Last week our gifted students in grades 4-6 went on a field trip that incorporated three activities. Each teacher’s group rotated through practicing for the Shadows Christmas play, visiting the Bayou Teche Museum, and going on a Poetry Walk.
The Poetry Walk took students through a sculpture garden, bayou side boardwalk, and a pocket park called Church Alley. I wanted the students to experience each space in a unique way. For the sculpture garden, we wrote a simple free verse poem of 15 words or less, along the boardwalk, a haiku form that reflected the theme of nature, and in the alley, a mask poem written in the voice of someone from the past.
At the museum, we learned interesting facts about the Bayou Teche and the founding of New Iberia. Frederick Duperier, a founding father, wanted a pathway from his home to the church, and later, the alley was used by nuns who lived in Mount Carmel, the Duperier’s former home.
Here’s a sampling of poems from my students.
Bayou Teche, a snake
Breighlynn, Bayou Teche haiku
slithering its way past us.
The Teche silent still.
Walking through an alley
Breighlynn, Church Alley
a very dark, dark alley
to be lit up by
a beautiful church.
The dark dirt
of the alley
much darker than I thought
but a bit brighter
from my very own steps.
The nuns, somber and solemn,
Madison, Church Alley septercet
pass silently by my form.
They are hope, in a dark world.
eyes big
Landon, Sculpture poem
nose as big as an elephant
peeper sees everything
no matter mouse or bug
On the Bayou Teche
Maddox, Bayou haiku
pelican in the distance
lily pads floating
We celebrated these small poems with sharing time after each writing time. The students cheered for each other and enjoyed being poets paying attention to common places. Each poem was unique. The whole walk took about an hour with 20 minutes in each site. I recommend creating a poetry walk for your next field trip.
Reflections on the Teche 
What a wonderful field trip opportunity! You have me wondering if there’s any way to incorporate poetry in our museum field work in the spring. (Of course there is!) I so enjoyed reading the student’s poems and especially loved this line…” a bit brighter/from my very own steps.”
Mmm… I’m already thinking about what to do with poetry when I get my new classes in February. Obviously I’ll weave it through all the time, but I also really want to use your book and the idea of poetry of place. A poetry walk sounds like another good addition. I really enjoy reading your students’ poems. And is Madison the young writer I remember from last year? If so, tell her I still remember her words.
I love the idea of having students connect with a place through poetry. Very cool idea, Margaret. I plan to try this out with my students! Also, I love the last line of the poem about the nuns. Beautiful! – Krista, Lit Coach Connection
I love the idea of having students connect with a place through poetry. Very cool idea, Margaret. I plan to try this out with my students! Also, I love the last line of the poem about the nuns. Beautiful! – Krista
Margaret,
I’d love to know more about this. If you ever have the time, can you write about what you said and how you set the kids up to write such successful poetry. I want to take my students on a poetry walk now but I’d love for you to teach me more about the steps to take. Thanks for sharing your students’ amazing poems!