Blackout Poetry

Where did Blackout Poetry come from?

• Librarian love stacks of new and shiny books!• Books wear out and fall

apart over time • How to give these books

new life? • Repurpose & Reuse!• Poetry pages are from

books that would otherwise have ended up in the trash

Resource: https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/blog-posts/john-depasquale/blackout-poetry/

How do I do it?Find the words hidden in the page of text to magically create a poem. That poem is already there, waiting for you to find it! Randomness is part of the fun! Make it scary, funny, serious, lighthearted….your poem is waiting for you Blackout poetry is all about deconstruction and reconstruction. Let’s get started….

Directions:• Step 1: Scan the page first. Keep an eye out for “anchor words” (the

ones that stand out to you because of their significance or meaning). Starting with an anchor word helps you imagine a theme for your poem.• Step 2: Now read the page entirely. Use a pencil to lightly circle

words that connect to your anchor word/resonate with you. Avoid circling 3 words in a row.• Step 3: List all the circled words on a separate paper if needed (in

their order in the text). Some words will make the cut and others will be discarded. Select only the words that will make your final poem.

• Step 4: Return to your text page and circle your final word choices. Erase any pencil circles from words you won’t be using.

• Step 5: Add an illustration/design/pattern to the page that connects to your poem. Be very careful not to draw over the circled words you selected for your final poem!