Poetry Hunt: Unearthing Literature Treasures

An Internet Treasure Hunt on Poetry

Created by:
Chontell Richardson
Area II Achievement Coach
Beth Novick
Greenbelt Elementary, 6th Grade Teacher
Introduction:

Welcome to Poetry Hunt: Unearthing Literature Treasures, an internet treasure hunt on

poetry. Poetry, a type of literature in which ideas, images, and feelings are expressed in
just a few words, is written to be heard. Therefore, it is meant to be spoken, sung, and
even shouted by the reader. Most poetry is written in lines, which may be grouped in
stanzas. Poems may entertain, inform, or even tell a story. In its simplest form, nursery
rhymes are poems. Poets carefully select words for their sound and meanings, combining
the words in imaginative ways to present feelings and experiences, create pictures, and
express themes vividly. In poetry, the images appeal to the reader’s senses, as do
elements of sound, such as alliteration, rhythm, and rhyme.

During this online treasure hunt as well as in class, you will read a variety of poems by a
range of poets. The poems and poets will make you feel a great many emotions; some
may make you laugh; some may even make you shed a tear. You will learn:
• how poems are different from other genres,
• about the different types of poems,
• how the elements of poetry contribute to meaning, and
• about different poets.

Part I: Engagement

How do you feel about poetry?

0 1 2 3 4 5
Strong Neutral Strong
Dislike Like

Comments:

What is your experience with reading and/or writing poetry?

0 1 2 3 4 5
Rarely Sometimes Frequently

Comments:

Do you have a favorite poet? If so, who is it and what do you like about him/her?
Poetry is designed to be recited or spoken out loud as well as to be heard by others.
Below are several websites where you can connect with poets and poetry. Some websites
will allow you to hear either the poet or someone else recite the poem. On other websites
you will have to read the poem yourself and decide how it should sound.

Select several poets you would like to learn more about using some of the links below.
Read and listen to some of their poems. It’s not necessary to view all of the sites or select
every poet.

Nikki http://www.nikkigrimes.com/
Grimes http://www.readingrockets.org/books/interviews/grimes

Langston http://www.poets.org/index.php
Hughes (type the poet’s name to read a short bio & several poems)
http://www.learner.org/catalog/extras/vvspot/video/hughes.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zdmp5lnj2WQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZk86y1rn78&feature=related
Eve http://www.poets.org/index.php
Merriam
Pat Mora http://www.patmora.com/

Jack http://jackprelutsky.com/
Prelutsky http://www.readingrockets.org/books/interviews/prelutsky
http://www.poets.org/index.php
(type the poet’s name to read a short bio & several poems)

Shel http://www.shelsilverstein.com/indexSite.html
Silverstien http://www.poets.org/index.php
(type the poet’s name to read a short bio & several poems)
http://www.famouspoetsandpoems.com/poets/shel_silverstein

http://www.charlesrsmithjr.com/aboutme.htm
Charles R. http://www.charlesrsmithjr.com/activities-poems.htm#mighty12
Smith Jr.
Gary Soto http://www.garysoto.com/faq.html
http://www.poets.org/page.php/prmID/361
(type the poet’s name to read a short bio & several poems)
Janet Wong http://www.janetwong.com/index.cfm
http://www.readingrockets.org/books/interviews/wong
Jot down your thoughts about some of the poems you heard or read.
Part II: Exploration

You have had opportunities to read and listen to many poems by different poets, both
online, in class, and at home. As a result, you have probably noticed that sometimes a
poem may rhyme, make comparisons, or even repeat sounds or words. These are often
referred to as poetic elements or devices. Select at least 3 poetic devices that you would
like to learn more about using one or more of the following links:
http://www.kyrene.k12.az.us/schools/brisas/sunda/poets/poetry2.htm
http://www.shadowpoetry.com/resources/wip/fos.html
http://storytrail.com/poetry/poeticdevices_elementary.htm

If possible, read at least one poem that contains at least one of the poetic devices chosen.
• Alliteration
• Assonance
• Imagery
• Metaphors
• Onomatopoeia
• Personification
• Rhyme
• Similes

Write three things you learned and enjoyed that you think will improve your knowledge
about reading and writing poetry. Write examples so that you can refer to them later.
Select one of the following types of poems about which you would like to learn more
from the list below:
• Ballad
• Elegy
• Haiku
• Narrative
• Shape/Concrete
• Free Verse

Read at least 3 of the same type of poem. Complete the chart by using one or more of the
links to search for poems:
http://www.shadowpoetry.com/resources/wip/types.html
http://www.poetryarchive.org/childrensarchive/forms.do
http://www.poetryfoundation.org/ (to search by poetry type click on glossary term)

Type of Poem
Website/URL
Poem Title
Poet
Poetic Device(s)
(include type & an
example from poem)
Were you able to
relate to or connect
with the poem? If so,
how?
State the theme of the
poem.
Select a poet from the list below or another poet that you may have read. Read and/or
listen to at least 3 poems by the same poet using the links below or other links you have
identified. Complete the chart.

• Nikki Grimes
http://www.nikkigrimes.com/
http://www.readingrockets.org/books/interviews/grimes

• Langston Hughes
http://www.poets.org/index.php (type the poet’s name to see a list of poems)
http://www.learner.org/catalog/extras/vvspot/video/hughes.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zdmp5lnj2WQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZk86y1rn78&feature=related

• Eve Merriam
http://www.poets.org/index.php (type the poet’s name to see a list of poems)

• Pat Mora
http://www.patmora.com/

• Jack Prelutsky
• http://jackprelutsky.com/
http://www.readingrockets.org/books/interviews/prelutsky
http://www.poets.org/index.php (type the poet’s name to see a list of poems)

• Shel Silverstein
http://www.shelsilverstein.com/indexSite.html
http://www.poets.org/index.php (type the poet’s name to see a list of poems)
http://www.famouspoetsandpoems.com/poets/shel_silverstein

• Charles R. Smith
http://www.charlesrsmithjr.com/aboutme.htm
http://www.charlesrsmithjr.com/activities-poems.htm#mighty12

• Gary Soto
http://www.garysoto.com/faq.html
http://www.poets.org/page.php/prmID/361 (type the poet’s name to see a list of
poems)

• Janet Wong
http://www.janetwong.com/index.cfm
http://www.readingrockets.org/books/interviews/wong
Poet
Website/URL
Poem Title
Type of Poem
Poetic Device(s)
(include type & an
example from poem)
What is the mood of
the poem? What
words or phrases
created the mood?
Were you able to
relate or connect to
the poem? If so,
how?
State the theme of the
poem.
Part III: Expression

After reading numerous poems in which writers have expressed themselves, now it’s
your turn to be a poet.
Step 1: Select a topic (i.e. family, life, etc.) or a theme statement (i.e. It’s important to
cherish family.).
Step 2: Select a type of poem (haiku, concrete, ballad, etc.).
Step 3: Select a poetry element or device (i.e. simile, metaphor, alliteration, imagery,
etc.).
Step 4: Write your poem.
Step 5: Repeat Steps 1-4 by writing at least 2 additional poems. Change the poetry topic,
type, or poetic device if you choose.

If you get stuck, choose a word or group of words. Brainstorm any related words that
comes to mind when thinking about that word or group of words. Don’t panic if you
have writer’s block, it happens to everyone. Just keep jotting down any words that you
associate with your theme topic or statement until you have filled up some space. Use
may utilize Kidspiration for templates to help write your poems.
Part IV: Evaluation

How likely are you to read and/or write poetry on your own after this experience?
0 1 2 3 4 5
Very Maybe Very
Unlikely Likely

Comments:

How would you rate this internet poetry treasure hunt?

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Disliked Neutral Enjoyed

Comments:

What could be changed, added, and/or deleted to make this online poetry treasure hunt
more interesting?