Classroom Excursions to the Bishop House
The Elizabeth Bishop House & Garden transforms into a campus and classroom through our Field Studies initiative. In partnership with local schools, we offer writing activities steeped in Key West’s rich literary heritage with lessons incorporating elements of science, architecture, history, and music that enrich the writing process. Open to grades one through twelve, students participating in Field Studies will enjoy sensory-rich, developmentally-appropriate writing activities that are intended to make them want to return again and again.
Field Study lessons are typically structured in three parts, with pre-visit and post-visit supporting lessons designed for participating teachers to use with students in their own classrooms. Lessons are inspired in part by the Montessori method and meet Florida’s benchmarks for excellent student thinking (BEST). A packet shared with teachers includes these lessons along with helpful background information, context, and additional resources that will help enrich your visit to the Bishop House and extend its value into the school year.
Sample Lessons
“A Poet’s Eye: Becoming a Super Observer”
Designed for lower elementary students (Grades 1–3), this lesson is an exercise in close observation of the natural world. Students select a leaf, tree, plant, flower, or other natural element from the garden and are encouraged to go beyond surface-level observation to recognize details only noticeable when close attention is applied. Students participating in this lesson will write a poem with detailed descriptions, and develop a framework to write descriptive poetry in the classroom.
“Build Yourself with Words: Personification & Key West Architecture”
Designed for upper elementary students (Grades 4–6), this lesson introduces students to the literary device of personification and to Key West’s vernacular architecture, including the “Eyebrow House” form that distinguishes the Bishop House. Students participating in this lesson will observe and record architectural details and write a poem from the point of view of a house. Advanced students are challenged to add vernacular language, alliteration, and rhyme to their personification poem.
“Florida” Imitation Poem
Designed for students in grades 9-12, this lesson includes a close reading of Elizabeth Bishop’s poem, “Florida” and guides students through creating their own poem based on its structure. Students participating in this lesson will create a full poem inspired by the natural setting of the Bishop Garden.
Schedule a Visit
- Field Studies are available for local elementary, middle, and high school classes throughout the school year
- All Field Studies take place at the Elizabeth Bishop House & Garden (624 White Street in Key West)
- Limited to class sizes of 15-20
- Visits generally last between 60 and 90 minutes
Classroom teachers, please reach out to our education coordinator, Kelly Smoot, at kelly@kwls.org to arrange a Field Study.
