Do you have days where you want a quick and engaging lesson that helps students master content? Well over the course of my teaching career, I’ve seen the gamut of options. And yet I always seem to come back to some tried and true options time after time. This new “Classroom Activities We Love” series will focus on some of my all-time favorites. Let me know what you think!
#1 Acrostic Poems
Acrostic Poems – I keep this little gem in my repertoire because it’s so easy to design and implement in any classroom, regardless of the content you teach. It not only gets students thinking and writing, but it serves as a wonderful review of content you’ve already covered in your class. For example, I normally have students complete it them for month long observances (i.e., Black History Month, Women’s History Month, and the like). Here are some extra tips to make the most out of acrostic poems:
- Give students a list of vocabulary words you would like them to use throughout the assignment. This will give students a starting point and will align with your states teaching standards. In addition, you can create a straightforward rubric based on the terms used. For instance, if you have students write about Women’s History Month you can include terms like: Nineteenth amendment, abolitionists, Rosa Parks, Susan B. Anthony, marches, etc.
- Have students draw an illustration that captures the essence of the poem.
- Create the poem together as a class by assigning groups of students the letter they are supposed to create a line for. This keeps it fun and brings unity into the classroom.
- The final poem can be laminated and placed on a bulletin board for all to see.
What Are Your Thoughts?
Have you ever tried this activity in your classroom? What have students enjoyed the most? Is there another variation of this activity you implement in your classroom? Are there any worksheets you would love to see created to help bring these lessons to life? Comment below and let us know! And stay tuned for more in our “Activities We Love” series.