Whimsical Words: Playing With Poetry the Shel Silverstein Way
In this playful poetry class, young writers will explore silly stories, wild rhymes, and curious characters as they read and create poems inspired by the beloved author of Where the Sidewalk Ends and A Light in the Attic, Shel Silverstein.
Miss Nikki
Average rating:
5.0
Number of reviews:(2)
New on Outschool
What's included
6 live meetings
4 in-class hoursClass Experience
US Grade 4 - 7
Beginner Level
📖Welcome to the wacky, wonderful world of Shel Silverstein! From talking animals 😹to impossible inventions,🤖 this class invites kids to stretch their imaginations, laugh out loud, and craft their very own poetry book filled with heart, humor, and a whole lot of creativity! 📔 *This class is really fun and creative, even for kids who have no interest in poetry! It's an easy way to learn something without feeling like you are learning! It's full of laughter and goofy conversations. The poems themselves are hilarious, but also thought-provoking. The pictures are comical as well. We will be using the Socratic Method to reflect on Shel's work during class. This class isn't meant to be an English class with grades. It's to encourage creative expression and personal interpretation of written work. You don't need to have perfect spelling and punctuation here. You don't even need to have ever written anything before at all! Learning should be about enjoyment and curiosity. Come join me for an easy A+!* 😁🅰️➕ Weekly Breakdown: Week 1: Welcome to the World of Shel! Read: Selected poems from Where the Sidewalk Ends Activity: "Silly Self-Portrait" poem and doodle Skill Focus: Rhyming and rhythm 🎵 Week 2: Wacky Words & Rhyme Time Read: “Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout” Activity: Create a poem using a rhyming word bank Skill Focus: Wordplay and exaggeration 🎈 Week 3: Crazy Characters & Wild Tales Read: “The Meehoo with an Exactlywatt” Activity: Invent your own imaginary character Skill Focus: Character development and storytelling 🐙 Week 4: Drawing with Words Read: Visual poems and silly sketches Activity: Write a shape poem and illustrate it Skill Focus: Visual imagery and layout ✨ Week 5: Real Feelings, Silverstein Style Read: “Masks” and other thoughtful poems Activity: Write an emotional poem using metaphor Skill Focus: Expressing emotion through poetry ❤️ Week 6: Build Your Book & Poetry Showcase! Activity: Compile and decorate poetry books Share: Students read favorite poems aloud Celebration: Virtual poetry picnic! (with snacks!) 🧺
Learning Goals
Identify elements of Shel Silverstein's poetic style ✏️Use rhyme, rhythm, and figurative language in their own writing 🧠
Other Details
Supply List
Lined Paper (or computer is fine) Printer paper Printer/ink Pencil/pen black marker Coloring supplies
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Joined February, 2025
5.0
2reviews
New on Outschool
Teacher expertise and credentials
Shel Silverstein was my absolute favorite poet when I was a child. I would read his work in my bedroom, curled up under the blanket and giggle or cry until my parents would knock and ask if I was okay, lol. He was my first introduction to poetry, and I just fell in love with his work. I love to share that special gift with today's kids now that I'm grown. I've collected his books over the years and shared them with my own four homeschooled children, ages 4 through 17. :-) I hope to see your kiddo in class.Reviews
Live Group Class
$13
weekly1x per week, 6 weeks
40 min
Live video meetings
Ages: 9-13
2-6 learners per class
