Third graders at Centre Avenue Elementary School transformed their classrooms into cozy, café-style poetry lounges on May 21, inviting family and friends to a special poetry reading event. The occasion marked the culmination of weeks of hard work and creativity, as students proudly shared original poems they had written during their poetry unit.

Guests were welcomed into the dimly lit classrooms, where shimmering curtains hung over doorways and the gentle flicker of battery-operated candles created a warm and inviting ambiance. The space was designed to evoke the atmosphere of a real poetry café, setting the tone for a reflective and inspiring experience.

Each student had the opportunity to read selected pieces aloud to their visitors, offering a glimpse into the wide range of poetic styles and subjects they had explored. From whimsical rhymes to heartfelt odes, the poems reflected the voices and imaginations of their young authors.

In addition to listening, guests were encouraged to provide feedback on the poems and to walk around the room to read other students’ work shared throughout the space. A sense of celebration and community filled the classrooms, as parents, siblings and friends shared in the students’ accomplishments and offered thoughtful reflections on their writing.

The Poetry Café was a meaningful and memorable event, giving students the opportunity to express themselves creatively and receive real-world recognition for their efforts. It also served as a powerful example of project-based learning in action - where students explore a topic deeply, use what they learned in a real-world setting and share their work with others. Through the process of writing, revising, curating and sharing their poems, students not only deepened their understanding of poetry, but also developed essential skills such as collaboration, critical thinking and communication.