Don’t Wait Until April to Write Poems with your Class

T.S. Elliot may have written that “April is the cruellest month,” but January and February are pretty ruthless!  Snow days interfere with the flow of your class and students feel antsy if they can’t get outside because of wind chill factors.  Not to mention that anything happening outside the windows of a middle school classroom is infinitely more interesting than what’s going on inside:  “I see a squirrel!”  (All students rush to the window.  Lesson over.)

How Cold Is It? Write hyperboles!

While you may have plans to write poetry with your class during National Poetry Month in April, any time of year is the perfect time to write or study poetry with your students. 

A fun quick lesson is to teach hyperbole.  Hyperbole (not to be confused with the hysterical Hyperbole and a Half blog) is an exaggeration for effect.  This is perfect for middle schoolers who love to stretch the truth.  Just start with a question like, “How much snow did we have…” or “How cold was it…” 

Check out the free hyperbole lesson in my Teachers Pay Teachers store for a quick lesson in writing hyperboles.  Extend it into poems about the weather.

Stay warm…write poetry!

Check out more freebies and products at my Teachers Pay Teachers store:  Just Add Students