Rorschach Poetry

"Rorschach Poetry" is a 14-page fun poetry writing activity to do with students in grades 4-8 while reinforcing poetic language and technique.

Years ago, when I taught, Flowers for Algernon, by Daniel Keyes, the subject of Rorschach inkblots came up.  My students had fun looking at the different inkblots and offering their impressions of what they saw.  Then I decided to have them make their own inkblot paintings and write to them.  From that, I created this lesson on having students write poetry based on their own Rorschach paintings.  They enjoyed this so much that I continued this lesson even though, sadly, we no longer read Flowers for Algernon.

In this lesson, students will write at least one poem using a Rorschach image that they or another student painted or that they found online. Students will identify various poetic techniques: rhyme scheme, internal and end rhymes, alliteration, repetition, similes, metaphors, personification, free verse, etc., and how they can use them in their poems. They will discuss how a poet’s choice of words creates a mood, tone,  tension, suspense, humor, etc. They will participate in a revision group to work on revising their poems. They will present their poems, either in a small group or to the class.

The detailed lesson plan includes the following:

-- objectives and learning targets that are aligned with the Common Core Standards.

-- detailed directions for painting Rorschachs

-- 2 links to websites where students can access Rorschachs to create their poems

-- directions for writing their poems

-- directions for how students can respond to and revise their poems.

-- a handout explaining what a Rorschach inkblot is

-- My own two poems based on my Rorschach paintings, the paragraphs I wrote about each one, and a description of my process for turning the paragraphs into poems