A Passion for Poetry

By Susie Rogers, ELA, 5th=8th

Poetry isn’t just about rhyme and rhythm—it’s a creative way to tell stories, capture emotions, and even explore history. In a recent interactive assignment, students engaged with poetry on a deeper level by analyzing, creating, and presenting different forms of verse.

The lesson began with videos and examples showcasing five poetic styles: haikus, limericks, ballads, narratives, and alliteration. Each form had its own unique structure and purpose—haikus distilled moments into a few syllables, limericks added humor and wit, ballads wove historical tales, narratives told complete stories, and alliteration played with sound and repetition.

After reading and analyzing examples, students took on the challenge of writing their own. They didn’t just create one poem—they crafted all five! Each poem had to connect to a historical theme, a personal experience, or a meaningful subject of their choice. Some wrote haikus about nature’s beauty, limericks about school life, ballads of historical figures, and narratives about personal journeys. The alliteration pieces were especially fun, as students experimented with tongue-twisting phrases.

By the end of the assignment, students not only had a collection of original poetry but also a deeper appreciation for the versatility of poetic expression. This hands-on approach proved that poetry isn’t just something to analyze—it’s something to experience, create, and bring to life!