Multimedia Poetry Resources to Enrich Student Learning and Creativity
Amanda Gorman made history as America's First Youth Poet Laureate and read her poem "The Hill We Climb" at Joe Biden's Presidential Inauguration.
Learn more about Amanda Gorman by reading this story by Shannon Luders-Manuel.
Listen to Amanda Gorman reciting "The Hill We Climb".
Audio of The Hill We Climb "For there was always light. If only we're brave enough to see it. If only we're brave enough to be it."
Classroom Activity - Poetic Cinema - How Would You Illustrate a Poem
The following films celebrate poetic cinema. Films and poetry have a connection because of their use of images, sound, and time. As you watch these films made by both professionals and high school students, consider the techniques used by filmmakers to bring out these elements in poetry. After viewing these films, students will be inspired by a wide variety of poetic cinema examples.
This can serve as a springboard to assign students the task of illustrating a poem. Giving them the choice to write an original poem and then illustrate it, or find an existing poem that they love and illustrate that.
Taft High School student, Matthew Marroquin, takes on the task of illustrating this poem by Robert Frost.
Taft High School student, Deana Saito, creates a beautiful visual expression of the poem by William Wordsworth.
1. Which of these films evoked the most emotion in you? Why?
2. What cinematic techniques might be useful for evoking emotion?
3. How do the images used in these illustrated poems strengthen the meaning of the poem? How do they lessen it?
4. Is poetry visual by nature? Are some poems a stronger choice for illustrating with visuals? Why?
5. How have the filmmakers emphasized the story of the poem?
6. If you were to illustrate a poem, which poem would you choose? Why? How would you approach a project like this?
7. Illustrate your favorite poem or an original poem.
Students are encouraged to illustrate one of their favorite poems or an original poem through film. Then use the MY HERO Create Program to submit.
Films | Poetry Recitals
David Milch Reads The Eulogy of Wild Bill Hickok from Deadwood at The MY HERO Project's 2015 Jazz and Poetry Salon.
New Visions Foundation founder, Paul Cummins, reads Robert Frost at the MY HERO poetry and jazz SALON 4/18/13.
Olivia Milch Reads Wild Geese by Mary Oliver at The MY HERO Project's 2015 Jazz and Poetry Salon.
Students are encouraged to read aloud an original poem or a favorite poem and film the poetry reading to submit to MY HERO through the Create Program.
Classes are encouraged to have a Poetry Salon with students reading original or favorite poems and filming the event to share with MY HERO.
Additional examples of MY HERO Poetry on Screen - Celebrating Poetry in Film
The MY HERO Project is inviting you to submit a video of yourself reading a poem that speaks to this new era we are in. It can be poetry of dissent, poetry of resistance or poetry that lifts us up to face these times. It can be feminist, inclusive or humorous. It can be a song. If you are a more ambitious filmmaker, The MY HERO Project is adding a new prize to The MY HERO International Film Festival, Poetry on Screen. The award will honor a filmmaker for the best translation of poetry to film.
Students are invited to submit their poems to the Mattie J. T. Stepanek Poetry contest. Deadline is May 1.
High School Student Dylan Rock's hero is poet Matsuo Bashō. Read his hero story and his original poems inspired by Bashō.
Dylan Rock writes his own haiku about and inspired by Matsuo Bashō.
A student from Rush-Henrietta writes about his poet hero Matsuo Bashō, who is considered the best master of haiku.
Celebrate and Learn about Poets with Hero Essays, Artwork, Short Films and Audio
After students complete their poetry unit, they are encouraged to learn more about their favorite poet and share his/her story with MY HERO using the Create Program.
Mattie Stepanek
Learn about young Poet and Peacemaker Hero Mattie Stepanek. Mattie’s poems of peace and hope have touched millions of lives; his heartsongs will continue to reach people of all ages around the world for decades to come.
Mattie Stepanek: For Our World Mattie's poems of peace and hope have touched millions of lives.
Collage painting of Mattie Stepanek with his dog, Micah, donated to the 2006 Heartsongs Gala, an annual event held in Mattie's honor.
Mattie Stepanek is a hero to people of all ages around the world. [This story is also available in Spanish and French.]
Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou is a beloved female author and poet.
Langston Hughes
Langston Hughes was an American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist from Joplin, Missouri.
Ilse Bing
Ilse Bing was a remarkable poet and photographer whose works withstand the test of time.
Ilse Bing Self Portrait: Still the "Queen of the Leica"
Edna St. Vincent Millay was a popular and critically acclaimed poet.
Dylan Thomas
Learn more about Dylan Thomas, an important Welsh poet of the 20th century.
Emily Barasch Reads Fern Hill by Dylan Thomas at The MY HERO Project's 2015 Jazz and Poetry Salon.
Phillis Wheatley was the first distinguished African-American poet. Story has text with audio so students can listen as they read along.
Walt Whitman
Story has text with audio so students can listen as they read along.
Students are encouraged to write a story about or create a portrait of a favorite poet to submit to MY HERO through the Create Program.
Artists portray their favorite poet heroes.
"And, as imagination bodies forth
The forms of things unknown, the poet's pen
Turns them to shapes, and gives to airy nothing
A local habitation and a name."
~ William Shakespeare
How to use MY HERO's Create Program to Publish Poetry, Stories, Art, Film and Audio For Students
How to use MY HERO's Create Program to Publish Stories, Art, Film and Audio for Students
Tutorial for students: Publish written stories, film, original artwork and audio in MY HERO's multimedia library.
Outstanding essays submitted to MY HERO will be considered for a certificate/t-shirt prize or be featured on the Story Homepage.
Submit your artwork to be entered in the MY HERO art contest or to be exhibited on our Gallery Homepage.
Students can submit their films for free with a waiver to the MY HERO International Film Festival.
For Additional Resources and Lesson Plans, Go to the MY HERO Lesson Plan Center
Learn about a New Hero Every Day of the Year: Use the MY HERO Calendar in the Classroom
Organizer created on 3/15/2021 4:15:43 PM by Laura Nietzer
Last edited 6/25/2024 10:32:05 AM by Laura Nietzer
