The students are put into pairs and asked to generate 6 to 8 words that are not closely related. The words can be nouns or verbs. Each partner then exchanges word lists and writes a poem using the other's work list. Share finished poems with the class. For my first lesson, I want my students to approach the idea of writing poems as a fun and easy process.
Poems can be stories or something familiar.
I will use the poem, All She Wrote, by Harryette Mullen, to help the students understand that they are not the only ones who make excuses. Discuss the poet's excuses for not writing to others and then have students list reasons that they give excuses for things. After discussing the poem and sharing each others excuses, the students will write a letter of their own to anyone about why they didn't want to do something. I can't write back. I never read your letter.