Popping Poetry Balloons

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Popping Poetry Balloons
By Tracy

For our poetry unit we do something super fun and extremely motivating. I always start on a Monday morning and when the students arrive they see the class clothesline lined with balloons. After careful inspection, they
realize that there is a small piece of paper rolled up inside of each one. I write a different type of poetry on each slip of paper and place it inside the balloon before I blow it up. Then I use a big marker and write a number on the outside of the balloon so that I can keep track of what type of poetry is inside of each one so that I can plan lessons accordingly. I hang them up on the

clothesline. Each day, we POP a balloon. Out flies he piece of paper...which is quite exciting for all. We unveil the slip of paper. I always then teach them about that type of poetry, read samples together, and the they go and try it out on their own in their Writer's Notebooks. They choose which ones to publish and we are currently publishing them in these small hardcover blank books our school purchased each student for our Young Authors Month. It is so fun to discover poetry this way. Have fun!