Creating a Classroom Community Found Poem: A Collective Writing Experience

Build classroom connection and celebrate student voice with this joyful writing activity.

“What is poetry?” Daniel asks.
“Come with me,” says Spider, “and I will show you.”
— Daniel Finds a Poem by Micha Archer

In Daniel Finds a Poem, readers journey with Daniel as he walks through the park and asks his animal friends, “What is poetry?” Each creature responds in their own way. Spider speaks of dew, Frog talks about cool water, and Owl praises the night sky. As Daniel listens, observes, and reflects, he discovers that poetry is all around him. Poetry is what you see, hear, feel, and imagine—just like what our students can discover during a walk outside.

Using Daniel Finds a Poem as a mentor text, you can create a powerful classroom-building activity that also helps destigmatize the practice of writing poetry through found poems.

Creating a sense of belonging in the classroom isn't just a goal—it’s the foundation for all other interactions. This activity is a great way to build community at the beginning of the year, or to reconnect after a longer break. Found poetry invites writers to “find” words and phrases from existing texts or the world around them. For this activity, you might take students outside, but you could also use books, signs, notes, or even snippets of spoken dialogue—then arrange them into a new poetic form.

In this variation, students become the source text. You collect their words and transform them into a poem that reflects your shared classroom identity. The best part? When everyone shares their favorite line to create a collaborative community poem, it almost feels like teaching magic.

Why a Found Poem?

• Celebrates student voice

• Encourages listening and observation

• Promotes collaboration

• Highlights the power of words in building community

This is more than a poetry assignment. It's a community building activity that accurately mirrors the individual members that make up the group. It also is a “safe” way to use poetry in the classroom because everyone is only responsible for sharing one line of their poem. You don’t necessarily have to feel like a poet to do this activity. All students are obligated to do is observe the world and take note of what they notice.

Step-by-Step: Making a Classroom Community Found Poem

1. Read the Mentor Text: Daniel Finds a Poem

📌 Student Step: Begin by listening to or reading Daniel Finds a Poem by Micha Archer. Think about how Daniel discovers poetry in nature and how each animal sees the world through a poetic lens.

Teacher Tips:

• Use a video read-aloud or read the book aloud yourself. I always like to play the read aloud on the screen on mute, and read the text with my own voice.

• Pause to ask questions:

  • “What does poetry mean to each animal?”

  • “What kinds of things do they notice in their surroundings?”

• Have students highlight (If you have a PDF copy of the text) or note Daniel’s use of the five senses and how he listens, observes, and reflects.

2. Go Outside & Observe

Student Step: Head outdoors with your journal. Use all five senses—what do you see, hear, smell, feel, and maybe even imagine tasting?

Teacher Tips:

• Bring clipboards, pencils, and journals or paper for easy writing on the go.

• Set clear boundaries for where students can explore.

• Encourage quiet observation time. Use sensory prompts like:

  • What do you see?

  • What do you hear?

  • What can you touch or feel?

  • What do you smell?

  • What might you imagine tasting?

  • “Close your eyes—what do you hear?”

  • “Look up—what catches your eye?”

  • “What textures can you find with your hands or feet?”

3. Write in Your Journal

📌 Student Step: Jot down your observations in phrases, single words, or short lines. Let nature guide your thoughts like Daniel in Daniel Finds a Poem.

Teacher Tips:

• Model how to list sensory details before students begin.

• Use sentence stems:

  • “I notice…”

  • “It sounds like…”

  • “It reminds me of…”

• Remind students that spelling and grammar don’t matter here—it’s about capturing experiences.

4. Create Your Own Found Poem

📌 Student Step: Choose your favorite words and phrases from your journal and arrange them into a poem. Think about how your observations connect.

Teacher Tips:

• Offer structure options for students who need it:

  • 3- or 5-line poems

  • “I see / I hear / I feel…” format

• Encourage use of repetition, rhythm, or imagery.

• Share a sample poem you created from your own outdoor observations.

5. Share Your Poem with the Class

📌 Student Step: Read your poem aloud or share with a partner or small group. Listen for lines that stand out or inspire you.

Teacher Tips:

• Use a poetry circle or gallery walk format.

• Create a warm and encouraging environment for sharing.

• Encourage reflective feedback using prompts like:

  • “I liked the way you described…”

  • “That line made me picture…”

6. Pick Your Favorite Line

📌 Student Step: Choose the line from your poem that means the most to you or captures your experience best.

Teacher Tips:

• Help students reflect by asking:

  • “Which line feels most poetic?”

  • “What line would you want someone else to remember?”

• Write each student’s line on a sentence strip, sticky note, or digital slide.

7. Build a Community Poem

📌 Student Step: Work together as a class to arrange everyone’s favorite lines into one collaborative community poem.

Teacher Tips:

• Display the lines and work together to find a natural flow or grouping.

• Add a title together and discuss what the final poem reflects about your classroom.

• Celebrate your creation! Consider displaying it, reading it aloud, or even turning it into a classroom poster or art piece.

Example from a Teacher Professional Development Workshop

Why This Activity Works

• Authentic opportunities to connect reading and writing with personal experiences

• Sensory engagement that enhances observation skills

• A bridge between text and world, helping students see poetry in everyday life

Bonus Ideas to Try:

• Turn this into a start-of-year or end-of-year ritual.

• Record students reading the poem and make a class video.

• Repeat throughout the year with new prompts or topics.

A Classroom Community Found Poem is not just a writing activity. It’s a reflection of the values, voices, and vibe of your learning space. In just a few minutes, you can create something meaningful—and model the power of words to shape how we feel, learn, and grow together.

From My Notebook

Example Lines from a Found Poem:

We are morning chatter and pencil scratches.
We are sticky notes of dreams and doodles.
We listen with our eyes, speak with care.
This room holds laughter, kindness, and plans.

Ready to Try It?

Looking to bring this activity to your classroom? Start small:

• Use a StoryWalk during a nature walk or field day.

• Create a journaling station with sensory prompts.

• Try a 3-minute quick write with outdoor themes.

Let Daniel—and your students—discover that poetry is not just in books. It’s in the breeze, in the bird song, in the laughter echoing off the sidewalk. All you have to do is listen.