Poem Forest

Playful Pivots

Playful Pivots are short exercises that can be done for 5-10 minutes. They are especially useful when students finish assignments early or when the group is having trouble focusing. They can be given out individually or done collectively by the group. 

Your Turn: Embodiment / Movement

Try moving in a free and relaxed way. This can be done seated in chairs, standing in place or moving around the room. You can base your movements on natural elements like tall trees, rivers and creeks, insects, and the sun, for example. Or you can show off your favorite dance moves. Try playing upbeat music to release built-up energy or quiet music to relax and slow down.

Writing Prompts

Writing Prompts provide Poem Forest inspiration and encouragement for creative writing. Prompts can be given out individually, done collectively or in small groups.

Your Turn: Thank a Tree

How many things can we thank trees for off the top of our heads? Can we thank trees for 5 things? Maybe 10 things? 

Try writing a short poem of gratitude to a tree. This can be a letter or it can be a simple list. It can rhyme or not rhyme. Maybe you’re writing to a tree in your yard, a tree at school, or a tree you imagine out in the world that’s cleaning the air you breathe right now. 

Try starting your poem off with “I thank the trees for…” or “Thank you tree for…” Or think of what you’re thankful for when you look at trees, when you’re outside, when you have your shoes off, and you’re barefoot in the grass.

Ecology

Ecology prompts enriching discussions about the natural world and helps students build vocabulary, subject matter, and inspiration for writing poetry. Ecology is helpful for refocusing, building conversation around earth science, and expanding shared research.

Your Turn: What is a forest? 

Wikipedia offers a simple definition: “A forest is an ecosystem characterized by a dense community of trees.”

Mel Slarp from the Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan says this: “A forest is a place where adventure awaits under the cool, dark canopy of trees and leaves that have shared secrets with the earth for eons.”

Study the types of forests that exist nearby or in other parts of the world. What kinds of forests have you been in? Maybe you’ve heard of rainforests or redwood forests? See if you can make a list of local forest types.

Poetry Elements

Poetry Elements help students learn the fundamentals of writing poetry. Use these cards before and during writing sessions as the class learns to craft their own poems. Poetry Elements often show up on assessment tests and within educational standards. This is an engaging way for students to learn the formal words for the creative writing techniques that they are probably already using intuitively.

Your Turn: What is a poem?

​​What is the difference between a poem and a story? Can a poem tell a story? Is a poem like a song? Write down and discuss your thoughts on what a poem is. 

A poem is an arrangement of words that expresses personal experiences, ideas, or emotions in an imaginative style. Some poems rhyme, some are written in free verse and don’t rhyme, and some follow specific formatting like lunes, haiku, and sonnets. 

Nature poetry, or eco-poetry, considers nature as the main subject matter and inspiration for writing. Think about a place, tree or animal in nature that is special to you. Describe it with a list of vivid adjectives. After contemplation and conversation, see if you can write a first draft of a poem about nature.

Eco-Poems

Simply put, Eco-Poems are poems about nature. And like nature, they can be very diverse in style, shape, and form. We encourage you to use online resources connected to Poem Forest and other poetry websites. Here is a poem by Turnaround Arts Artist Jacqueline Suskin:

The Relief of Our Endless Becoming

Revising

Revising helps students add to their existing poems and support the craft of transforming their good writing into great writing. After the first few sessions of Poem Forest, start pulling revision exercises for the class as a whole, especially individual students who feel like they might be finished writing. 

Your Turn: Transform a good poem into a great poem.

There are many ways to make a good poem great. Even if you like your poem the way it is, challenge yourself to try these suggestions to elevate your creative practice:

• Change the title of your poem. Your title is an invitation for the reader to enter your poem. Can you make this invitation more intriguing? 

• Review all of the verbs in your poem and swap them for more evocative verbs to convey your idea. Example: instead of ‘run quickly’ find a more distinct verb like ‘sprint’ or ‘dash’.

• Show, don’t tell. Where can you add descriptive imagery, simile, or metaphor? Example: Instead of telling us “I saw a white dove this morning,” show us: “The wonder of this day is the fringed white wing of the dove, first light caught in laced flight, a lady’s glove taken by the wind.”