Translate a Poem into Emojis

Explore poetry interpretation through modern digital expression.

Teaching context:
Perfect when students are disengaged from poetry or need a fun, accessible entry point. Great for middle years.

Basic AI Prompt:
Translate this poem into emojis only.

Enhanced AI Prompt:
Translate Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken” into a sequence of emojis that shows the main ideas and emotional journey. Include an explanation of each choice for Year 8.

Spice it up:
Ask for a printable emoji-poetry match-up worksheet or have AI create a quiz with emoji clues and poem titles.

Lesson implementation:
Start by reading a short poem aloud. Ask students to summarise it verbally, then challenge them to use emojis to represent the same ideas. Use the AI to model an example, then let students choose their own poems to reinterpret. This approach is particularly effective for reluctant readers and visual learners.

For extension, students can write their own poems and swap with peers to ‘emoji translate’. This task is suitable for Book Week or Literacy Week and connects beautifully to lessons on symbolism or inference. Scaffold with word banks or emoji ‘menus’ for support. Digital tools like Padlet or Google Jamboard work well for sharing final versions with the class.

If you liked this, you'll love 250 AI Prompts for English Teachers in our books section!

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