June
1
Writing 6/1
Blackout Poetry
Our virtual lesson will go over this in more detail. Prior to class on WEDNESDAY 6/3, please review the following document. Collect loose papers that belonged to discarded books, magazines, and newspapers to assist you with your FINAL PROJECT DUE 6/10
Follow these simple steps.
- What is it? Before even getting started, it can be helpful for students to see examples of different ways they can create blackout poem.
- Choose a page of text. Students can use a page from a newspaper, a copied story or informational text, or a page from a book that is falling apart or ready for the recycle bin. Try to find different pages for each student. This will make for great sharing and unique finished poems.
- Gather the interesting words. Have students scan the page looking for words and phrases that jump out at them. They will circle those words lightly in pencil.
- Determine what words to keep. Students can read through the list of words they’ve circled and begin to see their poem appearing.
We read from top to bottom and left to right, so the words need to be in that order so the reader will understand the poem in the same way the writer wants. You may find words that they want to eliminate from their poem, or they may find that they need more. This is why using light pencil is helpful! Erase or add! - Refine word choice. Ask students to read their poems aloud to themselves to make sure they make sense. They can also write them out. It’s helpful to ask students at this point what theme they are trying to convey. What do they want the reader to understand or feel after having read their poem?
- Once students are happy with their poem, they can begin to blackout the page. There is so much flexibility in this step! Students can simply blacken the words with a marker, or they can connect them with color.
- Or — create an image that fits with the poem. After circling the words, you can sketch a design that fits with the theme or images of the
SEE THE EXAMPLES BELOW, or google this method for more ideas.
