Creative writing activities. History maps. A creative writing activity involves giving students a story map. This is a graphic organizer that includes important elements of a story such as 2. RELEVANT WRITING. Imagine this. Energetic words fill the air as students listen, think critically, and analyze them. Or, students take a photo of a page from an independent reading book, smiling while annotating it with gifs, text, emojis and more. Spotify and Snapchat are extremely popular apps among students. Writing prompts provide a platform for students to express their thoughts, feelings, and ideas in a structured way. This can be especially important during the middle school years, when students are dealing with complex emotions and self-discovery. Build trust. For some students, the blank page can be intimidating. Finally, have students glue their poem in place on a colored sheet of paper and decorate your room with the beauty and power of poetry. 4. Poetry escape room. A poetry escape room is the most engaging and fun way to introduce or review poetry with your students. Escape rooms by nature are practical and engaging. Icebreaker Games. Icebreaker games are effective in strengthening teamwork among middle school students. These activities, also known as getting-to-know-you games, are designed to break the ice and create a sense of camaraderie among students. Icebreaker games serve as team-building exercises and help foster a positive classroom,