Poets and Wordplay

It is important to create a sense of wonder around words. Ralph Fletcher refers to deliberate playfulness with language to create a particular kind of effect. I agree. Wordplay is critical to feeling comfortable with language in general and poetry in particular.

Here are a few ideas to get the word fun started:

Poets try to see ordinary things in extraordinary ways

*Describe a pair of dirty,worn out sneakers

They look like.....

They smell like.....

They feel like.....

They remind me of.....

What don’t you want to be doing tomorrow ?

What don’t you want to be doing next week ?

What don’t you want to be doing when you grow up ?

Word gatherers - collect words...poets need them

Words which sound like noises (onomatopoeia )

buzz

plop

quack

twang

whizz

splat

bong

Words which sound good

hubbub

giggle

gingerly

agog

billabong

skedaddle

gongoozle

Words which are made up:

esky

elbonics

tetramangulation

woos

Alliteration:

When poets use a string of words which

begin the same letter we call it alliteration

Awfully angry ants

Badly baked biscuits

Cold ,crumbly cake

Dreadfully daggy denims

Eerie,evil _______

Fine feathered_______

Great green________

Huge Hairy________

Inconsiderate, insolent______

Describe an imaginary animal without saying what it is

*Cautionary Tales:

Consider what might happen to a child who:

-refuses to get dressed

-is continually rude to people

-keeps on smashing everyone else's toys

Supermarket Rush

Name foods

Create a busy rushing rhythm

Trolley whooshing

We are pushing...

...Write a spell to make your teacher smile at you

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