Additional Standards:
Standard 3.1, Reading

• discover the elements of a poem;
• practice skills such as descriptive writing;
• learn to review and revise their own writing;
• use interactive online forms.

Step one:  Read Jack's biography, followed by reading and listening to his poem, Louder Than a Clap of Thunder.
Step two:  Read Jack's writing tips, and try his brainstorming exercises.
Step three: Have students begin to write their own poems.
Step four:  Rewriting guidelines are designed to help kids revise and improve their writing.
Step five: Once they've completed their second draft, they can publish their poems online.

Suggestions:  To adapt or modify the activity for various levels or abilities, the activity can be done as group writing the poem, using audio and/or video.  Pictures can also be used to make the activity more visual as well as adding in sound effects. Using a poem in a song or with music can also be incorporated into the activity.

Extensions:

• Have students compile a book of their "published" poems, and add drawings to illustrate each one. If they'd like, students can include their certificate printouts in the book. 
• Have students write their own poem-starters, then trade with a classmate to complete each other's poems. 
• Set up a special poetry hour, and ask your students to take turns reading their poems to the class. Invite other classes to take part, ask questions, and participate. 
• Ask students to read one of Jack Prelutsky's books of poetry and analyze it using tips and challenges that he has provided. 
• Encourage students to develop additional writing tips and challenges they think would be helpful for writing poetry. Have the rest of the class try them out. 
• Develop a rubric using the standards and strands as suggested below.

Resources
The following Scholastic supplemental materials could be used in conjunction with Writing With Writers:

• Instant Activities for Poetry That Kids Really Love, edited by Linda Ward Beech. Games, strategies, and creative ideas pack this book that aims to help students write and respond to poetry. Grades 3-6. 
• Meet the Authors and Illustrators: Volume 2, by Deborah Kovacs and James Preller, has easy-to-read profiles of students' favorite authors and illustrators, including Jack Prelutsky. Also included are writing activities and bibliographies. 
• A Poem a Day: 180 Poems for Every Day of the School Year, by Helen Moore Sorvillo. The perfect poetry companion for every day of the school year. Teachers will find it indispensable for poetry lessons on colors, counting, telling time, animals, and more. Each poem includes a curriculum–based activity or a literature link. Grades K-3. 
• Poetry Place Anthology, offers more than 600 literacy-building poems to brighten seasons, holidays, and everything you teach. Includes cross-curricular extensions and activities. Grades K-6. 
• Quick Poetry Activities You Can Really Do!, by Jacqueline Sweeney. Teaching poetry is easy with this big assortment of fast and fun activities: portrait poems, newspaper poems, "if" poems, and more. With complete how–to's and sample poetry by celebrated poets and students! Grades 2–5.
• Teaching Poetry: Yes You Can!, by Jacqueline Sweeney, is for every teacher who's ever said, "I really want to teach poetry, but I'm not sure how." Easy, entertaining, classroom-tested activities developed by a poet-in-the-schools, it's filled with poetry by renowned writers and kids. Grades 4-8. 
• Thematic Poems, Songs, and Fingerplay
  45 Irresistible Rhymes and Activities to Build Literacy, by Meish Goldish. Lively, easy–to-read, rhyming poems and songs on the themes your students adore – from bugs to birthdays, shapes to seasons. With hands–on activities and book links to extend literacy learning. Grades K-2.

• Living Book: The New Kid on the Block - Children are encouraged to learn the meaning of words by exploring 18 poems by Jack Prelutsky. Random House/Broderbund 
• Storybook WeaverT by MECC - A great multimedia program for students creating stories with illustration. 
• Poetry Archive - The goal of this ever-expanding poetry archive is to make poetry available at no cost and to give teachers and students of poetry new ways to study poets and their work. (http://sunsite.unc.edu/dykki/poetry)
• KidzPage - This poetry site contains a large variety of poems, ranging from works by famous poets such as Ogden Nash, to original works by students and even some teachers.

• NJ Core Curriculum Content Standards Resource  - A searchable database linking newly revised standards and indicators to frameworks and web resources.
  
• PBS TeacherSource - TeacherSource correlates Language Arts, History, Math and Social Studies lessons to state standards. Type "poetry" on the keyword search line and hit enter.