Why is spoken poetry awesome?

PRE‐CLASS ACTIVITIES
1. Complete the sentences with the correct body parts.

fingers hair hands knees knees nose tongue

a) He looked even more handsome when he tossed his hair.

b) After the performance the audience clapped their hands.
c) I hate presenting because I always feel nervous and my knees buckle.
d) This little girl in the shop was very rude and she stuck her tongue out at me.
e) I tried to catch the ball in one hand so I stretched my fingers as wide as I
could.
f) My dog keeps his nose up every time he is in the kitchen.
g) My boss was up to his knees in disappointment when I failed to finish the
project on time.

2. Rewrite the sentences below using the words in capitals. The second
sentence should be similar in meaning to the original sentence.
a) I’m extremely interested in this book series. HOOKED
I’m hooked on this book series.
b) I was confused by the look on his face. BEWILDERED
I was bewildered by the look on his face.
c) It takes most people some time to understand new software. FIGURE
It takes most people some time to figure out new software.
d) We need to think of a name for your product. COME
We need to come up with a name for your product.

3. Watch a video [https://youtu.be/0snNB1yS3IE] and answer the questions.

a) Why does Sarah write poems?
To figure things out as she has trouble understanding a lot of things.
b) How old was she when she wrote her first spoken-word poem?
14 years old
c) What was the mission of the reinvented Project V.O.I.C.E.?
To entertain, educate and inspire.

4. Check your answers in ex. 1 by reading the TED Talk transcript

[http://bit.ly/transcript-sarah-kay].

Copyrights by ESL Brains

 Why is spoken poetry awesome?

IN‐CLASS ACTIVITIES
Make your students work in pairs. Give each of them three cards with body parts (see
below) and ask them to show them to their partners. The other person has to guess
what their partner is showing them.

5. Discuss the questions.

• Do you like poetry? Why/Why not?
• Have you ever tried to write a poem?
Why/Why not?
• Do you agree with Sarah's words that
spoken-word poetry is a way to
entertain, educate and inspire?
Do you like the idea?

6. Work in pairs. Each of you should prepare a different list (a or b). Then,
exchange the lists and ask your partner follow-up questions about the
things on their list.

a) Three things you should have learned by now

b) Three things that you know to be true

7. Change partners. Tell them about the things your previous partner
discussed.

knees are buckling clapping hands

keeping your nose up stretching fingers

tossing hair sticking your tongue out

Copyrights by ESL Brains