Get inspired through poetry!

Listen to U.S. Poet Laureate Juan Felipe Herrera read his book Imagine, using poetry as his format! Then enjoy some poetry activities below. 

Click here to listen to Poet Laureate Juan Felipe Herrera read Imagine

Activity 1: Make a Blackout Poem
​Make a Blackout poem using a page from a discarded library book, newspaper or magazine.
Step One: Select any page. 
Step Two: Look for words or phrases that grab your attention.That word or phrase will guide your poem’s meaning. Circle the word /phrase in pencil.
Step Two: Using a pencil, lightly circle the words you want to include in your poem. Remember, readers usually scan from left to right. Try not to circle more than three words in a row.
Step Three: Black out the rest of the words on the page with a thick black marker. Voila! You have a black out poem!

Activity 2: Book Spine Poetry
Arrange a stack of carefully selected books so the titles in the spine make a poem. Write the titles on a piece of  paper or take a photo of your book spine poem. 

Activity 3: Magnetic Poetry
Cut words from magazines, newspapers or discarded books. Place them carefully on an adhesive magnet sheet. Cut out the words attached to the magnet. 

Step One: Cut out words from magazines and/or books.
Pro Tips:

• Choose large-sized fonts. These will be easier to cut out with the magnet.
• Choose your favorite nouns, verbs, and adjectives as well as articles (a, an, the) and prepositions (for, over, through, in, on).
  

​Step Two: Stick the words on the adhesive magnet sheet. Put them as close together as you can
Step Three: Cut the magnet sheet to fit your words.
Step Four: Try out your poetry by placing them on a whiteboard (or fridge). Create a few poems. 

OPTIONAL EXTENSION:  Store your magnetic words in a metal container. Decorate your poem container with an image of your choice. Glue the images to the top and go over them with Modge POdge.