Academic Poetry
Junior high
students at Exeter-Milligan High School are celebrating National Poetry Month,
in April, by discovering poetry in their academic subjects. After spending eight months of writing formal
paragraphs, essays, and test prompts, students are exploring new ways of
looking at their textbooks. Their first
exercise was to make poetic line breaks out of academic prose. This gave them a new perspective on core
subjects such as history, science and math.
The 8th Graders are discussing the elements of a poem
Above: Trever Zelenka and James Becker
Middle photo: Macy Due and Peytan Brandt
Bottom photo: Mitchell Manning, Colton Bossaller, & Spencer Pribyl
From Earth Science (p. 272)
“If you ever look at a map of Earth’s surface, you can see
that the edges of some continents look as though they could fit together like a
puzzle. Other people also have noticed this fact. For example, Dutch mapmaker
Abraham Ortelius noted the fit between the coastlines of South America and
Africa more than 400 years ago.”
The Earth’s Surface
By Colton Bossaller
If you ever look
at a map of Earth’s surface,
you can see
that the edges of some continents
look as though they could fit together
like a puzzle.
Other people also have noticed this fact.
For example,
Dutch mapmaker Abraham Ortelius
noted the fit
between the coastlines
of South America
and Africa more than 400 years ago.
From United States History (p. 426)
“Many enslaved Africans found comfort in their community and
culture. They made time for social activity, even after exhausting workdays, in
order to relieve the hardship of their lives.”
Slavery
By Macy Due
Many enslaved Africans found comfort
in their community and culture
They made time for social activity,
even after exhausting workdays ,
in order to relieve the hardship of their lives
Two other
forms of free verse, that give us a visual picture of people, places, things,
or ideas are Acrostic and Concrete poems.
Acrostic Poems
Trever Zelenka
TAZ
REARRANGES HIS
ENTIRE
VOCABULARY
EVERY TIME HE
READS
Kate
Janske
Kool, is
Awesome, and
Thinks a lot and
is
Entertaining
Concrete Poems
Jesus has
risen, come
out and listen
to a tale of the
son of God. He
suffered and struggled, but he didn’t rebuttal
to the crowds shrieks and cries. He knew it was
coming, and he knew his cause, and he didn’t accept
any applause.
He was slain
and died in vain,
And for many days
was dead, with
his family in dread,
for they didn’t know
what would happen.
For many days he
was in the tomb, but
alleluia, he was gone
gone from his room!
ALLELUIA HE IS
RISEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
RISEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(By Nick Hyak)
A
Star
Shines
bright
Through
the night
A
beautiful creation
That
stuns the nations
Stars
look so simple from the distance, so delicate, so small
But they
are really very complex, and not tiny at all
Most
people look up at stars so high above
People
study and admire, with love
They wish
upon a star, hopefully
Everyone
wants it to come true, if only
I hope,
desperately hope, day and night
One
wish come true makes all things right
Stars
don’t do harm to anyone or anything
In fact,
much joy do
they seem to bring
Stars
make up
beautiful
constellations
They are
the
beautiful
creations
Shooting
stars
fly
Through
the
sky
Make a
wish
on a
star
.
.
(By Caitlin Murphy)
