together to create their own poems.

23. Poetry Puzzle Set

If your students love puzzles, they will enjoy working on this poetry puzzle set. This set includes many different types of poetry puzzles including word finds, crossword puzzles , and more. These puzzles can be used as a center activity.

Learn more: Etsy

 24. Poem-a-Day

Poem-a-Day is a fantastic resource for teaching poetry. It is a digital daily poetry series that includes over 250 new poems every year. This would be a great idea to incorporate into a morning meeting or daily class routine.

Learn more: Poem-a-Day

25. Poetry in America

Poetry in America is a useful website that allows children to explore poetry on their own. My favorite is the inspiring video based on "I Cannot Dance Upon My Toes" by Emily Dickinson.

Learn more: PBS Learning Media

26. Poems in Motion

Another video-based resource worth exploring is motion poems for teens by the Poetry Foundation. This resource is helpful for middle schoolers because it helps with understanding the content.

Learn more: Poetry Foundation

27. Poetry Contests

If you have students that are gifted writers of poetry, you may be interested in researching poetry contests for them to join. Poetry contests are a fun way for students to compete and show off their poetry writing skills.

Learn more: Poetry Teatime

28. Poetry Archive Challenges

There are many resources available through the Children's Poetry Archive. One of my favorite activities for middle school is called "The River" by Valerie Bloom. This activity appeals to the senses to immerse students into the poetry experience.

Learn more: Children's Poetry Archive

29. Poetry Machine

Poetry machine is a fun online game for students. First, they will click on the type of poem they wish to create. Then, they will be prompted to answer some guiding questions. This is an excellent resource to help students with creating an original poem.

Learn more: Poetry Games

30. Picture-Inspired Poetry

Picture-inspired poetry is a great way to motivate students to write poetry. For this activity, you will need to collect pictures or picture books. The text will be covered so students can create their own interpretation of the pictures using poetry.

Learn more: Kids Konnect

3 Poetry Activities for Middle School Students

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Olivia Valdes was the Associate Editorial Director for ThoughtCo. She worked with Dotdash Meredith from 2017 to 2021.

• B.A., American Studies, Yale University

Middle school is the perfect time to introduce students to  poetry . By providing students with opportunities to explore a variety of forms, you'll give them the freedom to discover which types of poetry most resonate with them. Engaging, short lessons are an excellent way to hook your students on poetry right away. 

Ekphrastic Poetry

Ekphrastic poetry allows students to use poetry to describe a work of art or landscape in vivid detail. They may be less intimidated by this type of poetry, which encourages them to write about something rather than compose poetry from their imaginations.

• Introduce the concept of ekphrasis.
• Write a 10- to 15-line poem based on a work of art. 
• Paper and pencils
• Printouts or projector to display artwork reproductions 
• Ekphrasis: Definitions and Examples 
• Art Words List and Critique Term Bank 
• Introduce students to the term "ekphrasis." Explain that an ekphrastic poem is a poem inspired by a work of art. 
• " Edward Hopper and the House by the Railroad " by Edward Hirsch
• " American Gothic " by John Stone 
• What do you see? What is happening in the artwork? 
• What is the setting and time period?
• Is there a story being told? What are the subjects in the artwork thinking or saying? What is their relationship? 
• What emotions does the artwork make you feel? What are your sensory reactions?
• How would you summarize the theme or main idea of the artwork?
• As a group, begin the process of turning the observations into an ekphrastic poem by circling words/phrases and using them to compose the first few lines of a poem. Encourage the students to use poetic techniques such as alliteration, metaphor , and personification .
• Describing the experience of looking at the artwork
• Telling the story of what's happening in the artwork
• Writing from the perspective of the artist or subjects 
• Share a second artwork with the class and invite the students to spend five to 10 minutes writing down their thoughts about the painting. 
• Instruct the students to select words or phrases from their free associations and use them as the starting point for a poem. The poem need not follow any formal structure but should be between 10 and 15 lines. 
• Invite the students to share and discuss their poems in small groups. Afterward, reflect on the process and experience as a class. 

Lyrics as Poetry

Make connections between poetry and songs with which your students are familiar. You may find that your students enjoy examining poetry more readily when it is presented in the form of lyrics.

• Identify similarities and differences between song lyrics and poetry.
• Discuss how language can create a tone or mood .
• Speakers to play music 
• Printouts or projector to display song lyrics
• Contemporary Songs With Metaphors  
• Popular Songs With Similes  
• Choose a song that is likely to appeal to your students. Familiar songs (e.g., current hits, famous movie-musical songs) with broad, relatable themes (belonging, change, friendship) will work best.
• Introduce the lesson by explaining that you're going to explore the question of whether song lyrics can be considered poetry.
• Invite the students to listen closely to the song as you play it for the class.
• Next, share the song lyrics, either by passing out a printout or projecting them on the board. Ask the students to read the lyrics aloud.
• Invite the students to brainstorm similarities and differences between the song lyrics and poetry.
• As key terms emerge (repetition, rhyme, mood, emotions), write them on the board. 
• When the conversation turns to theme, discuss how the songwriter conveys that theme. Ask the students to point out particular lines that support their ideas and what emotions those lines evoke. 
• Discuss how the emotions evoked by the lyrics connect to the rhythm or tempo of the song. 
• At the end of the lesson, ask the students if they believe all songwriters are poets. Encourage them to use background knowledge as well as specific evidence from the class discussion to support their points. 

Slam Poetry Detectives

Slam poetry blends poetry with performance art. The audience of a slam poet participates in readings by scoring the performance. Encourage your students to explore this form of poetry by allowing them to identify poetic devices by watching videos of slam poetry performances.

• Introduce slam poetry. 
• Reinforce knowledge of poetic devices and techniques.
• Videos of slam poetry performances (e.g., Taylor Mali , Harry Baker , Marshall Davis Jones )
• Projector and speakers to play videos
• Handout with list of common poetic devices  
• 25 Slam Poems Appropriate for Middle School and High School
• Introduce the lesson by explaining that the activity will focus on slam poetry. Ask the students what they know about slam poetry and if they have ever participated themselves. 
• Provide a definition of slam poetry: short, contemporary, spoken-word poems that often describe a personal challenge or discuss an issue. 
• Play the first slam poetry video for the students. 
• Ask the students to compare the slam poem to written poetry they've read in previous lessons. What is similar? What is different? The conversation may naturally transition into the poetic devices present in the slam poem. 
• Pass out a handout with a list of common poetic devices (the class should already be familiar with them).
• Tell the students that their job is to be poetic device detectives and listen carefully for any poetic devices employed by the slam poet.
• Play the first slam poem video again. Each time the students hear a poetic device, they should write it down on the handout.
• Ask the students to share the poetic devices they detected. Discuss the role each device plays in the poem (e.g., repetition emphasizes an important point; imagery creates a certain mood).  
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