book spine poetry

oh book spine poetry - how I love thee!

My Great-Aunt Arizona

Eyes, Nose, Fingers, and Toes

But No Candy.

-Ana, 4th grade

this will be my third year using book spine poetry. I have used it with second through fifth grades to great success. I find that many students who struggle with poetry or just do not enjoy poetry LOVE book spine poems. I don't think it is necessarily EASIER, I think it is just a more accessible for kids to show their creativity.

George Shrinks

Phineas L. MacGuire... ERUPTS!

Henry Climbs a Mountain.

-Kiran, 4th grade

try it. the kids will take a time or two to get the hang of it. once they do, you'll see that spark - trust me.

how to
1. my media specialist allows us to run wild in the library. ok, so not so much run wild. I talk to my kiddos about looking through the books for book spines that interest them. when they find book spines that they might want to use, they can then pull it out. once they have pulled out about five books, they need to start working on their poem.

Rap A Tap Tap

Guess Who's Coming to Santa's for Dinner?

Elmo and Friends!

-Adrian, 2nd grade

2. I have my mini-locos work on their planning sheet. they move around the books, read the poem, and then continue rearranging the books until they are satisfied.

Lost and Found

The Jacket

Room One

-Leonardo, 4th grade

3. when they are satisfied with their poem, they write down the final poem on the planning sheet.

Into the Mist

The Witches

Flying Solo

-David, 2nd grade

4. the final product will be a picture of the book spines. I allow my mini-locos to take the picture with the class camera. that is up to you!

Move It!

Up, Down, All Around

Snowy Weather Days

-Danilo, 2nd grade

Imagine That!

1,000 Years Ago on Plant Earth

Women of Hope

- Cynthia, 2nd grade

try it out! I find it can be done in about two days. I always introduce several spine poems the first day. we read them together and talk about this as a version of poetry. I model how the poem can be created. the second day, they are off planning and creating. grab the planning sheet [here].

if you try it, let me know what you think!