Looking for a fun activity for April's National Poetry Month? Spine Label Poetry is an unintimidating way to let students express their creativity. While they browse the library shelves, they may even discover a book to check out!
Assure your librarian that the process won't be messy. During the first week of April, I do this activity with periods one, three, five, and seven. The following week, I work with students during periods two, four, and six.
- Get two pieces each of several different colors of construction paper. Keep one of each color intact and make five shelf markers out of the second sheet of each color.
- Assign each student (or group) a color. Let them know their poem may consist of the titles of three to five books.
- As they choose each book, they put a shelf marker (made in step 1) in its place for easy cleanup.
- Students stack their selected books on an intact sheet of paper of the corresponding color to make a "poem.
- Take pictures of the poems to print or share online.
- Reshelve the books. This is quick and easy because of the color-coordinated system.
