For teachers

Here is a suggested class plan for teachers to use in class.
You can also download this Class Plan in PDF format here.

INTRODUCTION

This is a poetry project for New Zealand’s National Poetry Day 2024 on the 23 of August. On 1 August we will publish five words presented in creative videos made by students of Te Parito Kōwhai Russley School, Christchurch, alongside words from their teacher Melanie Koster and the Wellington-based artist Malcolm Doidge. There will be a prize for the Best Poem by Under-16s courtesy of The Cuba Press and The Massey University Press.

OBJECTIVES

• Encourage investigation and creativity in relation to words and meaning.
• To make a poem inspired by five words.

TEACHING ACTIVITY

First ask students to make up titles of poems they would like to read. Give them 5 minutes to write down 3 titles each. Ask them to share their favourite title.

Write some pairs of words on the board, for example toucan/teaspoon, friend/frazzle and click/clean, and give students 6 minutes to write down sentences that include both words of each pair. (e.g., The toucan admired her reflection in the shiny teaspoon.) Who can think up the craziest sentences? Ask students to read out a sentence. Did anyone play with alliteration in their sentences? (e.g., Ten talented toucans played tambourines with teaspoons.)

Now write one of the words from this year's competition on the board and make an Ideas Cloud around the word. It might be easier if you prepare some ideas beforehand. Here is an example with the word 'Jump', including imaginative connections, alliteration and rhymes:

Next, divide the class in groups and give each group one of the four remaining words from the competition. On a large sheet of paper they have to make an Ideas Cloud for the word in their group. They can include drawings, writing, or collage from magazines etc. Each group presents their word to the rest of the class.

NOTE: Remind them of the rules before they write their poem.
Especially:
• The poem must include the five words.
• The words can be used in any order.
• You may change the tense of verbs and change nouns between plural and singular.
• Length anywhere between 5 and 200 words.

Students now work individually using the five words to write their poem. The theme of the poem is open and will depend on what the five words suggest for each person. Suggest they can choose one of their poem titles for their poem if they would like to.

Ask the students what is more important: The ideas they want to express? Or the sound and rhythm of the words?

CONCLUSION

Students share their poems with the class and comment on each other’s work.

EXTRA ACTIVITY — ‘WORD FILMS’

Make your own Creative Word videos to send in and maybe they will be chosen as one of next year’s five words!

1) First watch the videos made by the students from López de Arenas Secondary School in Spain: https://vimeo.com/835204181 (6 minutes) and those made by students from Te Parito Kōwhai Russley School in Christchurch: https://youtu.be/r6kEznk1Ao8 (1.22 minutes)

2) Choose your word! A strange word, a funny word, a word that is special for you, a word in English, te reo Māori or another language, a thing, an action, a describing word, any word…

3) Think of a creative way to present your word visually on video. For example:
• Make a picture (painting/collage/drawing) with the word.
• Find your word in the environment (street signs, etc).
• Write a word with food.
• Write a word on a dusty window or in condensation on a window.
• Cut out each letter in cardboard and find an interesting way to display the word.

See how creative you can be with the presentation of your word!

4) Make a short video of your word. You can use a mobile phone camera. You can include sound or texts like the students in Spain did.

Teachers can send a selection of the best videos to nzgivenwords@gmail.com

PLEASE only send videos where the identities of the children are not visible, or you provide written permission from a parent or legal guardian.

You can send the videos after 23 August and up until the end of November 2024.

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