From the jungles of the Amazon to the coral reefs off the coast of Australia, there’s a world of wonder ready to explore. A world of waterfalls and volcanoes. A world of butterfly wings and tiger eyes. Whether your students are studying landforms, animals or habitats, poetry is a natural fit for descriptive writing lessons that use rich imagery and sharp details. We’ll start by compiling word lists and details about the animals or habitats that the students are studying and then compose free verse poems that incorporate techniques like metaphors, alliteration and personification. While we’re at it, we’ll learn fascinating facts about animals and plants from around the world and the unique features of their habitats.

Artist Background

Michael Beadle is a poet, author and teaching artist with a passion for language, writing and literature. His goal is to encourage, inspire and challenge writers to express themselves so they can become more confident with writing and be lifelong learners and creative problem solvers. Since 1999, he’s taught thousands of students in poetry and creative writing workshops across the state and performed poetry at schools, libraries, churches and festivals. He’s the author of several poetry books, including What Makes a Giraffe Laugh?, Does Your Goblin Have a Problem?, and Beasts of Eden. His poems have appeared in various journals and anthologies including Broad River Review, Kakalak and River Heron Review. In addition to a 15-year career as a journalist, he’s worked as a high school English teacher, magazine editor and freelance writer. Beadle has served as poet-in-residence at the NC Zoo, emcee for the NC Poetry Out Loud state finals, A+ Schools Fellow for staff development training, student poetry contest coordinator for the NC Poetry Society, and visiting instructor at the Federal Medical Center in Butner, NC.

Search Criteria

• Program Type: Writer-in-Residence
• Discipline: Literary, STEAM
• Grade Level: Elementary
• Accepts bookings in Johnston County