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Poets and Wordplay



It is important to create a sense of wonder around words. Ralph Fletcher refers to deliberate playfulness with language to create a particular kind of effect. I agree. Wordplay is critical to feeling comfortable with language in general and poetry in particular.
Here are a few ideas to get the word fun started:


Poets try to see ordinary things in extraordinary ways

*Describe a pair of dirty,worn out sneakers
They look like.....
They smell like.....
They feel like.....
They remind me of.....

What don’t you want to be doing tomorrow ?
What don’t you want to be doing next week ?
What don’t you want to be doing when you grow up ?

Word gatherers    - collect words...poets need them
Words which sound like noises  (onomatopoeia  )
buzz
plop
quack
twang
whizz
splat
bong

Words which sound good
hubbub
giggle
gingerly
agog
billabong
skedaddle
gongoozle 

Words which are made up:
esky
elbonics
tetramangulation
woos

Alliteration:
When poets use a string of words which 
begin the same letter we call it alliteration

 Awfully angry ants
Badly baked biscuits
Cold ,crumbly cake
Dreadfully daggy denims
Eerie,evil   _______
Fine feathered_______
Great green________
Huge Hairy________
Inconsiderate, insolent______

Describe an imaginary animal without saying what it is

*Cautionary Tales:

Consider what might happen to a child who:
-refuses to get dressed
-is continually rude to people
-keeps on smashing everyone else's toys

Supermarket Rush

Name foods
Create a busy rushing rhythm
Trolley whooshing
We are pushing...



...Write a spell to make your teacher smile at you

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