Grade 8
60 Minutes
Poetry
VideosSOEUN LEE spends most of her time writing but when she isn’t, you can find her reading with newly released books from the library or designing paper dolls. She hopes that her poem expresses the idea that it’s okay to feel alone because there are times that one fails. That doesn’t mean that you should give up. Soeun believes that everyone should rise from the ground and try even harder as the cycle repeats itself, over and over.
Congratulations to 826 Digital Writers’ Showcase Finalist, Soeun Lee! Watch her video and see the lesson below to learn how you can play with form to create your own concrete poem. Read more about Soeun and the other finalists at www.826national.org/826-digital-writers-showcase-2023-finalists
STEP 1
Concrete poems rely on both visual effects and the language to convey meaning in a poem. Watch the video and follow along with the Mentor Text on pages 1-2 of the Concrete Poems — Handout. After you finish the video, answer this question in your writing journal: “What do you already know about the shape or the form of a poem? Make your best guess about what those terms mean, if they are brand new to you.”
STEP 2
In poetry, shape refers to the way the lines of the poem are arranged. In concrete, or shape, poetry, the lines of the poem form a recognizable shape, like a star or a flower.
Form can also refer to the literal shape of the poem, but it can mean the rhyme scheme, repetition, or the length of a poem’s lines.
Read these 2 examples...
by Soeun Lee, Grade 8, Tenafly, New Jersey
In this poem, a student observes a dove's flight and reflects on their ability to soar.
by 826 National, featuring Priyanna Kumar Singhania, Grade 8
In this lesson, you will write down a story that’s been passed down to you, using precise words and phrases and sensory language, to convey a vivid picture of the event.
by Amanda Gorman
Presidential Inaugural Poet, activist, and bestselling author Amanda Gorman shares one of her favorite techniques for starting a poem or getting over writers' block.
by Jason Reynolds
National Ambassador for Young People's Literature and NYT Bestselling Author, Jason Reynolds, joined 826 students for a conversation on his video project, "For Every One."
by Emily Harding
Author and TV producer, Emily Harding shows side characters some love in this writing prompt.
by 826 National
Author Carter Higgins reads "Pickup Lines Cheesier Than Cheddar," a piece written by fifth-grader Uma (826NYC).
by Javier Zamora, 826 Valenica alumni and New York Times bestselling author
Author Javier Zamora invites you to raise your voice and write to the next President of the United States.
by 826 National
Writer and 826michigan staffer, Eli Sparkman, shares stories about some of his favorite personal objects and encourages students to write down their own.
by Charlotte Yeung
Midwest Youth Poet Laureate Ambassador, Charlotte Yeung, shares one of her favorite brainstorming strategies for creating a new piece.
by 826 National
Author Tom Perrotta reads "Peter, Who Went on the Best Adventure Ever." In this lesson, you will learn about 3 shapes that will help the events of your story unfold naturally.
by 826 National
In this lesson, you will learn a strategy for writing down your thoughts and feelings to understand them more clearly.
by Daniel Handler
Author Daniel Handler, aka Lemony Snicket, shows there are no limits to imagination with this interviewing activity.
by 826 National
Award-winning documentarian and journalist, Soledad O'Brien, shares why she loves her job and how she builds credibility in the field through thorough research.
by Mayra Cuevas
Imagine a spaceship lands in your school courtyard: what happens next? In this lesson, you will use a simple strategy to develop events of a narrative in a natural, logical, and exciting way.
by Amanda Dettmann, 826NYC
Poet and teaching artist with 826NYC, Amanda Dettmann, shares a simple and fun writing prompt that asks the question, "How Did You Get There?"
by 826 National, featuring Kaiden Griggs, Grade 6
In this lesson, students will identify the main idea and supporting details of an informational text and summarize this idea objectively.
by Mayra Cuevas
Have you ever read a book that you couldn’t put down because you needed to find out what happened? In this lesson, you will learn how to draw your reader in with a dramatic question.
by Tony Weaver, Jr., educator and author of the graphic novel Weirdo
Author and educator Tony Weaver, Jr. invites students in grades 5—12 to explore science fiction with different writing prompts that invite them to build new worlds and reimagine what's possible.
by Cristeta Boarini, 826 MSP
Journalist and 826 MSP staffer, Cristeta Boarini, shares a poetry prompt that walks students through using shapes to convey meaning.
by Mac Barnett
Mac Barnett, a New York Times-bestselling author of stories for children, illustrates how to end a story...or not.
by Mayra Cuevas
Fictional stories can be enriched by concrete details from your own personal experiences. In this lesson, you will write a story that is inspired by the things and the people that you love.
by 826 National
In this lesson, you will build your confidence as a writer by battling the page on a consistent basis.
by Mychal Threets, librarian and literacy ambassador
Librarian, literacy ambassador, and new host of Reading Rainbow Mychal Threets invites you to write about your feelings, your way with four writing prompts to explore your emotions on the page.
by Sarah Richman, 826DC
Writer and staffer at 826DC, Sarah Richman, shares an original writing prompt that will help you get acquainted with your new characters.
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