Road Trip Activities for the Car: Poetry Writing

Written by Carly Hallman

Poetry is perhaps the most misunderstood type of writing. It’s not something that only intellectuals enjoy, and it’s not something that only geniuses can create. Poetry is everywhere, even in the music people play in the car. After all, what are lyrics but a type of poetry set to music? Of course, some poetry is better than others, and most people who want to write poetry want to write good poetry. Luckily, through reading and practice, it’s possible to pick up the basics of poetry writing and start honing your craft. It’s also possible to work with kids so they can start developing their own voice and learn how to express themselves through the medium.

Poetry Writing Basics

• The first step in becoming a poet is to learn from the best. It’s important to read a diverse range of poets, from cannon staples like W.B. Yeats to more modern voices like Gwendolyn Brooks. Doing so allows readers to soak in the wide range of types of poetry, poetic devices, and ways in which words can be used to set a tone or paint a picture.
• People tend to think that all poetry rhymes. Shel Silverstein was a master of rhyming poetry, but other very successful poets invert traditional rhyming schemes or discard them altogether. For example, Robert Frost often wrote in blank verse.
• Rhyming is optional, but all poems need a rhythm. Without rhythm, poetry becomes prose with awkward line breaks. It is poetry’s rhythmic nature that sets it apart. When read aloud, poetry should have a specific cadence. However, that cadence doesn’t have to follow iambic pentameter or some other established scheme, as long as there’s a flow to the words.
• The theme of the poem is far more important than the rhyming structure used. Form should follow function, even in poetry. The poetic devices used should support the writer in exploring the theme of the poem.
• Experiment with many different types of poetry. Most writers have a form that comes easily to them and that they enjoy writing, but it’s important to keep trying new things.
• Writing, like any other skill, requires practice. Devoting regular time to writing is the best way to become a better poet.

Poetry Writing Resources

• What Is Poetry? Poetry encompasses many different styles, including ones that intended to be spoken and heard instead of read.
• Kids’ Poems: How to Introduce Poetry to Elementary School Children: Kids, like all other potential writers, need to be exposed to reading poems before they can start crafting their own.
• Nine Different Types of Poetry: One great poetry-based activity for kids is reading different kinds of poetry to see which they like best.
• The Kids Are All Write: How to Write a Poem: The entire poetry-writing process is broken down in a way kids can easily grasp here.
• Poetry-Writing Lessons for Kids: There are many different types of poems, and these bite-size lessons explain how each type of poem is constructed.
• Seven Types of Poetry for Kids (With Examples and Tasks): The major types of poetry, including narrative and limericks, are defined here, and ideas are given for letting kids start working on creating poems of each type.
• Teach Your Child How to Write a Haiku: Haikus are short, which makes them perfect for an on-the-go poetry-writing session.
• Easy Poetry Activities for Kids: Write a Spine Poem: Kids can learn how to draw inspiration from everyday objects when they create a poem by stacking books.
• Writing a Color Poem: Let the colors of the cars on the road inspire this poetry activity that’s great for younger kids on a road trip.
• If You Give a Child a Word: Spoken Art: Children perform spoken word pieces inspired by a single word they were given in this video.
• What Is Slam Poetry? Slam poetry is a form of poetry that’s meant to be performed.
• How to Write Poetry: 11 Rules for Poetry-Writing Beginners: People new to writing poetry will understand the process better after they learn about these 11 basic rules.
• How to Write Poetry: Poetry can be complex and erudite or simple and based on everyday things. Try these prompts to see what you come up with.
• How to Improve Your Poetry Skills: One of the best ways to write better poems is by writing them regularly. Like with any skill, practice can help you to improve!
• Seven Ingredients You Need to Consider When Writing Poetry: Message and point of view are two of the things authors need to decide on when constructing a poem.
• Top Ten Tips for Being a Successful Poet: Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom Sir Andrew Motion shares advice for poets on this page.
• Poetry-Writing Hacks: Ten Tips for How to Write a Poem: Writers should start by figuring out what they want to accomplish with their poems.
• The Eight Signs You’ve Written a Good Poem: It can be difficult for anyone to correctly judge the quality of their poetry.
• Poetry-Writing Advice and Insight from Famous Poets: Borrow some tips from other poets to help refine your own style.
• Journaling and Poetry: An effective method for poets to find their voices is by journaling regularly.
• Poetic Devices: Poetry is an art form, but there are technical aspects involved in crafting good poems.
• Five Spoken-Word Poems to Listen to Today: Spoken word is a vital type of poetry and one that’s easy to use when creating poetry with children on a car trip.
• Five Tips on Spoken-Word Poetry: Spoken-word poetry still uses poetry conventions like theme and choosing the devices that support the writer’s goals for the poem.
• Why You Should Use Symbolism in Your Writing: Symbolism plays an important role in both prose and poetry.
• Rhyme Scheme: Rhyming is one of the aspects of poetry many people struggle with when they begin writing. Understanding how rhyme schemes fit together can help remove some of the mystery from using rhyming in poetry.