Want to know how to create a poem in a creative way? Try transforming printed pages into your own poetry!
Plan
- What types and styles of poems do you know?
- What are important features of successful poems?
- Do you have access to printed newspapers or old books?
- Do you have other materials like a black permanent marker, lead pencil and coloured pencils/textas/watercolour paints etc.?
- What’s the recipe for creating a blackout poem?
- Do you need technical help from someone else?
- Who will you need help from?
Do
- Have a look at some previously created blackout poems to get an idea of what you’ll be creating: Blackout Poetry Examples
- Choose a page from the newspaper or old book.
- With a lead pencil, circle any words that stand out to you or work well together.
- Of the circled words, is there a theme or key message emerging?
- Write the words out on a separate piece of paper – does it all make sense? Add/erase words to make sure it works.
- Draw a box around the words you are keeping.
- Blackout all other words with the permanent marker. OR you may like to draw an image that relates to the theme of your poem – using the image you draw/paint to block out all the words not included in your poem.
Review
- Review your finished blackout poem to check you like the poem you have created.
- Share your poem with family and friends; you could read it out and show it over a Zoom meeting.
- You could frame your poem and set it up in your room or special spot at home.
- Perhaps you enjoyed this so much you’d like to make more?
- What skills did you learn during this activity?
- Could you teach someone else what you’ve learnt.
