Video Poems

Recently I participated in an online webinar through ISTE about Video Poems. The presenter, Tim Needles explained what exactly Video Poems are and how you can easily implement them in your classroom. Here’s a quick overview:

Tim’s suggestions in the webinar focused on using original or already composed poetry and setting them to images, video, and music. Here are some of the examples he gave that can be used not only with the specific study of poetry, but also in Social Studies, Psychology, Communications, and other subject areas and topics.

Lesson Ideas

1. 4 Frame Poems

2. Use 4 photos to inspire the writing

3. Write a short poem story and add words to the images

4. Share the work with the #4framepoem hashtag

5. Video Haiku

6. Write a series of haiku poems (a japanese form – 3 sentences 5 syllables/7syllables/5syllables

7. Film video that corresponds with the haiku and overlay text

8. share the work with the #videohaiku hashtag

9. Typography Poem

10. Write/Use a short piece using any form

11. Make the text itself into art with creative typography (it can be on paper then filmed or using an app or program).

12. Edit the words and phrases together with audio and/or music for impact.

13. Share the work with #motiongraphics

14. Live Action Poems

15. Write/Use a short piece using any form

16. Film the author reciting it in an interesting way or videos that correspond with a voice over of the writing.

17. Edit the piece and add audio or music.

18. Share the work with #videopoem on social media

19. Pixilation Poems

20. Write/Use a short piece using any form

21. Use stop-motion animation to create imagery that pairs with the film (it can be text or live action).

22. Edit the film and add audio and/or music.

23. Share the work with #videopoem on social media

24. Animated Poems

25. Write/Use a short piece using any form.

26. Draw or digitally create an animation to that pairs with the film (it can be text or live action).

27. Edit the film and add audio and/or music.

28. Share the work with #videopoem on social media.

Tim also mentioned that educators should keep in mind that creating video poems should be FUN! Video poems can be on a variety of topics; hope, society, politics, peace, religion, war, ethics, justice, and identity. He also recommend that if you interested in exploring this further, to check out Lawrence Ferlinghetti and Leonard Cohen. Another great resource to explore is the United States of Poetry. As you can imagine, video poems can be “out of the box”, so be sure to preview the poems and video poems you might share with students as examples ahead of time.

Sharing Poems

Sharing is caring! Find an opportunity to share your students’ work once they’ve created it. Some ideas to share are:

1. April is National Poetry Month

2. Social Media (twitter, Bloomz, Seesaw, etc.)

3. Art Installations/Shows

4. Learning Showcases

Here is a link to the recorded webinar and below are the slides from the presentation.