Beyond the Classroom -- Defining Poetry

What better way to start off the Poetry Unit than to begin by defining what we believe poetry to be and then venturing outside! First, students brainstormed to warm-up for their adventure beyond the classroom (afterall, it was a bit chilly out!). Then, after grasping an understanding of the most effective way to share ideas, students partnered up and discussed their lists. Following a class discussion, each block proceeded to work together to formulate a definition of poetry. Students thought about all the poems they have read in their lives as well as all they have learned about poetry thus far in their academic careers. 

 THIS IS WHAT EACH CLASS CAME UP WITH . . .

A BLOCK
poetry: words in rhythm that express emotion usually formatted in stanzas

B BLOCK
poetry: words that have rhythm, meaning and feeling; usually organized into stanzas

C BLOCK 
poetry: mini-stories that express meaningful emotion and can have rhyming words

D BLOCK
poetry: a type of passionate writing that expresses a writer's emotion in a rhythm 


After formulating their definitions, students were informed that the word "poem" comes from the Greek word poiesis — ποίησις — which has a broad meaning of a "to make" or "to do." With that, we decided to "make" a new, DIFFERENT class experience. Pen and paper in hand, students respectfully lined up and took a trip outside focusing on all they observed and felt while doing their best to record it. We came back in and reflected on our experience as a whole. There were no rules to how the students could express what they had experienced, except that it had to be on paper. Some wrote in complete sentences, some wrote in bullet points, others composed a list. No matter what each 7th grader decided on doing, it did not matter. The key was the expression. As we dive further into the Poetry Unit we may find that maybe there are no rules to poetry either, and that MAYBE the key to poetry is expression.....

(Special note to the students: You guys were so awesome today. Your behavior was outstanding and I feel so fortunate to be your teacher! Thank you for being so respectful. I know we can do something like this again with no problem!)