Poetry Break with a Concrete Poem

Poetry Break with “Catch” by Brad Burg

Burg, Brad. 2002. Outside the Lines: Poetry at Play. Ill. by Rebecca Gibbon. New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons.

Age Group: Elementary

Introduction: Explain to the students what a concrete poem is (it is not written in wet cement), telling them that it is a poem that is not written straight down a page but can take the shape or form of something that it is about. Write an example on the board of a concrete poem, such as descriptive words of a cat written in the shape of C-A-T (or dog, or school, etc.). Show the students the book Outside the Lines: Poetry at Play and read“Catch” while showing the page to the students so that they can see the back-and-forth words in each line.

Catch (for actual page layout, see above graphic)


BLUE SKY

WHITE CLOUDS

HOT SUN

A- BOVE

THE BACK

AND FORTH

OF BALL

IN GLOVE

FRIEND THROWS

TO FRIEND

IN SLOW

TICK- TOCK. . .

THE SLEE-

PY SOUND

OF SUM-

MER’S CLOCK


Extension: If the students still do not understand the premise of concrete poems read more selections from the book. Ask the students to make/write their own concrete poems. The students may either make up a poem with illustrations themselves, or pass out prepared picture sheets for inspiration. Examples of picture sheets: a mountain range; an animal(s); a forest scene; a busy street; a gym; any other picture that would appeal to the students.