Discovering Poetry Project Resources & Information
The Scottish Poetry Library
The Scottish Poetry Library is a useful source of support and assisted with the development of the The Discovering Poetry Project. They branches throughout the country in public libraries in Elgin, Glasgow, Grangemouth, Stornoway, and the Scottish Borders. Of particular importance is their children's section which provides a large amount of printed support material. The library also produces printed literature featuring lesson plans which can be used as the basis for creative writing lessons, and information about local poets who have experience conducting poetry workshops in schools. The SPL is an important and valuable source of support when teaching with this program
Contact: 5 Chrichton Close, Canongate,Edinburgh, EH8 8DT, Tel: 0131 557 2876
www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk
Opening times: Mon to Fri 11.00 to 18.00 Sat 12.00 to 16.00
Scottish Book Trust,
Scottish Book Centre, 137 Dundee St,
Edinburgh, EH11 1BG Tel: 0131 229 3663
Scots Language Centre
The Poetry Library
Royal Festival Hall, South Bank Centre
London SE1 8XX
020 7921 0943
www.nationalpoetrylibrary.org.uk
Kenn Nesbitt's Poetry Playground is a fun & interesting site which deals solely with children's poetry.
Here you will find lots of funny poems and poetry books for children, games, contests, lessons, discussion forums,
and journals, plus a rhyming dictionary, funny poetry podcast, school visit information and lots more.
Book references
The Alphabet of the Trees - A Guide to Nature Writing, by Christian McEwan and Mark Statman.
Sharing Poems by Bob Bibby and Sue Priest published by NATE. This book is a learning resource full of poems and activities.
The poems are drawn from a wide range of contemporary and traditional sources and thestructure is intended to provide teachers with three sets of poems andrelated materials for each term in Year 3 to Year 6. It links closely withthe text level requirements for poetry in the National Literacy Strategy at Key Stage 2 and is equally suited to use in Primary 3-7 classes in Scotland. In particular it contains writing, reading, speaking and listening activities on sense, and shape, concrete poems, performance poetry, word puzzles and humorous poetry, school poems, poems about feelings, haiku,cinquains, epitaphs, kennings, limericks and riddles. www.nate.org.uk Sharing Poems also comes on CD and cassette and can be photocopied.
Exploring Poetry 5 -8, by Jan Balaam and Brian Merrick
This book has Grown out of two years' shared work in the author's classroom and includes many poems including detailed suggestions
on how to use them and a includes a comprehensive book list. www.nate.org.uk
Exploring Poetry 8-13, by Brian Merrick
This book further develops ideas from the previous book. www.nate.org.uk
Poetry for the Early Years, by Angela Buckle Published by PCET wallcharts developed in collaboration with NATE.
Published by David Fulton. This comprises eight poetry posters providing a visual starting point for the class. They are accompanied by a guide for teachers which covers the main teaching points, activities are provided for each poem and copies of the poems which can be duplicated for pupils.
Rap It Up, by James Carter and published by Questions Publishing Company (2000)
This is designed for use within the Literacy Hour at KS2, in Primary 3-7 inScotland. The book consists of an anthology of rap poems, together with advice for teachers on reading, writing and performing raps, activity sheets and suggestions for workshops. Rap poems by a variety of authors are included. The raps represent a range of voices, tones and subject areas. They will provide teachers with many opportunities to use poems as models, to explore the form and content of rap poetry and to develop pupils' performance and accompaniment skills.
Mini Beasties, by Michael Rosen published by Firefly Books.
This is a witty anthology of poems from around the world, combined with illustration which brings the 'beasties', to life.
We Animals would like a word with you, by John Agard published by Random House Children's Books Again,
similar to the above combining poetry and illustration.
Exploring Scottish Seashores, by John Baxter and Fhiona Galloway.
Environmental awareness for children