poetry assignment middle school

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Teaching Poetry for Middle School Students

Poetry , Secondary Literacy , Writing

Teaching poetry in middle school can be a truly enjoyable experience. Whether your students love poetry or want nothing to do with it – this blog post is for you! In this post, you’ll learn how you can inspire your students to love poetry. I’ll also share some activities and resources to make it exciting to teach poetry for middle school students.

What is the importance of teaching poetry?

Reading poetry is a great way to promote creative thinking in your classroom. Since poetry is so subjective, students have the opportunity to think outside the box. Poetry can also be highly beneficial to reluctant readers and writers because the shorter form of writing can be more accessible to them. It also allows students to see language in a new way.

Teaching poetry is also an enriching activity for English Language Learners . The meter of poetry helps language learners to become familiarized with the rhythm and sound of language. Reciting poetry out loud can also help with fluency.

How do you teach poetry in middle school?

You can start your middle school poetry unit by introducing the structural elements of poetry. These include key concepts like meter, rhythm, and verse. This lesson explores common poetic forms and solidifies students’ understanding of the elements of poetry. Students will be prompted to call forward their background knowledge of poetry from previous learning. They will also compare poetry to expository forms of writing to differentiate between the elements of poetry and other writing styles.

I also like to use a poetic device matching game as a fun way to familiarize students with essential terminology. These game cards showcase examples from both classic literature and contemporary song lyrics. By gamifying this lesson, you can motivate students to apply their knowledge in a fun and engaging way, thereby improving retention and teamwork skills

Another way to introduce poetry to middle school students is to make it more approachable by having students practice analysis on song lyrics . You can guide students through an exploration of central themes expressed in songs. This lesson will engage your students in a relevant exploration of themes in song lyrics from artists that they love.

What are the easiest poems to teach poetry?

If your students have little experience with reading poetry, then you might be looking to start with the basics. Choosing accessible poems is a great way to introduce poetry without overwhelming your students. You can use easier poems as a formative assessment of your students’ level of comfort with poetry.

This collection of easy poems for middle school includes classics from Robert Frost, Emily Dickenson, and Langston Hughes. If you are looking for poems based on a theme , this list includes 72 poems for middle school . You might also wish to explore some poems that might be familiar or relevant to students’ lives ; “ The Rose That Grew From Concrete ” by Tupac Shakur or “ Recitative ” by A.E. Stallings are two great options.

How do you teach poetry analysis in middle school?

Before diving into poetry analysis, you might find it helpful to explicitly teach paraphrasing to your students. This is because poetry is very subjective. Before students explore figurative language or poetic devices , they will need to be able to translate poems into language that makes sense to them.

Since poetry is subjective, students need to feel confident in their ability to analyze it and make inferences. A great way to foster confidence is to start within their comfort zone. Music lyrics are a great opportunity for this. Students already have a lot to say about their favorite artists and songs; because of the cultural relevance of the music they enjoy, they often feel confident analyzing lyrics and searching for poetic devices in songs .

There are several creative ways to spark critical thinking in your middle schoolers. One way is to assign a Canva Poetry Poster . This assignment guides students in creating a visual representation of the main ideas in any poem. It also engages students in a dynamic exploration of poetry’s visual aspects. By combining their artistic talents with literary analysis skills, students will deepen their understanding of poetry.

Making poetry fun in middle school

Your students will probably have the most fun writing their own poetry . If they are reluctant, you could start off with a few icebreakers or creative writing prompts to help them feel more expressive in your classroom.

Haiku poems are fantastic for middle schoolers. This is because the structure of a haiku is easy to replicate. In order to write a haiku, students will need to understand meter. Learning about meter is a great way to incorporate teachings on the sound and rhythm of the English language. This haiku writing workshop guides students through the history of haiku along with several examples to demonstrate this form. Students can then write their own series of haiku using the haiku templates provided.

Your students might enjoy replicating the styles of free verse poetry popularized on Instagram. If so, you can use this medium to hook your students on poetry and explore how it is relevant to popular culture. This lesson explores the Instapoetry community through an informative and interactive HyperDoc lesson . Students will also craft their own poems using the poetry writing workshop and Instagram template provided.

You can also lead a free verse poetry workshop to explore different forms of free verse poetry.  This workshop includes a slideshow lesson on free verse poetry with examples from popular culture. It also prompts students to write their own free verse poems with the guidance of assignment instructions and a rubric . Students can choose between different styles of free verse poetry, including blackout poems , illustrative poems , and collage poems .

Poetry for middle school students: tying it all together

There are so many ways to make poetry fun and engaging for middle school students . I hope this blog post has helped you with a few lesson plans and activities to teach poetry in middle school . Your middle schoolers will definitely benefit from the creative thinking and expressive writing that poetry has to offer!

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30 Captivating Poetry Activities for Middle School Students

September 30, 2022 //  by  Christina Swiontek

Are you tired of using the same poetry lessons year after year? If so, it may be time to update your teaching toolbox. It is important for teachers to create captivating content that motivates students to learn about poetry. Incorporating online resources for teaching poetry is an effective way to make learning poetry fun. Students will always learn best when they are interested and actively engaged.

I hope these 30 resources will help turn your middle school students into poets!

1. Poetry in Motion Baseball

This is the perfect activity if you have learners that are interested in baseball or sports in general. You will need a stack of poems printed out and enough students to create two teams. What an awesome way to connect poetry to playing sports!

Learn more: Bored Teachers

2. Friendship Poetry

Students will be tasked with writing their own poems to commemorate an experience with a friend. They will also have the option of sharing the poem with their special friend. I love this because it encourages students to be in the moment.

Learn more: Joanne the Poet

3. Studying Song Lyrics

Analyzing song lyrics can be very appealing to the music lovers in your classroom. You can easily connect song lyrics to the elements of poetry. I recommend using popular songs that are school-appropriate for this activity. Students will also be eager to select their own songs.

Learn more: Gem Tracks

4. Poetry Prompts

Sometimes the most challenging part of writing a poem is getting started. One way to support students in getting started is by providing writing prompts for them to choose from. This is an awesome way to guide beginning writers.

Learn more: Doodle Learning

5. Acting Out Poetry

Bring poetry to life by acting out poems in your classroom. This will be especially captivating for students involved with drama clubs or community acting groups. This hands-on activity will allow your students to not only read poetry but interact with poetry in a unique way.

Learn more: Homeschool Resource Room

6. Word Mover

Word Mover is an online poetry game that allows students to interact with the text to form poems. This is a fun poetry activity that will engage students with technology and encourage them to think creatively. A graphic organizer can be used to supplement this activity.

Learn more: Read Write Think

7. Digital Poetry Escape Room

Poetry escape rooms are a great way to immerse middle schoolers in the learning experience. They will be prompted to solve a variety of problems to solve on their own or in teams. This promotes exposure to poetry and engages students in critical thinking .

Learn more: Amped Up Learning

8. Poetry Slam Class Competition

Creating slam poetry allows students to focus more on the enjoyment of poetry rather than the technical aspect of writing. This activity is a great way for students to build self-confidence and support one another. Check out this resource to learn more and see examples of slam poetry.

Learn more: Study Smarter

9. Blackout Poems

Blackout poetry is a type of found poetry in which students will scan through pages of existing text and highlight words that create a poem. Blackout poetry can also double as an art project!

Learn more: Chomping at the Lit

10. Moving to Poetry

Body movements can be added to motivate students to read. This can be applied to teaching the basics of poetry.  Movements can be choreographed with poetry for elementary students through high school. What a great way to get the blood flowing and the brain ready for learning!

Learn more: Edutopia

11. Collage Poems 

If you are looking for a cool poetry activity, you may be interested in having your students make collage poetry. You can gather all kinds of materials for this project. Students will cut out words from magazines to craft poems and create a one-of-a-kind collage.

Learn more: Tate

12. Poetry Wall

A poetry wall is a useful space for students to post their favorite poems.  The poems can be modern-day song lyrics they enjoy or poems they encounter in their everyday lives. You can use colorful paper to decorate the poetry wall and students can be creative with their designs.

Learn more: Just Add Students

13. Haikubes Game

Are you interested in having your students play a clever poetry game? If so, you might want to check out Haikubes.  This is a fun game for students with basic instructions that are easy to follow. Students will be engaged with creative thinking while learning about Haiku poetry .

Learn more: Amazon

14. Mad Libs Inspired Poetry

Mad libs are even more entertaining when you use them to learn poetry. You can put this activity into action by selecting any poem and removing several adjectives, nouns, verbs, and adverbs. Students will replace them with their own words. Then students will read their new poems and laugh together.

Learn more: Advancement Courses

15. Poetry Workshop

Poetry writing workshops are a great way for students to practice writing poetry. You can focus on a specific form of poetry or allow students to choose their own types of poems. Students can work with a partner for a more collaborative poem activity.

Learn more: Chick Time

16. Brain Pop Poetry

Brain Pop is an online resource with a ton of fun games for students of all grade levels. The poetry games are interactive and will challenge students as they practice their skills. This is definitely a top favorite poetry activity for students and teachers.

Learn more: Brain Pop Jr.

17. Catch the Beat 

Catch the Beat is a game that teaches students about using meters in poetry. Students will sit in a circle and pass a small drum to one another. The player with the drum will be expected to drum along with the beat of the poem as it is read aloud.

Learn more: Imagination Soup

18. Silly Poems

There are many techniques that are useful exercises for poetry writing. Having students write silly poems is one of those techniques. They will select a consonant sound they will use consistently throughout the poem using a prompt. This activity is fun and entertaining for middle school students.

Learn more: Write Shop

19. Revolting Rhymes Activities

"Revolting Rhymes" is a poetry book by Roald Dahl. These companion activities are suitable for elementary grades and middle school students. Students will be entertained by the humorous writing style of Roald Dahl.

Learn more: Pen & the Pad

20. Printable Poetry Worksheets

There are several free printable worksheets to help your students understand poetry. These worksheets are enjoyable because they include engaging topics such as "I Think My Dad is Dracula" and "I Eat Spaghetti with a Spoon" just to name a couple.

Learn more: Poetry 4 Kids

21. Acrostic Name Poetry

Students will use their names to create their own poetry!  I love this activity because they can think creatively and use words that positively represent them. This is a great way to include social-emotional learning in your poetry lesson.

Learn more: Scholastic

22. Magnetic Poetry Tiles

Magnetic poetry tiles allow children to interact with words. This kit includes everything you need to assemble various poems, stories, and phrases. I would recommend allowing students to work together to create their own poems.

23. Poetry Puzzle Set

If your students love puzzles, they will enjoy working on this poetry puzzle set. This set includes many different types of poetry puzzles including word finds, crossword puzzles , and more. These puzzles can be used as a center activity.

Learn more: Etsy

 24. Poem-a-Day

Poem-a-Day is a fantastic resource for teaching poetry. It is a digital daily poetry series that includes over 250 new poems every year. This would be a great idea to incorporate into a morning meeting or daily class routine.

Learn more: Poem-a-Day

25. Poetry in America

Poetry in America is a useful website that allows children to explore poetry on their own. My favorite is the inspiring video based on "I Cannot Dance Upon My Toes" by Emily Dickinson.

Learn more: PBS Learning Media

26. Poems in Motion

Another video-based resource worth exploring is motion poems for teens by the Poetry Foundation. This resource is helpful for middle schoolers because it helps with understanding the content.

Learn more: Poetry Foundation

27. Poetry Contests

If you have students that are gifted writers of poetry, you may be interested in researching poetry contests for them to join. Poetry contests are a fun way for students to compete and show off their poetry writing skills.

Learn more: Poetry Teatime

28. Poetry Archive Challenges

There are many resources available through the Children's Poetry Archive. One of my favorite activities for middle school is called "The River" by Valerie Bloom. This activity appeals to the senses to immerse students into the poetry experience.

Learn more: Children's Poetry Archive

29. Poetry Machine

Poetry machine is a fun online game for students. First, they will click on the type of poem they wish to create. Then, they will be prompted to answer some guiding questions. This is an excellent resource to help students with creating an original poem.

Learn more: Poetry Games

30. Picture-Inspired Poetry

Picture-inspired poetry is a great way to motivate students to write poetry. For this activity, you will need to collect pictures or picture books. The text will be covered so students can create their own interpretation of the pictures using poetry.

Learn more: Kids Konnect

Poetry Center

Five Poetry Lesson Plans for Middle & High School Students

Here are five hot-off-the-presses poetry lesson plans for middle and high school students, from our Writing the Community teaching artists!

How This Machine Works (Rachel Mindell)

Listen to Limón read her poetry on VOCA.

"Border Boy" by Alberto Ríos (Teré Fowler-Chapman)

Listen to Ríos read his poetry on VOCA.

Writing Toward Our Lost Loved Ones (Matisse Rosen)

How I Honor What I Carry (Eva Sierra)

Listen to E. Garcia Naranjo read a poem on VOCA.

In the Last 24 Hours (Sophie Daws)

Images by Jamie Street , Hennie Stander , the Laverne Harrell Clark Photographic Collection , Ekaterina Shevchenko , and Nick Fewings .

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Bell Ringers

8 activities for teaching poetry in middle school.

When it comes to teaching poetry, you either love it, or you loathe it. In my case, I’m a pretty big fan. But, that doesn’t mean my students always were. Middle school students often struggle with understanding and enjoying poetry because of the challenging devices, critical thinking, and inferencing skills involved. Luckily, I have some fun and engaging activities for poetry that will help your students see that poems don’t have to be scary.

These activities for poetry will take your students to the next level and go beyond simply memorizing poetic terms and elements. I suggest using these activities as stations after you’ve already introduced the basic concepts and laid the foundation. Otherwise, students won’t be able to deepen their understanding when working independently.  

(PS. All the activities listed below are a part of my 6th Grade Poetry Stations Resource!)

#1 Figurative Language

During this poetry station, students will review definitions and examples for various types of figurative language, then identify that figurative language in song lyrics. I’ve found that songs are the perfect way to review figurative language because, well, middle schoolers are obsessed with music (how many Airpods have you collected today?).

Music can take away some of the fear around working with poetry and give students a familiar text to work with. Plus, you can use their favorite songs in the lesson (just make sure it’s not explicit).

#2 Poetry Annotation

In this station, students will work together to analyze and annotate two different poems. This activity helps students practice finding notable phrases, analyzing the title, dissecting the mood and tone, and more.

If you grab the 6th Grade Poetry Stations Resource, you’ll notice I chose two poems by young authors. I believe analyzing poetry written by young people adds an element of relatability and helps students see poetry as a modern type of writing!

#3 Poetry Analysis

In station three, students will read poems out loud and provide their interpretations of the poem. Provide guiding questions to steer the conversation and help students with their analysis. This activity will show students that every person has a different interpretation of a poem. There isn’t one “right” answer.

In the 6th Grade Poetry Stations Resource, the two poems included are quite different structurally, which makes for a really rich conversation while analyzing. I also included guided questions to keep students on topic and provide support during analysis.

#4 Types of Poetry

Students will work with their group to match the poem type to the correct example poem. This is a simple and hands-on way for students to review the definitions of the types of poetry. Students might struggle a bit with this at first, so I suggest providing a reference sheet to use during the activity.

In the Poetry Stations resource, I include the definition on the vocabulary cards, so students can easily review the classifications for each poem. You also have ready-to-go examples, you just have to print and cut.

#5 Poetry Terms

This activity dives deep into the terminology students need to master in order to analyze poetry fully. Give students a list of poetry terms, such as verse, rhyme, refrain, and more. Then, provide them with two to three poems. Students will read each poem and find an example of each term within the poem.

These vocabulary words can be challenging! I suggest repeating this station often, but switching some of the terms or poems to keep the practice feeling fresh!

#6 Verse Novel Tasting

If you’ve been here awhile, you know I love book tastings! So, it’s no surprise that it’s one of my favorite activities for poetry. A verse novel tasting can introduce students to new books and show the diversity in the types of poems and topics out there. Yep, kids! Poetry is more than love sonnets.

Select several verse novels for students to look at and have them rate the books on how interested they are in reading them. In the 6th Grade Poetry Stations Resource, there are several book lists to help you select verse novels and a recording sheet to make this station simple.

#7 Rewriting Famous Poems

Of all the activities for poetry, this one may be my favorite. I love providing opportunities for students to be in the driver’s seat for a “pick your own adventure” type of activity, and this is the perfect one. 

Have students read famous poems and then use their creativity to rewrite them in their own style. For example, they might rewrite a Shakespeare poem as a Hip Hop freestyle. The options are endless, and students can get as creative as they want. Bonus points if you give students time to share in class.

#8 Blackout Poetry

This is probably one of the more classic activities for poetry, and I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to include it on the list. Using an old book or even a printed passage, have students black out parts of the page, only keeping the words they want to show. This activity always works well for students convinced they can’t write poetry (Surprise! You can!).

If you grab the Poetry Stations Resource , I included examples of Blackout Poems to help explain the activity to students.

Grab all eight of these poetry stations inside my Poetry Stations Resource . You’ll get access to all of the printables, digital resources, table tents, activity directions, and more to make setting up these stations a breeze .

There are enough stations and material in here to take 2-3 class periods, depending on the length of each class. You’ll also get access to reference materials that students can use way beyond these stations, such as the poetry term page.

As you plan your poetry unit, keep these activities for poetry in mind. It’s a good mix of basic and higher-level thinking activities, so you can challenge students’ poetry knowledge. If you want even more activities for poetry, check out this blog post here, where I discuss four of my favorite poetry activities for middle school!

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7 Must Teach Middle School Poetry Activities

Jun 29, 2021

7 Must Teach Middle School Poetry Activities- I am not sure about you, but I have a tough time teaching poetry! First, you have to decide what poems inspire you and will inspire your students. Then, you have to figure out what standards or skills you want to teach. Finally, you need to choose the assignments that your students will need to produce to show you what they have learned!

If you are teaching middle school students, it can be even more difficult. So many poems can be too simple and cute like “At the Zoo” by William Makepeace Thackeray , or they can be super high level like John Donne’s “Death Be Not Proud.”  But we know that middle schoolers are a different breed altogether when it comes to age, ability, and attitude!

Middle school students are out of the elementary stage. They are willing to take risks, experience new things, make their own decisions, and just go for it…whatever it is 🙂 So, as teachers, we can take advantage of their willingness to try new things, and that includes reading new texts like poetry. We don’t, however, want to frustrate our students. We want them to become engaged and stay engaged.

Read on for 7 Must Teach Middle School Poetry Activities!

Need help with Test Prep? Check out this  FREE Pack of 3 Test Prep Activities  to help students achieve success on standardized tests!

Table of Contents

1. Poetry BOOM™ Cards

If you haven’t tried out BOOM ™ Learning , check out this online platform that makes teaching poetry just a LOT more fun! You can set up a classroom for a yearly fee (it’s around $15 for up to 50 students), assign various activities in quiz-like formats, and get data for your classroom and for individual students! Check out my store Integrated ELA Test Prep for poetry quizzes that connect to the standards!

2. Poetry Writing Templates

I am a huge fan of helping students through the use of templates! Using an already created format can assist our students who want to write but don’t know how to get started. This Poetry Writing Pack encourages students to write about where they live with specific, detailed language. Make writing poetry fun and accessible with this NO PREP lesson and middle school poetry activities!

3. Poetry Device Analysis

Poetry is so much fun, because it challenges us with the rhythm, rhymes, sounds, and images we can see and hear!  Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Bells”  includes a ton of onomatopoeia and  “My Fears” by Kristin Menke  incorporates lots of alliteration. You could have students choose a literary device, find a poem that contains that device, and explain this device to the class, after they read the poem of course!

Here are some devices you can focus on:

• Sounds: alliteration, consonance, assonance
• Figurative Language: metaphor, simile, hyperbole, personification, anthropomorphism, oxymoron, etc. See HERE for more!
• Syntax:  rhythm, internal rhyme, end rhyme, beats, etc.

Want to include some Edgar Allan Poe Poems this year? Read about Edgar Allan Poe Love Poems!

4. Celebrate National Poetry Month in April

National Poetry Month in the month of April is a time to read, enjoy, and celebrate poetry and poets that really connect with who we are! In 1996, the Academy of American Poets decided that we needed a month dedicated to making the everyday person aware of the people and poems that inspire us in so many ways. Whether you like reading poems by celebrated authors Maya Angelou and  Paul Laurence Dunbar , acting out the  dramatic poems of Edgar Allan Poe , or basking in the Romantics like  Percy Bysshe Shelley  or  William Wordsworth , there is a poem for every student during National Poetry Month!

5. Integrate Poetry With Social Studies, Physical Education, Science, & Electives

Integration is my jam! I love weaving everything together in a beautiful tapestry of learning through middle school poetry activities. Nothing needs to be taught in isolation. Instead, we can help students make connections with every topic they encounter!

• Civil Rights & “Harlem” by Langston Hughes
• Civics &  “I Hear America Singing” by Walt Whitman
• Plants &  “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud” by William Wordsworth
• Amphibians &  “A Frog Who Would Not Move” by Kristin Menke
• Phases of the Moon &  “I Saw the Moon One Time” by Kristin Menke
• Ancient Civilizations &  “Ozymandias” by Percy Bysshe Shelley
• American Revolution &  “Paul Revere’s Ride” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow 
• Physical Science &  “Fire and Ice” by Robert Frost
• British History &  “The Charge of the Light Brigade” by Alfred, Lord Tennyson
• Music &  “Song of Myself” by Walt Whitman
• Film & “The Bells” by Edgar Allan Poe
• Mental Health &  “My Fears” by Kristin Menke
• Math/Measurements &  “My Shadow” by Robert Louis Stevenson
• Zoology &  “At the Zoo” by William Makepeace Thackeray
• Geography &  “Where I Live” Poetry Template by Kristin Menke

6. Poetry Writing Responses

When it comes to teaching middle school poetry activities, you don’t really want to read it and move on. You want students to respond in some way. You could have students answer questions about characterization, theme, structure, etc. in quick responses, paragraph-long responses, or in full essays. My personal preference is the short response. When students don’t have to write a ton, I see more of a willingness to do the work!

Here is an example based on the poem “The Passerby” by Kristin Menke ! Click the picture below to get easy-to-teach middle school poetry activities!

Short Response:  How does the author of “The Passerby” use imagery to set the mood of the poem? Use evidence to support your ideas.

Short Response Paragraph: Sentence-By-Sentence

• Answer the question by referring to the mood
• Incorporate a piece of evidence; be sure to embed the quote
• Explain how the evidence links to the mood
• Incorporate another piece of evidence; be sure to embed the quote
• Reiterate how imagery impacts mood

Want to integrate teaching songs with middle school poetry activities? Check out Poem Song of Myself: 3 Engaging Activities !

7. Middle School Poetry Activities That Incorporate Test Prep

So often, our kids enter the test prep season with trepidation. We totally get it, right? If you incorporate some test prep involving poetry throughout the year within your middle school poetry activities, it will help students prepare for what they might encounter on the state standardized test 🙂

These tests might ask students to cite evidence, determine the central idea or theme, analyze how a character develops, examine how the text starts and ends, and think about the author’s choice of words and descriptions. By including these standards in what you teach, we can have fun with teaching poetry and teaching for test success!

Check out these examples from Robert Frost’s poem “Fire and Ice!”

What is the effect of the repetition of the word “some?”

• A. It portrays that people have varying beliefs.
• B. It highlights that the fire is greater than the ice.
• C. It confirms the argument that people think in the same way.
• D. It establishes the idea that the earth’s end with affect several people.

What is the tone of the poem?

• B. Meditative
• C. Depressing
• D. Disappointed

If you want middle school poetry activities for several weeks, click below!

Why should we teach middle school poetry activities throughout the year?

Sharing what we love about language and learning is the ultimate goal! So many students encounter poetry through songs, and making poetry connect to music could also be a fantastic way to relate to students. We come into contact with poetry through lyrics whether from an artist we love or an advertisement or a greeting card or even a jingle we just can’t get out of our heads.

Let’s help our students out by teaching them to love literature, no matter the form, through middle school poetry activities!

Want more help teaching middle school poetry activities? Check out my store, Kristin Menke-Integrated ELA Test Prep!

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3 Poetry Activities for Middle School Students

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Middle school is the perfect time to introduce students to  poetry . By providing students with opportunities to explore a variety of forms, you'll give them the freedom to discover which types of poetry most resonate with them. Engaging, short lessons are an excellent way to hook your students on poetry right away. 

Ekphrastic Poetry

Ekphrastic poetry allows students to use poetry to describe a work of art or landscape in vivid detail. They may be less intimidated by this type of poetry, which encourages them to write about something rather than compose poetry from their imaginations.

• Introduce the concept of ekphrasis.
• Write a 10- to 15-line poem based on a work of art. 
• Paper and pencils
• Printouts or projector to display artwork reproductions 
• Ekphrasis: Definitions and Examples 
• Art Words List and Critique Term Bank 
• Introduce students to the term "ekphrasis." Explain that an ekphrastic poem is a poem inspired by a work of art. 
• " Edward Hopper and the House by the Railroad " by Edward Hirsch
• " American Gothic " by John Stone 
• What do you see? What is happening in the artwork? 
• What is the setting and time period?
• Is there a story being told? What are the subjects in the artwork thinking or saying? What is their relationship? 
• What emotions does the artwork make you feel? What are your sensory reactions?
• How would you summarize the theme or main idea of the artwork?
• As a group, begin the process of turning the observations into an ekphrastic poem by circling words/phrases and using them to compose the first few lines of a poem. Encourage the students to use poetic techniques such as alliteration, metaphor , and personification .
• Describing the experience of looking at the artwork
• Telling the story of what's happening in the artwork
• Writing from the perspective of the artist or subjects 
• Share a second artwork with the class and invite the students to spend five to 10 minutes writing down their thoughts about the painting. 
• Instruct the students to select words or phrases from their free associations and use them as the starting point for a poem. The poem need not follow any formal structure but should be between 10 and 15 lines. 
• Invite the students to share and discuss their poems in small groups. Afterward, reflect on the process and experience as a class. 

Lyrics as Poetry

Make connections between poetry and songs with which your students are familiar. You may find that your students enjoy examining poetry more readily when it is presented in the form of lyrics.

• Identify similarities and differences between song lyrics and poetry.
• Discuss how language can create a tone or mood .
• Speakers to play music 
• Printouts or projector to display song lyrics
• Contemporary Songs With Metaphors  
• Popular Songs With Similes  
• Choose a song that is likely to appeal to your students. Familiar songs (e.g., current hits, famous movie-musical songs) with broad, relatable themes (belonging, change, friendship) will work best.
• Introduce the lesson by explaining that you're going to explore the question of whether song lyrics can be considered poetry.
• Invite the students to listen closely to the song as you play it for the class.
• Next, share the song lyrics, either by passing out a printout or projecting them on the board. Ask the students to read the lyrics aloud.
• Invite the students to brainstorm similarities and differences between the song lyrics and poetry.
• As key terms emerge (repetition, rhyme, mood, emotions), write them on the board. 
• When the conversation turns to theme, discuss how the songwriter conveys that theme. Ask the students to point out particular lines that support their ideas and what emotions those lines evoke. 
• Discuss how the emotions evoked by the lyrics connect to the rhythm or tempo of the song. 
• At the end of the lesson, ask the students if they believe all songwriters are poets. Encourage them to use background knowledge as well as specific evidence from the class discussion to support their points. 

Slam Poetry Detectives

Slam poetry blends poetry with performance art. The audience of a slam poet participates in readings by scoring the performance. Encourage your students to explore this form of poetry by allowing them to identify poetic devices by watching videos of slam poetry performances.

• Introduce slam poetry. 
• Reinforce knowledge of poetic devices and techniques.
• Videos of slam poetry performances (e.g., Taylor Mali , Harry Baker , Marshall Davis Jones )
• Projector and speakers to play videos
• Handout with list of common poetic devices  
• 25 Slam Poems Appropriate for Middle School and High School
• Introduce the lesson by explaining that the activity will focus on slam poetry. Ask the students what they know about slam poetry and if they have ever participated themselves. 
• Provide a definition of slam poetry: short, contemporary, spoken-word poems that often describe a personal challenge or discuss an issue. 
• Play the first slam poetry video for the students. 
• Ask the students to compare the slam poem to written poetry they've read in previous lessons. What is similar? What is different? The conversation may naturally transition into the poetic devices present in the slam poem. 
• Pass out a handout with a list of common poetic devices (the class should already be familiar with them).
• Tell the students that their job is to be poetic device detectives and listen carefully for any poetic devices employed by the slam poet.
• Play the first slam poem video again. Each time the students hear a poetic device, they should write it down on the handout.
• Ask the students to share the poetic devices they detected. Discuss the role each device plays in the poem (e.g., repetition emphasizes an important point; imagery creates a certain mood).  
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Interactive Poetry Activities Your Students Will Love

Do you want to make poetry so fun and engaging that your students will ask for more? Here are some simple activities to get you started.

1. Blackout Poetry

There are so many reasons blackout poetry is great: kids love it, it's creative, and it forces you to clean the falling-apart books from your classroom library without the guilt of tossing them in the trash.

What is blackout poetry? It's simple. Rip out the pages of old books. Give the students some basic instructions, then watch the creativity flow!

Sample Instructions:

Blackout Poetry Examples:

2. Poet VS Poet

College basketball's March Madness is the perfect time to pit poet against poet for some exciting classroom debates, but any time of year teachers can create a similar feel by putting poets head to head and comparing their power.

Kids love competition. Creating competition with poetry naturally adds excitement and connects a sometimes intimidating genre with something familiar.

How do you implement a poet vs poet match up in your classroom? You could use an already created tool ( see Poet Vs Poet here ) or create your own match ups. For example, after a simple lesson on figurative language, ask your students to read the poetry of two different poets and rate their use of metaphors, similes, personification, and imagery. As a class, debate the poet's ratings using text based evidence.

If you are at all familiar with the basketball brackets of March Madness, poetry brackets work the same way (and you can find and download blank brackets by doing a simple Google search). I like to start with a sweet sixteen of poets, then narrow down to an elite eight, a final four, a championship, and a winner. Poets advance by having classes vote on the better poet in each match up. The reward of listening to kids debate poet's skills like the poets are athletes is worth any time it takes setting up this activity.

3. Found Poems

Found poems give language to students who may struggle to find the right words. Found poetry is easily accessible, hands on, and fun. Easy to set up, all you need to do to implement found poetry in your classroom is gather together stacks of old magazines, scissors, glue, and colorful paper.

First, instruct students to find powerful words in the pages of magazines, cut them out, and make piles on their desk. You could also assign cutting out powerful words from old magazines for homework and save yourself the time and mess in your classroom.

Next, students arrange and rearrange the words on their desk into meaningful poetry. This is a great opportunity to reinforce the power of form, shape, and line breaks in poetry and encourage students to be thoughtful in their choices. Talk to your students about choosing the best words, eliminating unnecessary words, and playing around with word choice.

Finally, instruct students to glue their poem into place on a colorful piece of paper and decorate your room with the beauty and power of poetry.

4. Poetry Escape Room

A poetry escape room is the most engaging and fun way to introduce or review poetry with your students. Escape rooms by nature are hands on and engaging. Combine the fun of an escape room with poetry and your kids will be hooked. (Check out the poetry escape room I did with my students here.)

Escape rooms, or breakout rooms, are a new trend similar to scavenger hunts. In a poetry escape room, students put together clues based on poems, poets, figurative language, poetry form, rhyme scheme, or any other poetic element. Then, students work to unlock the clues using their poetry knowledge.

Poets are experts at hiding meaning within the lines of their poetry, so use that to create clues that ask students to interpret, make inferences, and analyze. Escape rooms are a great method of turning tasks that can be intimidating to kids and making them into interactive challenges that students are motivated to engage in.

To create a poetry escape room, first choose the poetic elements or reading skills you want to target, a specific poem you want students to read and reread several times in different ways, or a theme or poet to design your escape room around.

Next, gather the materials and tasks that you would normally share with students in a traditional format, but think of creative ways to turn the tasks into clues. For example, if you want students to identify the figurative language in a poem, create task cards that students have to place in the order that those poetic elements appear in the poem. Hide small letters on the task cards so when students place the cards in order, the next clue appears. See the example below:

Get creative and hide clues within poems with bold words, put clues on task cards that students have to place in a certain order based on analysis, or choose clues based on symbolism or inferences that students can find only when they do a close read of the poem.

Although escape rooms require a lot of preparation and thought, the end result is worth the time. Students will be more engaged, thoughtful, and active in reading poetry than you could ever imagine. Escape rooms are a great way to review poetic elements or kick off a new study of poetry when you really want to catch students' attention and get them motivated.

Check out my step by step guide to creating your own escape room here .

5. Poetry Mash Up

Create a poetry mash up by writing poetry forms on slips of paper and placing them in one jar, types of figurative language and placing them in a second jar, and sound elements and placing them in a third jar. Pass the jars around the classroom and have students choose from each one, writing a poem based on what they chose.

For example, a student might choose haiku (poetry form), imagery (figurative language), and onomatopoeia (sound element). That student would then be challenged to write a haiku with imagery and an onomatopoeia. There are endless combinations and kids will have a blast writing, sharing, and seeing what poems are created in your poetry mash up.

Play over and over and model your poetry writing with students as well. Have fun laughing at the ridiculous and enjoy the surprise when students create some really amazing pieces with different combinations of poetic elements.

Making poetry fun and hands on is not only possible, but with a little creativity, it's really easy to implement at any level. Help your students to find the joy in creating magic with only a few words in different shapes and forms. Take the intimidation factor out of poetry by connecting poetry to fun challenges, familiar activities, and hand on learning.

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Every Student Can Be a Poet

Five easy-to-implement strategies to make poetry writing accessible and fun for all students.

Each year, when I tell my students that we are going to write poetry, a few are excited, but the majority let out an audible sigh. They often have the misconception that poetry is about following a lot of rules and using words that they don’t understand. They’re more open and excited when the focus shifts toward sharing their ideas and feelings with others in a creative format.

With each new type of poetry I teach, I work through writing a poem with them and talk through my thinking. Showing students that their teacher’s writing is far from perfect and sometimes comes out a lot different than envisioned empowers them to create their own work. I also model the risk-taking of starting a poem and the beauty of improvement through revision.

The poetry-writing process can become more inclusive and engaging when you offer a variety of poetry-writing exercises.

Blackout Poetry

Start with a page from any text and ask students to choose words from that text to create a poem. They black out any words they don’t want in their poem with a marker. They then rewrite all the remaining words into a poem.

Ask students to plan what they want to black out by lightly underlining in pencil before they begin marking through words. The only rule is that they must use these words in the order that they appear.

Students enjoy using texts that seem uninteresting at first glance, such as pages out of discarded grammar books. They love turning something boring into a fun poem.

Blackout poetry is a good starting point for new poets because the words are already on the page and students only need to determine which words to use. This strategy can also be used as an interdisciplinary assignment in which students use text from specific content to create a poem about that content, such as using the Bill of Rights to create a poem about the Revolutionary War.

Word-Scramble Poetry

This strategy begins with a pile of words cut out on individual pieces of paper. They can be specific words chosen by the teacher or words collected from students. Students organize the words to create any poem they would like without adding new words. This strategy allows students to see that there is not a right way to write a poem, and everyone leaves class with a completed poem. When I model this for students, they love to see me moving words around, changing my mind and wishing so much for words that I don’t have.

There are several variations of the word-scamble poetry method. One involves giving all students the same group of words and discovering how many different ideas are formulated using those same words. Another involves giving students different groups of words and allowing them to trade words. A last variation involves a bit of stealing by the teacher: Periodically walk around the classroom and distribute new words or take some words away.

My Life in ___ Words

Students are given the task of writing the story of their life using only the same number of words as their age. This helps students practice word choice and takes a little of the pressure off because it is, by default, a short piece.

A variation of this method is to use a different cap on the number of words that students may use. I’ve asked students to write about a specific topic using fewer than five or 10 words.

Prose to Poetry

Students write out their ideas for a poem without worrying about format. They are encouraged to write freely about whatever emotion or topic they would like to convey in their poem. Then students follow four steps to turn the prose into poetry:

• Decide what emotion or idea is most important for you to convey in your poem, and keep that in mind as you make revisions.
• Cut the word count by at least half by eliminating unneeded words and phrases. Highlight the most important words and phrases that you want to keep and delete the rest.
• Highlight what you think is the most important phrase, and make it your title.
• Rearrange the remaining words and phrases in a way that helps you convey your idea. Consider starting and ending all lines with a noun, adjective, or verb.

My Worst Poem

Ask students to write the worst poem ever about something they feel strongly about. Then have them go through a few revisions, making edits to turn it into something they are proud to share. This takes the pressure off of getting something on paper. Once they get over the stress of what to write and just start writing, they almost always realize that their “worst poem” isn’t that bad at all.

Celebrating Successes

After working through a few of these activities, students often comment on how surprised they are about how many poems they wrote and how much fun they had. I end the unit celebrating their writing with a poetry café, where students share their poems with their classmates and enjoy a few snacks. Creating easy and accessible exercises for poetry writing can turn skeptical students into poets.

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Outside-the-Box Poetry Writing Assignments for Middle School ELA

Happy Poetry Month! Do you find your students struggle with poetry writing assignments? You’re not alone! I notice that many middle and high school students find it challenging to tap into their creative side, especially when it comes to poetry composition.

One trick I find useful is to take an outside-the-box approach to poetry writing activities . When students understand the framework of each type of poem and are given a bit of freedom to play with words, rhymes, and figurative language, you might be surprised at what they can come up with! Here are five of my favorite poetry writing assignments to get students’ creative juices flowing!

1. Texting Poetry

I’ve never met a middle or high school student who isn’t hooked on texting! In this high-interest activity , students must write a poem that incorporates the short-hand conventions of texting. Think abbreviations, acronyms, digits, emojis and more! I find this task works especially well as an introductory activity to a poetry writing unit, as it appeals to even the most reluctant writers!

To begin, show students some strategies to utilize texting convetions. These could include:

• Omitting letters, especially vowels, to shorten words (“text” becomes “txt)
• Abbreviations (“you only live once” becomes “YOLO”)
• Replacing words with numerical digits (“too” becomes “2”)
• Inserting emojis to express tone and emotion

From here, students can use a provided graphic organizer to brainstorm, draft, and edit their texting poems, before creating their good copy! To wrap up, students can neatly format their finished poem into a template that is shaped like a phone – perfect for displaying on a classroom bulletin board!

2. Slam poetry

What better way to wrap up a poetry unit than by hosting a classroom poetry slam ? For this activity, students prepare to perform spoken word poetry for an audience of their peers! Most students aren’t familiar with the idea of a poetry slam. I like to start by explaining it is a competitive event where poets perform their work and are judged by the members of the audience. At a poetry slam, scores are given based on the content of the poem, as well as the poet’s performance!

First, I like to share some brief details about the origin of poetry slams, and offer some tips for writing spoken-word poems. The most impactful slam poetry performances show the poet’s emotional connection to the topic. It can be useful to give students an opportunity to brainstorm (or even free write!) to help them work through their initial ideas.

From here, I like to provide students with some examples of professional slam poetry performances. Once they have plenty of inspiration, a graphic organizer can help students begin the writing process.

For the slam itself, I like to outline some clear ground rules. Five students (chosen at random) will provide scores out of ten for each performance. For fairness, I like to “throw away” the highest and lowest score, leaving each poet with a score out of 30. To sweeten the deal, I like to offer a grand prize to the poet with the highest score (and participation prizes for all students who are brave enough to perform)!

3. Poetry Portfolios

Sometimes, the simplest poetry writing assignments are the most effective! If you’re introducing several different poetry styles to your middle school ELA students, why not have them try to compose a poem in each style? I find that sometimes, providing a clear framework for each poetry type can inspire students to produce very creative results!

In the Poetry Portfolio task, students learn the “rules” of composing eight different styles of poetry, including:

• Acrostic poems
• “I am” poems
• Concrete poems
• Antonym diamante poems

Once they understand the basic structure of each poetry type, they can use the provided reference materials to compose a draft of each kind of poem before editing their work. To assess this poetry writing assignment, you could collect a full portfolio of poetry for each student, or you could have them pick and choose examples of their best work to mark and display!

4. Fridge poetry

For an outside-the-box way to encourage students to engage with poetry, why not try a writing activity inspired by “refrigerator poetry?” These are the small, magnetic words that can be arranged into various poems you might have seen on refrigerators

In this poetry writing task, students use words from various parts of speech to create their own poems (no magnets required). Refrigerator poetry can teach vocabulary, independent thinking, imaginative personal expression, parts of speech, word choice, sensory detail, and phrasing!

This task requires a little bit of prep work, but the result is worth it! I like to separate and sort words into various categories related to parts of speech. The day before the lesson, organize and label baskets or jars with various parts of speech, and fill each jar with small cards that contain different types of words. From here, students can select a variety of different word types, spread them out, and arrange (and rearrange!) them to create poems!

Refrigerator poems can be shown off in your classroom, or posted on a hallway bulletin board for a creative, student-centred, and low-prep display!

5. Acrostic Snowball Poetry

If you have a class that loves to get up and moving, Acrostic Snowball Poetry is the writing activity for you! This task is one of my favorite poetry writing assignments! It requires students to work collaboratively as they compose acrostic poems, and I find it engages even the most reluctant writers!

To start, distribute organizational templates for various acrostic poems to your class. Once everyone has a unique poetry prompt, I explain that an acrostic poem is a type of poetry where the first letters of each line combine to spell out a word, name, or phrase when read vertically. 

From here, it’s time for the fun to begin! I like to set a timer (two minutes works for me – you may need to adjust slightly for your group!). Students need to put their name on their page and write the first line of a poem. This line should correspond with the first letter provided in the template. Once the time is up, they crumple their paper into a “snowball.” Next, they throw it into the centre of the room, grab another page, and continue writing on the next line! At the end of the activity, all the “snowballs” should be returned to their original writer. Finally, they can then create a good copy to share with the class!

A tip for Acrostic Snowball Poetry: Encourage students to write with a pen, as pencils can smudge during all the crumpling/smoothing out!

There you go! I hope these activities give you some fresh ideas for your poetry unit! You can find all five of these outside-the-box activities in my Poetry Writing Bundle !

Looking for more ways to have fun with poetry in your classroom? Check out my post on Using Music to Teach Poetry in Middle School ELA !

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60 Must-Share Poems for Middle School and High School

These poems inspire creativity instead of yawns.

It can be hard to know which poems will spur your middle and high schoolers into deep, meaningful discussion and which will leave them yawning. So we asked experienced teachers to share their favorite poems—the ones that always get a reaction, even from teens. Here’s what they had to say about the best poems for middle school and high school students.

Note: Every classroom is different, so please be sure to review these poems for middle school and high school students before sharing to ensure they align with your learning environment.

Poems for Middle School and High School

1. nothing gold can stay by robert frost.

Discuss symbolism with this short poem by Frost.

2. The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost

“Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both …”

Discuss the literal and figurative meanings in this poem.

3. Rat Ode by Elizabeth Acevedo

“Because you are not the admired nightingale Because you are not the noble doe …”

Listen to the author herself as she performs her poetry.

4. I Lost My Talk by Rita Joe

“I lost my talk The talk you took away. When I was a little girl …”

This poem follows the pain and suffering Joe experienced at Shubenacadie Residential School in Nova Scotia.

5. Friend by Josephine Miles

“I met a man in a woolen reefer, A friend of my friend’s. What was his disposition?”

6. There Are Birds Here by Jamaal May

“when they said those birds were metaphors for what is trapped between buildings and buildings. No.”

Recount the dangers of misconception with this poem.

7.  Fire and Ice by Robert Frost

Frost doesn’t hold back with this poem, an ideal one for discussion and debate.

8. Dear Future Generations: Sorry by Prince Ea

“I think I speak for the rest of us when I say Sorry, sorry we left you with our mess of a planet …”

Ea documented this to raise awareness about the alarming rates of deforestation and the reckless destruction of our environment.

9. Casey at the Bat by Ernest Lawrence Thayer

“The outlook wasn’t brilliant for the Mudville nine that day: The score stood four to two, with but one inning more to play …”

An oldie but goodie!

10. The Rose That Grew From Concrete by Tupac Shakur

“Funny it seems, but by keeping its dreams, it learned to breathe fresh air.”

The late artist created a clear connection between the rhythm and deeper meaning of poetry and rap.

11. The Listeners by Walter de la Mare

“‘Is there anybody there?’ said the Traveller, Knocking on the moonlit door …”

For your fans of science fiction.

12. We Wear the Mask by Paul Laurence Dunbar

“We wear the mask that grins and lies, It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes …”

A reaction to the experience of being Black in America in the late 19th century.

13. A Dream Within a Dream by Edgar Allan Poe

“You are not wrong, who deem That my days have been a dream; Yet if hope has flown away In a night, or in a day …”

Poe was an expert at rhyme scheme—and this poem is clear evidence of that.

14. Deer Hit by Jon Loomis

“You’re seventeen and tunnel-vision drunk, swerving your father’s Fairlane wagon home …”

Students won’t soon forget this poem, both for the story and the sensory details.

15. Eating Poetry by Mark Strand

Read this poem to discuss the meaning beyond the literal words on the page.

16. And the Ghosts by Graham Foust

“they own everything”

An example of just what one line can do.

17. That Sure Is My Little Dog by Eleanor Lerman

Lerman engages with popular culture and an irreverent tone.

18. Another Reason Why I Don’t Keep a Gun in the House by Billy Collins

Any student who has ever felt annoyed or had to put up with daily frustrations will relate to this poem.

19. Mother to Son by Langston Hughes

A politically charged poem that still rings true today, Hughes’ poetry, particularly “Mother to Son,” is timeless.

20. Beethoven by Shane Koyczan

This poem is a biography in verse that connects Beethoven’s story to the universal.

21. Oranges by Gary Soto

Soto’s poem about trying to impress a girl shows what small moments reveal about ourselves and how those moments embed themselves in our memories.

22. This Is Just To Say by William Carlos Williams

This poem leaves lots of space for inference, which leads to great discussion.

23. Having a Coke With You by Frank O’Hara

Teach this poem to show how O’Hara uses references or for the humor.

24. Pass On by Michael Lee

Lee’s poem creates snapshots of memory, creating lines and ideas for every student to grab and hold on to.

25.  Snow by David Berman

Captures a narrative in miniature with a creative structure.

26. Still I Rise by Maya Angelou

An uplifting political call to action that students should read right when they’re starting to define the mark they can have on the world.

27. So You Want To Be a Writer  by Charles Bukowski

Sheds light on the writing process, with a sense of humor and a tongue-in-cheek challenge.

28. We Real Cool by Gwendolyn Brooks

This poem is deceptive in its simplicity and leaves a lot to talk about. Be sure to discuss that internal rhyme!

29. Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night by Dylan Thomas

A solid work for teaching poetry elements (repetition, rhyme scheme).

30. Daddy by Sylvia Plath

Plath rarely minces words and this is no exception—this poem is stuffed full of deeper meaning.

31. I Died for Beauty by Emily Dickinson

Dickinson is so good at creating mood, this time about reflection.

32. Annabel Lee by Edgar Allan Poe

A ghost story wrapped up in a poem. Another Poe classic.

33. Ode to a Large Tuna in the Market by Pablo Neruda

The rest of the poem is as humorous as the title, and it’s fun to dissect and analyze how Neruda writes about everyday objects, like the tuna on ice.

34. A Total Stranger One Black Day by E.E. Cummings

Use this poem to teach ways to approach points of view.

35. Very Like a Whale by Ogden Nash

Nash’s comical poem pokes fun at the use of similes and metaphors.

36. The Cremation of Sam McGee by Robert W. Service

“There are strange things done in the midnight sun …”

37. The Highwayman by Alfred Noyes

When a highwayman meets the inn owner’s daughter, they fall in love immediately … as a rival eavesdrops.

38. Language Lesson 1976 by Heather McHugh

“When Americans say a man takes liberties, they mean he’s gone too far.”

39. Mirror by Sylvia Plath

This poem speaks from a mirror’s perspective, sharing truths as a woman looks at her own reflection.

40. She Walks in Beauty by Lord Byron

The poet clearly captures the elegance and beauty of this enchanting woman.

41. A Man Said to the Universe by Stephen Crane

This short poem speaks volumes.

42. Richard Cory by Edwin Arlington Robinson

A surprise ending reminds us that not everything is always as it seems.

43. The Laughing Heart by Charles Bukowski

This poem encourages readers to make the most of each day.

44. Tattoo by Ted Kooser

What stories can an old man’s tattoo tell us?

45. A Litany in Time of Plague by Thomas Nashe

The author reminds us that regardless of our circumstances, the nature of death remains unchanged.

46. I’m Nobody! Who are you? by Emily Dickinson

A poem about identity and wanting not to be famous. An interesting poem to analyze today, when students have multiple social media pages.

47. The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe

Have you even read poetry if you haven’t read “The Raven?” It’s a Poe classic, probably because of the evocative yet accessible language.

48. I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud by William Wordsworth

Wordsworth uses lots of great poetry tools in this poem. It is a good one for discussing metaphor and visualization.

49. The Hill We Climb by Amanda Gorman

An amazing, modern poet that resonates with young people. Students will love pulling apart all the meaning in Gorman’s poem that was part of Joe Biden’s Presidential Inauguration.

50. If – by Rudyard Kipling

This poem will kick off some lively analysis as students make connections and pick apart Kipling’s message, which still rings true today.

51. Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost

“Whose woods these are I think I know.”

We recommend reading this poem on a snowy day, or at least a winter day, to capture the atmosphere of the prose.

52. Invictus by William Ernest Henley

“I am the captain of my soul.”

The final two lines of this poem are worth analysis all on their own. What does it mean to be the captain of your soul? How much control do we really have?

53. Webcam the World by Heather McHugh

A statement on technology and nature, McHugh develops a very modern theme in a traditional-looking poem.

54. The Doll House by A.E. Stallings

Stallings digs into her childhood dollhouse and reflects on what it means about childhood and the simple things in life. Even middle schoolers have nostalgia, and this poem will tap into that.

55. See It Through by Edgar Albert Guest

Another poem about perseverance. The message of this one is that we learn through failure.

56. Be the Best of Whatever You Are by Douglas Malloch

A reminder for students that they should be true to themselves and be proud of that.

57. Adventures of Isabel by Ogden Nash

A great example of how poetry can be humorous and fun to read. Think Shel Silverstein for middle and high schoolers.

58. On Turning Ten by Billy Collins

It’s silly to read an in-depth reflection about moving into double digits, but middle and high schoolers can see the humor in this poem, as well as the serious side.

59. Phenomenal Woman by Maya Angelou

A great read for Women’s History Month or any month. Angelou explores the stereotypes that are typically associated with women and what they mean.

60. Harlem by Langston Hughes

A poem that we can all relate to—the feeling of wanting things to happen that are not coming to fruition.

Do you teach younger students? Check out our favorite elementary school poems .

For more articles like this, be sure to subscribe to our newsletters .

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Possible introduction of electronic visas in Krasnodar Krai

According to the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov, the possibility of introducing electronic visas for foreign visitors of Krasnodar Krai, similar to those existing in the Kaliningrad region and on the territory of the Free Port of Vladivostok, is being considered now.

“Electronic visas are new for us, we are familiarizing with them. The government decided to introduce electronic visas on the territories of the Free Port of Vladivostok and the Kaliningrad Region as an experiment which starts soon. As soon as we learn this form of work and understand how much our foreign partners are ready to act on the basis of reciprocity, we will consider your appeal”, – Sergei Lavrov said at a meeting with the governor of the Krasnodar region Veniamin Kondratiev.

The introduction of electronic visas in Krasnodar Krai aims to increase the inbound tourist flow and to attract foreign investors to the region. According to V. Kondratiev, Krasnodar region actively cooperates with foreign investors: there are about 300 enterprises with foreign capital which turnover is 9 billion dollars in the region. Krasnodar Krai is also a popular tourist region where about 15 million tourists annually rest, 6% of them are foreign citizens. This year, Krasnodar Krai also hosted a ministerial meeting with German Minister of Foreign Affairs Sigmar Gabriel and a conference of partner cities of Russia and Germany.

According to the governor of the region, the introduction of electronic visas will help to create a favorable climate for attracting tourists and foreign partners. As noted Sergei Lavrov, the Russian Foreign Ministry will shortly hold a presentation of Krasnodar Krai which will attract additional investors and help strengthen relations with foreign partners in the region.

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