 |
|
key stage 2 |
|
Pauline Stewart |
|
|
Poetry Passport Just as the landscape artist must consider lines of perspective and the vantage point of the viewer so must the poet tackle 'self'. Even the least confident child will have something to say about themselves - initially (at the beginning of the workshop) this might be that they are unable to write poetry or don't like it anyway. All the better for the poet who then has a definite goal for the session: to show that child with the help of his or her classmates what they could be missing out on.Poetry Passport enables a child to describe themselves in either idealistic or realistic terms. Identity is always a key subject in writing. With Poetry Passport the workshop facilitator quickly learns about their subjects, and facilitators who are meeting children for the first time are able to gauge language skill levels. Format: Without using his or her name the child can paint a poetic picture of themselves. Under Country of Origin the poet could describe in say four lines a motherland or homeland they feel kindred to (Year 4 and up can use simile and metaphor i.e. tiger-hearted people). Under Height: tall as a tree moving to the rhythm of the breeze. Under Skin: bruised plum in places (using fruit, fabric, plant, paper and so on). Poetry Passport can be used as a warm-up if the completed poems are put into a bag and classmates asked to select and read then guess the owner. Equally the idea can be used to close a session with the class reading their own work. This would be a time for feedback and comment. National curriculum: ties in with Primary Topic work, especially Years 2 and 3 Ourselves, and can include and introduce dialect and foreign languages. Passports lead into Journey and Poetry Diary. © Pauline Stewart 2000 |
|
|
|
|
URL http://www.poetryclass.net © 2000 The Poetry Society