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Music
Costume pieces when appropriate.

Paper and pencils

Chairs and tables cleared for workshops.
Space provided for performance on last day.

I CAN write poems that have something meaningful to say about my life and about the world around me.
I CAN recognize the poet in those around me who are also writing poetry.
I CAN collaborate with my peers on creating a show that is performed in front of an audience.
I CAN respond to the poetry of others by sharing what the words meant to me.
I CAN determine the theme of a poem by listening to it and seeing it dramatized.
I CAN contribute my own ideas when developing a theatre performance as a group.

Day One: Writing to the Image. Students are led in a discussion w teaching artist about poetry; what it means to them and what they like or dislike about it. Students are asked to choose from a large selection of art masterpieces and photographs, and students bring one print to their desks. Teaching artist asks student to give her one word responses to poem and a poem is created by combining those words. Students then begin the process of writing to their own pictures. Students who wish to share their poems will read aloud.
Day Two: Dramatizing Poetry. Students are led through a learning activity designed to free the imagination and prepare students to dramatize their own poetry. This activity involves students in responding to the images and phrases from various poems that have been written. During this exercise, students work in small groups of five and build still or moving pictures of the phrases that they are hearing. Music is incorporated into the exercise to provide atmosphere. Then groups of about five students receive poems that have been selected from the day before.
Day Three: Writing from Life Experience. Students listen to a poem about a moment between a boy and horse when it felt as though time suddenly stood still. Teaching artist asks students to think about a moment from their lives when it felt as though time stood still. Teaching recites example of poem written by student their age. Students are guided through the process of writing from life experience.
Day Four: Dramatizing Life Experiences. Students meet in their groups to practice dramatizing the poems they have been given. Poems are chosen for performance. Teaching artist narrates all poems to selected music while the actors dramatize poetry.
Day Five: Presentation for an audience.

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