Take a Poetry Break!

Here's an exciting activity that can be shared by your grade level or even the entire school. Choose one day of the week or month as "Poetry Break Day." Have students help decorate a special sign on a piece of cardboard or posterboard. Individual students, partners, or small groups from each participating class take turns preparing and performing a favorite or timely poem. Simple props or costumes may be used. Then, during the day, the presenter(s) visit each classroom, announce "Poetry Break!" and read, recite, or perform a special poem. Make sure the participants don't mind the interruption and agree in advance on a time for the poetry break. The interruption should last two or three mihnutes at most. Make sure the presenters stop by the office, library, computer lab, and cafeteria too!