TeachRock

For National Poetry Month, we’re sharing ways to get your students writing poetry from the Harmony Student Wellness program! Harmony engages students in rich discussions and reflections on social and emotional learning topics, with music at its core in true TeachRock fashion. Each lesson features arts-based activities, including poetry writing!

We’ve gathered a few of Harmony’s poetry writing prompts and templates—paired with songs, of course—to use with your students this month. If you use any of these in your classroom, we’d love to know how it went!

Lesson: We Gon’ Be Alright: Songs of Protest and Resilience

Song: “Alright” by Kendrick Lamar or “Say It Loud – I’m Black and I’m Proud” by James Brown

Poetry Writing Activity: After listening to the song, have students write a cinquain poem encouraging someone to believe in themselves. A cinquain poem has five lines and does not rhyme. The words and phrases in a cinquain poem follow a particular format.

Cinquain Poem Format:

Line 1: A Short phrase or one-word topic

Line 2: Two adjectives or adverbs that describe the topic

Line 3: Three -ing action verbs that fit the topic

Line 4: Four-word phrase that describe feelings about the topic

Line 5: One word or short phrase that concludes the topic

Sample Cinquain Poem:

Stand

Strong, steady

Rising, living, loving

Nobody breaks your spirit

Believe.

 

Lesson: I Got This: Building Confidence and Overcoming Self-Doubt

Song: “The Way I Am” by Charlie Puth, “I Got This” by Jennifer Hudson, or “I Am What I Am” by Gloria Gaynor

Poetry Writing Activity: After listening to the song, have students write an “I Am” poem to reinforce their positive qualities, feelings, hopes, and dreams. Use the “I Am” Poem Template.

Sample “I Am” Poem: 

I am Skye

I am funny and determined

I try to make people laugh

I can sing really well

I am Skye

I feel confused

I worry about forgetting things

I want to make my mom proud

I am Skye

I say funny things

I dream about flying

I hope I grow up to be successful

I am Skye

 

Lesson: Keep Your Head Up: Managing Disappointment

Song: “Sledgehammer” by Rihanna, “BREATHE” by LeeHi, “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” by The Rolling Stones, or “Keep Ya Head Up” by Tupac

Poetry Writing Activity: After listening to the song, have students write a diamante poem about overcoming disappointment. A diamante poem is a seven-line poem that is shaped like a diamond and moves from one idea to its opposite. Use the Diamante Poem Template.

Sample Diamante Poem:

Disappointment

Painful, tearful

Longing, wishing, praying

Acceptance, gratitude, happiness, satisfaction

Creating, believing, motivating

Hopeful, faithful

Contentment

 

Lesson: Stronger Together: Fostering Collaboration

Song: “We’re All In This Together” from High School Musical, “Let’s Work Together” by Canned Heat, or “I Won’t Let You Down” by OK Go

Poetry Writing Activity: After listening to the song, have students work in groups to create a collaborative found poem. Found poetry is created by taking existing words or phrases from sources like books, newspapers, or magazines and rearranging them to form a new poem. Students can create their found poetry by cutting out words or phrases and collaging them together, or by copying words and phrases from other sources and combining them.

Sample Found Poem:

 

Song: “For the Love of Money” by The O’Jays or “Money” by Poppy

Poetry Writing Activity: After listening to the song, have students write a list poem describing their relationship to, beliefs about, and feelings about money. A list poem is a poem where each line is a word or short phrase. There is no need to rhyme in a list poem.

Sample List Poem:

Earning and spending,

Saving for later,

Wanting too much,

Giving too little,

Learning as I go.

 

For more information about Harmony Student Wellness and a year of free lesson plans, visit the Harmony page on our website.