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I know the importance of reading nonfiction texts with my students; however, I am not a fan of assigning an essay after every reading, especially in December. I wanted my students to think critically about the text, to absorb it fully, and to demonstrate comprehension. So I turned to the found poem.
To write a found poem, the writer must make decisions about which text to keep and connect to. This requires critical thinking skills. For a found poem to work, the words and phrases need to be placed creatively.
We read “Shattered Sky”, a narrative nonfiction story in the November issue of Scope magazine published by Scholastic. In this story, my students read about a little known disaster in Halifax Harbor in 1917, one hundred years ago. They were fascinated. The author of the text, Kristin Lewis used craft moves to heighten the emotions of the story. I instructed my students to underline phrases and words that brought about an emotional response.
When we had written and were sharing our writing, Faith said, “I am amazed at how different everyone’s poem is.” And she was right. Each one was different. Each student had found a unique voice. Each poem reflected a different aspect of the article.
When Andrew posted his poem on our blog, he titled it “I like this poem, so you should.” Mason thought it was the best poem he’d ever written.
This exercise of finding a poem gave my students confidence to recognize craft moves as well as create a unique piece of nonfiction poetry.
Poem for Halifax
December 6th
They ring a bell
The image they see
They want to repelChildren getting ready, grabbing their schoolbooks,
Fathers, ready to work, grab their coats, off the hook.
Dartmouth and Halifax, buzzing with activity,
while mothers make oatmeal, hot and ready.Two boats, Mont-Blanc and the Imo
With explosives and munitions, ready to blow.
There was no saving them, as far as we know.
Neither ship changed course and tore into the other and
put on a dangerous light showOrange and blue fire ignited the boats
People rushed to rescue, thought they could help.
They succeeded but some retreated up.Andrew, 5th grade
Shattered
The water had a thin mist of terror of WWI
The chimney swirled of smoke and ash
The people of Halifax were doing their everyday things
From eating to cooking and going to work
Then a sudden rumble and crackle of the two ships of cargo collide
They rush outside as every thing burst into flames and then boom
A sad tragedy will forever live in our hearts.
Mason, 5th grade
See more found poems at our Kidblog site.
Reflections on the Teche 
I just cannot say enough good things about this post. As a poet, I enjoy how “finding” poems helps me see nuances and details of a text in a way that I would not if I was simply reading. As a teacher, I love, love, love seeing the engagement of students with this text. Bravo to all!
What a brilliant idea – and I’ve never thought of it before! I’m so going to try it. Thank you! Ruth, thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com
What a terrific way to get your students to read closely and make the narrative their own–which clearly they did!
It’s a thrilling use of mentor texts, isn’t it? The students can find the words from the author that most touch them, and claim them for a special poem. They’re great, Margaret!
Your two students both offer us different perspectives on this same tragic piece of history. Two keen perceptions on what occurred–sounds like they really took away a lot from the process too. Thanks for sharing their poetry and what you did with them Margaret!
I love this idea of using nonfiction in a new way, it helps keep things fresh for both students and teachers! It’s also nice to blur the lines that are put up between poetry and other subjects/styles – poetry can be written about just about anything!
Found poetry is such a creative, engaging way to respond to nonfiction. Great post, Margaret!
I continue to learn from you! (And I’ll say it again — you have lucky students!!)
Powerful poems, what a clever form. What a great teacher you are. Happy Holidays.
Wow! The student poets are really on to something. I’ve been in a museum about that event in Halifax, and it was very moving. Well done!
Such thoughtful poetry from your students and their teacher. I remember reading a book (probably one of the Young Hoosier nominees years ago) about the Halifax disaster. The images have stuck with me, and these poems echo the disaster the struck without warning.
Fascinating and gorgeous. I’m excited to get back to school to finish up our habitat brochures (grasslands, rain forest, temperate forest, coral reef) with some poems crafted of the information we researched.
I’d be interested to know your definition of “found poem”–I think it might be different than mine. Happy merry and bright to you, Margaret!
When I explain a found poem to my kids, I tell them to collect lines and phrases from the article and reconstruct them into a poem. Of course, they ask if they can add in their own words, so I allow for that. Andrew crafted a rhyming poem, so most of his lines were of his creation.