Videos to Teach National Poetry Month

Here at Boclips, April is one of our favorite months of the year because it’s National Poetry Month! Learning about poetry in a typical, textbook format can feel dense and formulaic, far from the fun and dynamic experience we believe it should be. One way to liven up a poetry lesson is to include videos that bring the poetry to life. Boclips Classroom and Library include lots of videos about poetry and a few channels that are all about the topic.

Poetry for Elementary and Middle School: Lincoln Learning ELA

The Lincoln Learning ELA channel includes 50+ videos about poetry, accessible for elementary and middle school students. On this channel, you will find videos about different poetic styles from acrostic to prose, common literary devices used in poetry like metaphor and repetition, and videos that walk students through how to read poetry. These videos help students analyze and understand the genre, using excerpts from popular poems as examples. Lincoln Learning ELA videos range in complexity from introductory to intermediate and are best suited for students in upper elementary to middle school.

Watch Lincoln Learning ELA videos on Boclips Classroom

Watch Lincoln Learning ELA videos on Boclips Library

Poetry for Middle and High School Students: Oxford Comma

Oxford Comma’s channel is full of great videos about poetry. These videos go deep into the structure and meaning behind old and modern poems, including some middle and high school curricula classics like Robert Frost and Shakespeare. Most of the videos are blackboard style, with the text of the poem clearly displayed and sections highlighted as they are discussed, making it easy to follow along. For anyone teaching haiku, I recommend watching, “America Teaches Haiku Wrong,” a video about how to teach haiku in a more comprehensive and engaging way.

Watch Oxford Comma videos on Boclips Classroom

Watch Oxford Comma videos on Boclips Library

Poetry Readings: Ours Poetica

Reading poetry is delightful but listening to it is even better! Ours Poetica is a channel that exclusively features videos of people reading poems. It’s an excellent option if you’re looking for a poetry listening exercise or a jumping-off point for an interactive poetry activity. In the videos, artists, writers, chefs, scientists, and regular people read their favorite poems. Sometimes, it’s a poem that’s had a big influence on the reader, and they share what reading or writing the poem meant to them; other times, they simply read the poem with little to no introduction. Poems range in style and content and can be suitable for a range of ages. Some poems discuss sensitive or mature topics, though, and may not be suitable for young students. 

Watch Ours Poetica videos on Boclips Classroom

Watch Ours Poetica videos on Boclips Library