For the past several years, we’ve provided cut ‘n color poets for grown-ups, to take to work in July. Sometimes, kids borrowed them. And, over time, we heard from librarians and classroom teachers: “We want kids to have the chance to take these to school.” But nobody wanted to go to school in July!
So. Welcome to Take Your Poet to School Week, in April—the perfectly fun way to kick off National Poetry Month, which we think should be one of the most creative months of the year (and maybe one of the most amusing months—chickens included. 🙂 )
Save the Dates
For 2018, Take Your Poet to School Week will happen April 2-6, capped off by Poet in a Cupcake Day on the 6th.
Is your district on break this week? Celebrate the week after, and we’ll still share in your festivities. Just ping us @tspoetry with your celebration photos! After all, it’s National Poetry Month—all month long. 🙂
How to Celebrate in 2018
We’re cooking up a week’s worth of celebration ideas that could probably be extended to the whole month, so watch this space for:
• integrated studies celebration ideas (see ideas below)
• shareable social media graphics for Take Your Poet to School Week, so you can easily connect with others online who are celebrating. Remember to use the hashtag #poettoschool
• our downloadable and printable coloring page poems
• a special downloadable and printable coloring book, featuring our classic cut ‘n color collection, plus new poets this year that are especially geared towards kids:
Remember, you can also use any of the poets in our Take Your Poet to Work collection (most would probably rather go to school, anyway). You’ll find many of your favorites:
Pablo Neruda
The Haiku Masters
Edgar Allan Poe
T.S. Eliot
Rumi
Emily Dickinson
John Keats
Adrienne Rich
Langston Hughes
Sylvia Plath
Christina Rossetti
Walt Whitman
William Shakespeare
Maya Angelou
Wisława Szymborska
Robert Frost
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Judith Wright
Emily Brontë
Seamus Heaney
Elizabeth Barrett Browning
William Wordsworth
Kids Using Our Cut-n-Color Poets
Integrated Studies Celebration Ideas!
1. Poet mobile. Get a hoop, a hanger, or even sticks from the yard. Attach strings and tie on your favorite cut ‘n color poets.
2. Poet timeline. Secure a string or fishing line from one end of the room to another. Write historical events on cards and clip them to the string. Choose some of your favorite poets and add them at their proper junctures in history.
3. Poetmobile. What kind of car would your favorite poet drive? Design a custom poetmobile for him or her. For instance, you could rev up your engine and make a sleek black “Raven” car with wings for Edgar Allan Poe. You get the idea.
4. Poet rap or memory-poems duel. Stage an epic poet rap or memory-poems duel. Invite friends to the front of the class, dress as your favorite poets, let loose the words and may the best poet win.
5. Poet parade. Put your favorite cut ‘n color poets on popsicle sticks and take them for a parade around the playground or to visit another classroom.
6. Poet garden. If your school has a garden, or even a few potted plants in the classroom, make it a poet garden by tucking in your poets-on-a-stick.
7. Poets on Stage. Hang a sheet over a string tied across the room (or make a small theater with a big box) and stage a poet puppet show with your cut ‘n color poets on popsicle sticks.
8. Poet on the Shelf. All throughout National Poetry Month, make acceptable mischief with a favorite poet (Elf on the Shelf style). Each day, create a new scene with your poet. Take photos and post to Twitter or Instagram and we might feature! #poetontheshelf
9. Poet Secret Admirers. Poets have often been known to write little (poetic) notes to their friends. Cut out poets and a favorite verse and leave them anonymously for your friends.
10. Poet in a Cupcake! Celebrate Poet in a Cupcake Day to cap off Take Your Poet to School Week. Whether you use our cut ‘n color cupcakes (watch for a printable coming soon) or you bake your own and stick your favorite poet in the top, share some sweet poet love with your friends.
Celebrate with a New Theme Every Day of Take Your Poet to School Week
Monday: Talk Like a Poet Day. Answer questions in iambic pentameter or 5-7-5 Haiku form. Choose a favorite poem word or phrase and find ways to change a word and insert it into conversation throughout the day. For example, Poe’s “Nevermore,” T.S. Eliot’s “Shall I eat a peach,” Emily Dickinson’s “Hope is the thing with feathers” or even William Carlos Williams’s “This is just to say.”)
Tuesday: Poet on a T-Shirt Day. Using fabric paints, create a T-shirt design with your favorite poet or favorite poem line.
Wednesday: Poet in Your Math Book Day. Many poems reference math (and many poem forms require at least a basic understanding of math). Consider Carl Sandburg’s “How Much,” Walt Whitman’s “When I Heard the Ancient Astronomer” and Emily Dickinson’s “One day is there of the series.” To celebrate the intersection of poetry and math, print out your favorite poem or poet and tuck it into your math book for the day.
Thursday: Dress Like a Poet Day. Perhaps you’re fond of the Beat Poets’ black beret. Or, like Emily Dickinson, you find a simple white dress charming. Dress up like your favorite poet for the day.
Friday: Poet in a Cupcake Day
We’ve launched a sweet, brand new event to cap off the week: Poet in a Cupcake Day. Students can research a few fun facts about their favorite poet, then decorate cupcakes (real or cut-out) to match. Pop in a poet-on-a-stick and have a platter full of fun poet love to share with friends.
