I. Summary

A poetry slam is a competition in which poets get up in front of the audience, perform an original poem and receive "Olympics" style scores from a group of judges. This lesson plan brings the excitement of a poetry slam to the classroom.

This lesson plan will involve students in defining, composing, practicing, performing and judging poetry. It will help them realize that poetry is a living art form-- not just words on a page. Once students are introduced to various poetry devices, techniques, and forms, they are exposed to the origin, rules, judging, performance skills, and scoring involved in a poetry slam competition.

II. Objectives

Students will...

...practice and become familiar with writing poetry in many forms.
...demonstrate knowledge of poetic devices by using them in their original poems.
...improve their reading, spelling, vocabulary, and grammar skills.
...use computers and the Internet to learn about poetry.
...become more confident in group interactions and in their ability to write poetry.
...become familiar with the origin, rules, judging, and techniques of poetry slams.
...work cooperatively to organize, judge, and participate in the poetry slam.

III. Materials Needed

Computers

Internet access (Bookmarking Extra's poetry site would be helpful: http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/poetry

Paper, pencil, scorecards, and markers

IV. Procedure

1. Introduce the lesson: by explaining the concept of a poetry slam. (You can get the basics from Extra's Poetry Page on the Spoken Word.)

2. Help students choose a role: Since not everyone will be required to perform, it's important for students to have a sense of what their role will be. Hang signs in three corners of the room. The signs will read: "listening", "reading", and "doing". Then ask students to think about which one of these three words describe the way they relate to the world. Caution them about peer pressure and encourage them "to know their own heart." When they have decided, ask them to stand in the appropriate corner.

Take note of where students are. Point out to the students that this may say a lot about how they feel about poetry. "Listeners" might enjoy poetry by reading it aloud, hearing the author or someone else read and interpret the poem, or listening to the lyrics of songs. "Readers" might enjoy poetry as a private experience or by reading it out loud to someone else. "Doers" might like to write and perform poems.

Use the above information to motivate students toward a suitable role in the slam. The teacher should make it clear that not every student has to read a poem (although you'll need about six willing students to make for a lively slam).

3. Cover poetry devices and forms: Direct students to Extra's "Rules, Tools and Forms" Use this page to start a discussion on the definition of a poem.

4. Poetry writing (individual or group): It's now time for students to try their hands at a poem. Allow them to choose a theme such as love, pets, or friendship and challenge them to write at least three short poems on the same subject using three different forms. In some classrooms, students might feel more comfortable writing poems with other students. You might suggest this online rhyming dictionary as a tool: http://rhyme.lycos.com/.

5. Introduce the mechanics of a poetry slam: To learn more about poetry slam competition, students should visit Extra's poetry page, read the material on poetry slams (go to http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/poetry and click on the microphone). Another good site is http://www.poetryslam.com/ (National Poetry Slam Web site)

6. Writing a performance poem: Students are now ready to write their own performance poem, even if they don't plan to take part in the slam. They might be broken into small groups to practice. By the end of this section you'll need to get at least six students to volunteer to take part in the slam.

7. The slam: A class session will be used for the poetry readings. Students will judge the poets numerically as Olympic ice skaters are judged. Students will be judged from "0" to "10". These numbers will be placed on cards for the five randomly chosen (student) judges to hold up. Another student will average these and keep an official score card. The teacher may decide on prizes for the winner.

8. Getting published: All students should be encouraged to submit their poems for publication on Extra's poetry page. Click on the pen icon above the words "submit your poem".

V. Classroom Assessment:

Students will receive instruction and discuss what they might expect from a well performed and/or written poem. An evaluation sheet could be drawn from the suggestions and expectations of students.

Grades should not be based on the final scores of the poetry slam. Grades could be based on effort and poetry written in class as a result of the practice, reviewing, and honing of skills prior to the competition.

V. Extensions and Adaptations

Students could hold their "poetry slam" class meeting in a local restaurant or coffee shop.

Students could attend/participate in an actual poetry slam. (Check the links above to find poetry slams in your area.)

Students could begin to keep their poetry collections in a notebook or booklet.

Particular poets, authors and song writers could be studied.

Local Poet Laureates or other writers could be invited to speak, or even to listen and comment on the students' poetry.

Students could hold weekly or monthly poetry slams.

Students could create a classroom poetry podcast.

This project could easily be adapted for younger students by concentrating on only one device or on a few select poetry forms and/or scaling down the size of the project.

VII. Relevant National Standards

From McREL

Language Arts

Demonstrates competence in general writing skills and strategies.

Gathers and uses information for research purposes.

Demonstrates competence in general reading skills and strategies.

Demonstrates competence in general skills and strategies for reading a variety of literary and informational texts.

Demonstrates competence in speaking and listening.

Uses grammatical and mechanical conventions in written compositions.

Technology

Knows the characteristics and uses of computer software programs including the Internet.