Activity 15 - Music Inspiring Poetry

Focus
The rainforest has been inspiration for many musicians, poets and artists.

Background
Many CDs have been inspired by the rainforest, including local artist David Hudson. Various poetry forms such as Dylan Thomas Portrait, Ezra Pound Couplets, Haiku, Shape Poems and Cinquains are provided in the Poetry Forms template.

Pedagogy/teaching strategies
Student-directed workshops on each poem type.

Activity sequence
1. Teacher plays selection of music and children
• sketch their impressions or use other forms of art –such as abstract paintings, string painting or wax relief
• select photos from the image library (then click on the Photos icon) and create an accompanying pictorial slide show.
2. Introduce students to short poem forms.
3. Students select their favourite rainforest images or processes (food webs, food chains, predator / prey relationships) and write a poem. Illustrate appropriately.
4. Class creates an anthology of illustrated poems.