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Try out some Spanish poems, too! This website has Spanish poems to celebrate National Poetry Month.

¡Prueba también algunos poemas en español! Este sitio web tiene poemas en español para celebrar el Mes Nacional de la Poesía.

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Every April is celebrated in the United States "National Poetry Month," and I couldn't let April go by without sharing some of my favorite poems in Spanish. The poems are a goldmine in the Spanish literature. Since I teach in a FLES program, I only share portions of the poems because some words are not easy for elementary aged students in a FLES program to understand. I've included poems by Juan Ramón Jimenez (Spain), Federico García Lorca (Spain), Gloria Fuertes García (Spain), and Amado Nervo (México). Download them all here!

Happy National Poetry Month!

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SPANISH POEMS TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL POETRY MONTH - FunForSpanishTeachers

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Every April is celebrated in the United States "National Poetry Month," and I couldn't let April go by without sharing some of my favorite poems in Spanish. The poems are a goldmine in the Spanish literature.

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The main objective for this curation is to provide 3rd grade students and teachers a one-stop shop for their Poetry unit exploration.

Fairfax County Public Schools Language Arts objective:
Learners will be able to identify and understand figurative language in reading, writing, discussing and sharing poetry. (ENG G3.5, 3.9)
ELD Objective: Learners will describe a thing, place or event in order to discuss, create and share poetry using sentence frames, word banks and visuals.
AASL standards:
II.B.1 Learners will interact with learners who reflect a range of perspectives.(aligns with FCPS Project of a Graduate objective for Collaborator, as well.)
III.C.1: Learners will solicit and respond to feedback from others.
IV.A.2: Learners will identify possible sources of information.

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The poets.org website not only has poems for kids but also resources for teaching poetry for teachers!

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During National Poetry Month 2017, the Academy of American Poets received letters from over two thousand young people -fifth through twelfth graders from more than seventy public and private schools in major cities and rural areas across twenty-eight states.

These students were participating in Dear Poet, the free, multimedia education project we designed to help teachers engage their students in poetry. To participate, young people watch videos of the award-winning poets who serve on the Academy of American Poets Board of Chancellors reading one of their poems aloud. (Between January and June this year's eleven videos-featuring Mark Doty, Linda Gregerson, Juan Felipe Herrera, Brenda Hillman, Jane Hirshfield, Khaled Mattawa, Marilyn Nelson, Alicia Ostriker, Alberto Ríos, Arthur Sze, and Anne Waldman-were viewed over ten thousand times.) After watching the videos and reading the poems, students write letters to the featured poet of their choice. The poets write back to select letters, and the correspondence is published on Poets.org. In the letters we received this year, many of these young people shared that, while they were initially resistant to poetry, they found themselves surprised and excited to read contemporary poems that felt important to them. (Learn more about the current Dear Poet project and how to participate.)

Michael, an eighth grader in the Texas Rio Grande Valley, wrote to Alberto Ríos, "I am not the biggest fan of poetry, but as you read ' Refugio's Hair,' I felt like a child again, listening to a story of a captured memory. I was reluctant to complete this project at first, but hearing your poem changed my perspective of poetry."

Michael's classmate Simran, writing to Jane Hirshfield, suggested why Dear Poet might be so engaging: "Watching you read your poem was very beautiful and as you read your poem, it changed my entire perspective on this piece of literature. I believe that when an author reads their own poem, it can change the poem entirely....I just want to thank you so much for being part of the Dear Poet project and for being willing to correspond with teens across the U.S."

Through Dear Poet's videos and letters, young readers are able to engage with poetry in a particularly intimate and individual way. The project also introduces teachers and students to contemporary poets whose work they might not otherwise encounter and to poems addressing a wide range of topics relevant to young people today. In their letters, students often note their personal connections to a poet's work, pointing to what in a particular poem speaks to them and why.

Colten, a ninth grader in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, responded to Arthur Sze's " The Shapes of Leaves," a poem that touches on deforestation and habitat loss. Colten wrote, "I've never read something that made me experience the situation both emotionally and critically. I think this is why your poem resonated with me so much."

Saba, a student in Mays Landing, New Jersey, was drawn to Juan Felipe Herrera's poem " You Can't Put Muhammad Ali in a Poem," which stood out to her because it celebrates "someone who made me have confidence in myself and made me love myself for who I am." She wrote, "Being a Muslim, I always felt as if I was below others, it affected me most when I was younger.... Muhammad Ali was someone I saw who was proud of his religion."

Linda Gregerson received over two hundred letters in response to her poem " Prodigal," in which she addresses the subject of self-harm. Tyler, a tenth grader in Pembroke, New Hampshire, wrote, "Your poem allows anyone who reads it to know how serious this issue is. It allows people, like me, to want to help out in any possible way." In her letter back to Tyler, Gregerson wrote, "Certainly, turning outward to help others, as you describe, is the most positive thing to be made of personal hardship."

A twelfth grader in Berthoud, Colorado, Nina, pointed to another especially powerful role poetry can play in the lives of young people. She wrote to Jane Hirshfield, "My aunt is dying....After spending my spring break with her, I came back to school and was handed your poem, ' It Was Like This: You Were Happy ' in Senior English. I have never connected with something so much."

In fact, more students responded to Hirshfield's poem, a gentle reflection on the end of a life, than to any other. Their letters to her speak of grief, and comfort, and an evolving understanding of both happiness and loss. Hirshfield's letters in response-like the other poets' replies to letters they received-were kind, encouraging, and deeply unique. She wrote to Guadalupe, a twelfth grader in San Antonio, Texas, "One of poetry's amazing powers is that in words new ways of feeling can pass from one person to another, between you and me, alive at the same time, and also over a thousand years and across languages and cultures."

This, too, is the power of Dear Poet, which narrows the field of poetry-often daunting to students and educators-into a single connection between a poet and a young reader, who could be anywhere, and who has the rare opportunity to write back.

This article was originally featured in the Fall-Winter 2017 issue of American Poets.

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During National Poetry Month 2017, the Academy of American Poets received letters from over two thousand young people -fifth through twelfth graders from more than seventy public and private schools in major cities and rural areas across twenty-eight states. These students were participating in Dear Poet, the free, multimedia education project we designed to help teachers engage their students in poetry.

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Si tiene preguntas y necesita hablar en español, envíeme un correo electrónico en español o visíteme en la biblioteca.

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If you have questions for me, please send me an email to the email below, a tweet to my twitter handle, or visit me in the library.
dlsilver@fcps.edu
@DionneSilver4

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Mrs. Silver-Hong, Brookfield ES Librarian

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Mrs. Silver-Hong, Brookfield ES Librarian

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Love to learn! Love to read!  Love to help others do the same!
Leave me a comment below about what you love to read or learn.

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This website has read aloud books. Explore it for your poetry unit assignment. Click on the pictures to see it.

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Copyright © 2023 All rights reserved. Charity No. 1093858. Registered No. 4336052

The Poetry Archive is a not-for-profit organisation with charitable status.

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. We use cookies. Accept More info

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Listen to the world's best poetry read out loud. Explore 100s of poems read by the poets themselves. Read along or listen distraction free.

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These resources are for 3rd grade teachers to help instruct a diverse population of students during the poetry unit.

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This resource is the FCPS website page for resources dealing with Dyslexia. This resource will be useful for instructing students with dyslexia during your poetry unit.

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Includes Regional Points of Contact, Family Guides, Books, and Websites

Regional Points of Contact

Identification and Evaluation
School Psychology Services staff provide support to school psychologists with data interpretation from evaluation reports and other sources; provide help with questions about identification of students with dyslexia.

Region 1: Michelle Scales, mdscales@fcps.edu
Region 2: Laura Wisotzkey, Laura.Wisotzkey@fcps.edu
Region 3: Kathryn Casterline, kbcasterline@fcps.edu
Region 4: Paul Bordelon, Paul.Bordelon@fcps.edu
Region 5: Ellen Goldberger, Ellen.Goldberger@fcps.edu

Core Instruction and Classroom Assessment
Instructional Services/Responsive Instruction staff will collaborate with school staff to support balanced literacy instruction.

All Regions: Carrie Leestma, Carrie.Leestma@fcps.edu

Intervention a nd Accommodation
Office of Special Education Instruction staff provide support with making the instructional match; provide training in intervention programs for special and general education teachers.

Region 1: Jillian Lynch, jelynch@fcps.edu
Region 2: Erin Woodward, ewoodward@fcps.edu
Region 3: Erin Woodward, ewoodward@fcps.edu
Region 4: Erica Jones, ejones1@fcps.edu
Region 5: Jillian Lynch, jelynch@fcps.edu

For support with collaboration and communication around issues of dyslexia in any region please contact Carrie Leestma, Dyslexia Specialist, Carrie.Leestma@fcps.edu

FCPS Resources

Books

Dehaene, S. (2009) Reading in the Brain: The New Science of How We Read. New York, NY: Penguin.

Mather, N. & Wendling, B. (2012). Essentials of Dyslexia: Assessment and Intervention. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.

Shaywitz, S. (2003). Overcoming Dyslexia: A new and complete science-based program for reading problems at any level. New York, NY: Knopf.

Wolfe, M. (2007). Proust and the Squid: The Story and Science of the Reading Brain. New York, NY: Harper Collins.

Web Resources
Dyslexia Information and Resources

Dyslexia Communities
Decoding Dyslexia-Virginia
International Dyslexia Association
Understood: for learning and attention issues

Self-Advocacy
Web resources to support student self-advocacy are below:
http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/how-you-can-help-children-solve-problems
http://lifeafterieps.com/teaching-kids-a-practical-strategy-for-everyday-problem-solving/
http://dyslexiahelp.umich.edu/dyslexics/living-with-dyslexia/home/teaching-self-advocacy-to-your-child
Phonics Resources
Some valuable resources for information on phonics assessments and explicit phonics instruction are:

CORE Assessing Reading Multiple Measures for Kindergarten through Eighth Grade, 2nd Edition by Consortium on Reading Excellence, Inc., Arena Press, 2008.

CORE Teaching Reading Sourcebook, 2nd Edition by Consortium on Reading Excellence, Inc., Arena Press, 2008.

LETRS: An Introduction to Language and Literacy by Deborah Glaser and Louisa C. Moats, Sopris West, 2008.

For more information on teaching basic phonics skills, visit the following websites:
English Learners and Dyslexia
Articles:
Dyslexia and the English Learner Dilemma, 2015, Dr. Kelli Sandman-Hurley, languagemagazine.com

Books:
Why Do English Language Learners Struggle with Reading? Distinguishing Language Acquisition from Learners Disabilities - Second Edition; 2016, John J Hoover, Leonard M Baca; Janette K Klingner, Corwin a SAGE Publishing Company, Thousand Oaks, CA.

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Dyslexia Resources | Fairfax County Public Schools

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Includes Regional Points of Contact, Family Guides, Books, and Websites

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This resource is an FCPS teaching example video of how to teach "How a Poem Makes Students Feel". Click on the picture in the post to access the video.

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Readers Pay Attention to How a Poem Makes Them Feel - Language Arts, Reading Focus, Grades 3 - 4

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This resource is from the Kennedy Center and highlights their favorite videos for teaching poetry to elementary school students. Click on the picture in the post for more information.

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Let's put the fun back into teaching poetry, especially for our younger students! These poetry videos for elementary school will help teachers make lessons engaging and fresh.

You can also check out our favorite poetry videos for younger students (and be sure to subscribe to the WeAreTeachers YouTube channel while you're at it).

Remember to check out these videos yourself before you show them to your students. Only you know what will work for the children in your classroom.

"Personification" by the Bazillions

Super cute and catchy song about this figurative device. Perfect for any age, really. Definitely don't miss the "Similes and Metaphors" song. It's a must-see!

"Onomatopoeia Song"

With over one million views, this is a must-see video for any poetry unit.

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"Hit 'Em With the Onomatopoeia" by Guava Juice

https://youtube.com/watch?v=Xgi37v-syt0

Roy from Guava Juice has over twelve million subscribers on YouTube, so many of your students probably already know him. He makes onomatopoeia the subject of one of his songs, and kids love it.

"Alliteration Song" by Melissa

Animated and catchy, this song provides a ton of examples of alliteration. The on-screen text with highlighted first letters of alliterative words is even more helpful in explaining this device to students.

Vocabulary Battle: Poetry Skills Game for Kids

This 10-minute, interactive video encourages group work and collaboration as students stretch their brains and creativity.

How to Write a Rhyme Poem

Pretty straightforward and simple, this video shows viewers firsthand how to write a rhyming poem. Less than five minutes and worth showing students!

Groobles Media Videos

If you can stand the fuzzy puppets explaining figurative language devices in weird voices, you'll dig this video. Students will giggle (or roll their eyes) at the delivery of this content.

Figurative Language Tutorial

For upper elementary or middle schoolers, this video explains six elements of poetry in clear and concise ways. Photos of famous faces will make this especially appealing to youngsters.

"There's a Crocodile in My Lunchbox" by Steve Attewell

A silly poem by Steve Attewell, students will giggle at the content, and teachers will appreciate the text on screen. Check out his other poems, too. All funny and kid favorites.

"Chocolate Cake" by Michael Rosen

Students will take a look at a free-verse poem by talented poet and storyteller Michael Rosen. They'll love his silly voices and the way he brings his poems to life on screen.

Asha Christensen at TedxKids

Young Asha shares her version of spoken poetry, reciting a poem she wrote about having writer's block. Powerful. Students love this.

"That Crazy Lazy"

Another inspiring example of spoken word poetry, students are in awe of this young man.
We'd love to hear what your favorite poetry videos for younger students are. Come and share in our WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook. Be sure to check out our other favorite teaching videos on YouTube:

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Our Favorite Videos for Teaching Poetry in Elementary School

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Use these poetry videos for elementary school to teach the elements of poetry to students in grades K-5. Videos on figurative language and more.

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This resource gives you an example of a lesson plan for teaching elements of poetry.

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Poetry Part #1 | 3rd Grade Reading | Teaching In Room 9

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This website has poetry for your age. Explore it for your poetry unit assignment. Click on the picture to see it.

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Grade 3 - Kenn Nesbitt's Poetry4kids.com

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Need more resources for teaching 3rd grade Poetry? These resources provide poems and resources for diverse populations of students. Click on the picture in the post to see the resource.

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This resource gives ideas for teaching poetry to ELLs.

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Even though poetry gets a lot of attention during Poetry Monty in April (as it should), it is fun to teach any time of year! I must admit that I am drawn to fiction, and teaching poetry seemed daunting at first; but I have discovered the joy of poetry while exploring it with my English language learners, and my students have been very enthusiastic about our poetry units. Here are some of the reasons why I've enjoyed teaching poetry so much with my ELLs:

Versatility

Poetry is so versatile, which makes it a great form to use in the ELL classroom. There are so many types of poetry and so many different forms that eventually, each student is bound to find a poem or poet he or she enjoys!

Language

Poems can be used to introduce or practice new vocabulary, language structures, and rhyming devices, and shorter poems often give ELLs a chance to explore an idea while working with a more manageable amount of text than a short story or essay.

Culture

In addition, many ELLs come from cultural backgrounds rich with poetry and folktales. From the epic poems of ancient civilizations to more modern political poems written during the 20th century, poetry opens an interesting historical and cultural window, and students may already be quite knowledgeable about the poets and poems that are an important part of their heritage.

Introducing ELLs to Poetry

Take a look at these different perspectives on reading and writing poetry from some of our favorite poets!

Poetry offers wonderful opportunities for reading, writing, speaking, and listening practice for ELLs. Poetry also gives students a chance to expand vocabulary knowledge, to play with language, and to work with different rhythms and rhyme patterns. The benefits of using poetry are not simply anecdotal, however - they have been well documented. Research by Dr. Janette Hughes at the University of Ontario, for example, demonstrates the positive effects of poetry on literacy development. As Dr. Hughes points out, "paying attention to vocabulary and rhythm develops oral language skills," (Hughes, 2007, p. 1) and the development of oral language skills has a strong correlation to proficiency in reading.

Where to begin, then, as you consider how to begin a unit on poetry? Here are some ideas to get you started:

Draw on students' background knowledge

It may be helpful to start your poetry instruction by finding out what kinds of experiences your students have had with poetry. Do students know poems in their native language? Is there a particular poem from their country or heritage that they like? Would they be willing to share a translation? Who are the famous poets from their country? Have students written poems before? Was it in English or their native language? Did student enjoy writing poetry?

Getting students to think about poems they are familiar with can help make the transition into English-language poetry smoother. You may also wish to have students look at bilingual collections of poetry in English and their native language when available. How do the translations of the same poem compare? Are there words or phrases that don't translate well from one langue to the other?

Working with poetry from different countries and languages also is an excellent opportunity to encourage students to share their cultural heritage with the class, and to take pride in an art form that is part of their identity and may have been passed down across many generations.

For example, Carol McCarthy, a teacher in Queens, NY has capitalized on her students' poetic heritages by creating a unit called Poetry in Translation, in which students "translate the work of poets from their native country or ethnic heritage, and then write and translate their own poems" (McCarthy, Academy of American Poets website). She offers a number of ideas for guiding students in their exploration of poetry from their own cultures, which then provides a foundation for the comparisons students do of poems from different cultures later in the unit.

Using Poetry in Reading Instruction

Familiarize students with different kinds of poems

Poetry can range from simple and fun to complicated and abstract, which may be one reason it is daunting for many teachers and students alike. Start by choosing simple poems that aren't too abstract or complex - you'll get to Shakespeare eventually! Depending on the English level of the students, there are a variety of ways to start bringing poetry in the classroom. You can find many examples of poetry collections and novels in verse on our National Poetry Month resource page.

Talk about the differences between stories and poems. Provide students with a copy of a short story they've already read and a short poem. Ask them to work in groups and make a list of the differences between the two pieces, noting characteristics such as length or style. Have students share those differences with the class.

Start with poems that are manageable. Make sure the poems you present first have simple and familiar language, images, and themes so that they are accessible to ELLs. One ESL teacher recommends using poetry with "predictable language patterns, repeated words, phrases, lines, and identifiable rhymes" so that they are easier for students to read (Alpha, 2009).

Give students a chance to illustrate poems. Have students work in pairs to discuss and illustrate a short poem, or one or two lines of a longer poem. This will encourage them to think about meaning, and then express their interpretation in their own way. Ask students to share their illustrations with the class so that everyone has a chance to think about the different meanings that their classmates discovered.

Read a variety of poems out loud. Reading a poem out loud brings it to life. Students will begin to understand and notice different rhythms, rhymes, and feelings represented, as well as understand how the language creates an image or mood. The poem should be read in a natural voice, and the teacher can highlight the fact that you do not always stop at the end of each line, but instead use the poem's punctuation as a cue to where the pauses should be.

Be sure to include some poems written for kids and young adults. Children's poetry can be so much fun, and it also gives students a chance to talk about important ideas and feelings. Share the work of poets such as Juan Felipe Herrera, Francisco X. Alarcón, Pat Mora, Naomi Shihab Nye, Rene Saldana, Jr., Janet Wong, Margarita Engle, Nikki Grimes, and Nikki Giovanni, as well as these video interviews with poets from PBS Teachers.

Discuss the vocabulary used in different poems. Poems offer a wonderful opportunity to teach new vocabulary related to a topic or idea, as well as a chance to think about language. Why did the poet choose a certain word? How does that word make you feel? What kind of sound does the word convey? Students may want to pick a word or phrase that is meaningful from a poem and write it on a "poetic word" wall - sort of a graffiti wall of sentiments. Students can continue to add to the wall as they discover new items, or even as they write their own poems. Another idea is to use a bubble Thinking Map®. Students working in pairs take a word of interest from a poem and place it in the center bubble. They then fill in as many bubbles around the word with as they can with synonyms or related words. For example, if the word is "longing," students may write words in other bubbles such as, "missing, nostalgic, sorrow, homesick, desire, etc." Students can discuss how the poem would be different if one of the other words had been used. Pairs can share their word lists with other students and ask questions about new words they learn.

Give students a chance to read poems out loud together as a class and to each other. Reading poems out loud will improve students' confidence and oral language skills, as well as their reading fluency. See more ideas below.

Look for opportunities to include poetry in other contexts. There is a wide variety of poems that can accompany social studies, history, science, and even math lessons! Poems are also wonderful additions to a discussion on culture and holidays.

Use novels in verse. Novels in verse are available about a wide range of topics from many diverse authors and can help build students' confidence and reading stamina. Take a look at some of the titles available in our National Poetry Month resource collection from authors such as Margarita Engle, Elizabeth Acevedo, and Thanhha Lai.

Encourage students to immerse themselves in poetry

As students' comfort level increases, it will be possible to begin more in-depth conversations about different poetry forms, meaning, and language. Here are some ideas for more advanced students:

Use graphic organizers. These tools can be helpful when talking about a poem's structure or rhyming scheme so that students can reinforce their knowledge about the poetry form and meaning.

Discuss grammatical/syntax patterns found in poems. Poems may have unusual sentence structures that students will not encounter in prose text. Analyzing such sentences can help ELLs develop a better understanding of conventional English syntax.

Continue reading poetry out loud to your students. When introducing more complex poems with increasingly difficult English vocabulary, read the poem through and ask students for an initial impression regarding the meaning of the poem. A student might say, "I think it's about someone who lost someone they love." This can begin a discussion with questions such as, "Why do you think that? Is there a certain word or phrase that makes you think that? Does someone else have a different idea?"

Encourage students to share their personal interpretations. Students will soon see that each reader finds a different meaning in the poem, and that's ok. Students shouldn't be bogged down looking for the right and wrong answers.

Using Poetry to Develop Oral Language Skills

Give students the chance to read poems out loud

Reading poetry aloud is a great way for ELLs to practice pronunciation and fluency, as well as a chance for students to play with rhymes and language.

In order to increase confidence and fluency, have students start by reading some poems together as a class. Then have students choose a poem that they enjoy and then practice reading their poems aloud in pairs, experimenting with expression, volume, and speed. After students have had time to practice, listen in and offer some feedback on expression and pronunciation. Once students have one more round of practice, ask students to share their poems aloud with the class.

Poems can make wonderful class presentations, whether students read different poems from a collection aloud, act out a longer dramatic poem, or take turns reading a rhyming text. Andrea Spillett, an ELL teacher who blogs for Scholastic, describes a program in which students presented poems from Chicken Soup with Rice by Maurice Sendak to their parents: "The book has a rhyming text about the months of the year. Students recited the poem of the month they were born. Simple costumes and a backdrop were used for the presentation" (Spillett, 2008). This demonstrates that poetry doesn't have to be complicated to be effective - even simple poems can be engaging!

There are many resources online that offer ideas for using poetry in the classroom - those listed in the Hotlinks section below are just the tip of the iceberg. I hope you enjoy your exploration of poetry as much as I have enjoyed mine. Once you get going, you'll wonder why it took you so long to get started!

Hot links
Academy of American Poets: Tips for Teaching Poetry
Here are a number of creative and inexpensive suggestions for making poetry a more important part of school life throughout the year.
Reading Rockets: National Poetry Month Resources
Reading Rockets has gathered together activities for parents and teachers, video interviews with our favorite children's poets, recommended books and anthologies, fun online games (check out Magnetic Poetry), and a peek at the latest poetry for kids!
Academy of American Poets: Poetry in Translation
This poetry unit created by Queens teacher Carol McCarthy draws on the unique abilities of the students in her multicultural classroom.
Academy of American Poets: Great Poems to Teach
Includes links to poetry from many poets including, Maya Angelou, Lewis Carroll, Emily Dickinson, and William Wordsworth.
Academy of American Poets: National Poetry Month
Provides a description of National Poetry Month, answers questions about how and when it started, and includes suggestions for celebrating.
Academy of American Poets: 30 Ways to Celebrate National Poetry Month
Includes links to creative ideas like "putting poetry in unexpected places" and "take a poem to lunch."
EdSitement: Poetry Lesson Plans
Lesson plans covering a wide range of poetry units, from Langston Hughes to Haiku.
TeacherVision: Poetry Resources for Teachers
A variety of printables, lesson plans, activities, and references for you to use in your cross-curricular study of the art of poetry.
PBS Learning Media: Poetry and Poets
Poetry lesson plans, including numerous video interviews with contemporary poets from around the world.

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Teaching and Reading Poetry with English Language Learners

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Even though poetry gets a lot of attention during Poetry Monty in April (as it should), it is fun to teach any time of year! I must admit that I am drawn to fiction, and teaching poetry seemed daunting at first; but I have discovered the joy of poetry while exploring it with my English language learners, and my students have been very enthusiastic about our poetry units.

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Ken Nesbitt's Five Easy steps to writing an Acrostic poem! Acrostics are one of the easiest forms of poetry to write because they just have a single rule and they don’t have to rhyme. In this video lesson, Ken Nesbitt shows how you can create your own acrostic poems in just a few steps.

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Search Results for “acrostic” – Kenn Nesbitt’s Poetry4kids.com

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Acrostics are one of the easiest forms of poetry to write because they just have a single rule and they don’t have to rhyme. In this video lesson, I show how you can create your own acrostic poems in just a few steps.

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Ken is back! Now he is teaching you how to write a Haiku poem.

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How to Write a Haiku

It is easy to learn to write a haiku, but it can take a lot of practice to learn how to do it well. This lesson will give you the basics for writing your own haiku. It's up to you to practice by writing a lot of them so you will get very good at it.

What is a Haiku?

A haiku is an unrhymed three-line poem. It is based on a traditional Japanese poetic form. Though there are different ways to write haiku, the traditional pattern in English is to write the first and last lines with five syllables each, and the middle line with seven syllables. In other words, the pattern of syllables looks like this:

Line 1: 5 syllables
Line 2: 7 syllables
Line 3: 5 syllables

Here's another way to visualize the same thing:

1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 2 3 4 5

Most often, haiku poems are about seasons or nature, though you can write your own haiku about anything you like. If you don't want to write about nature, and would prefer to write haiku about candy or sports, that is perfectly okay.

One more thing to keep in mind is that the last line of a haiku usually makes an observation. That is, the third line points out something about the subject you are writing about.

Let's see how we can put these few rules together get your started writing your own haiku poems.

Haiku About Seasons

Let's say that you decide to write your haiku about a season. First you will want to select a season: spring, summer, fall, or winter. I've decided to write a haiku about winter, and I know that in the last line I will want to make an observation. I want to say that winter is almost here, but we aren't quite ready for the snow. Maybe it's that we haven't raked the leaves off the front lawn and we need to do it soon before it snows.

I want to say all of this, but I want to do it in a pattern of 5, 7, 5. So I might say something like this:

Winter is coming.
Snow will be arriving soon.
We should rake the leaves.

If you count the syllables on your fingers as you read this poem, you will see that the lines have five syllables, seven syllables, and five syllables, just as they should.

Haiku About Nature

If you decide to write a haiku about nature, you will have many more subjects to choose from. You could write about animals, plants, the sky, the ocean, streams, the wind, and so on. Start by selecting a topic, and then decide what you want to say; what observation you want to make about it.

For example, I have decided to write a haiku about my cat. One thing I notice about my cat is that he sleeps a lot. In fact, I'm pretty sure he sleeps almost all night and all day. I'm not sure how he can be so tired. In any case, here is my haiku:

Tired cat sleeps all night.
He needs lots of rest for a
Long day of napping.

Funny Haiku

Just because most haiku poems are about seasons or nature doesn't mean that's all they can be about. If you want, you can even write funny haiku poems. One way to make a haiku funny is to have an unexpected last line. For example, if the last line says the opposite of what the reader expects, it becomes like the punchline of a joke. It also helps to write about a funny subject.

As an example, I decided it would be funny to write a haiku excuse for why I can't turn in my homework. Here it is:

My homework is late.
My dog ate it this morning.
I sure like my dog.

Notice that this ending is unexpected. Most readers would expect the poem to end with something like "can I turn it in tomorrow?" or "I'm mad at dog" or something like that. By saying "I sure like my dog," I am telling the reader something they don't expect, which will hopefully make them smile.

Getting Started Writing Haiku

To begin writing haiku poems, just follow these steps:

Select a type of haiku. Decide if you are going to write a seasonal, nature, or other type of haiku.

Pick a topic. Select one specific season, item in nature, or something else you are going to write about.

Think about what is different about your last line. What observation do you want to make?

Start writing.

Don't forget to count the syllables as you read to make sure you've got the right pattern.

Finally, "center" your poem on the page like the poems in this lesson.

When you are all done writing your first haiku, see if you can write another one. And, most importantly, have fun!

Kenn Nesbitt's School Author Visit Programs

[ Overview | In-Person Author Visits | Online Assemblies | Testimonials | Availability | Funding | FAQ | Prep Kit ]

Skype Author Visits

In addition to my in-person author visits, I also "visit" hundreds of schools each year via the Internet, using Skype (or online videoconferencing software for schools that can't use Skype). Skype author visits are live, online, interactive videoconference presentations, that require only a PC or Mac with a broadband Internet connection. I can present to any number of students in each session, limited only by your space and equipment (projector, speakers, etc.)

Book Now!

You can book an online author visit with me right now by clicking the 'Click to Schedule' button. If you would like more information, please fill out the form at the bottom of this page.

Pricing

Single session:

$200

Multiple sessions:

$150 each

Benefits of Skype online author visits

Your students speak to and learn from the author directly

Skype school programs are educational and fun!

Skype assemblies are less expensive / more cost-effective and traditional assemblies

Quick and easy to arrange

You don't need to spend months planning for an online school assembly

No specialized videoconferencing hardware required

Skype visits are available to schools worldwide; not just in the U.S.

Use Skype or your choice of videoconferencing software, including Google+ Hangouts, GotoMeeting, Adobe Connect, WebEx, ooVoo, etc.

Skype Programs

My Skype classroom visits are normally 45-minutes long, and typically include 15 minutes of presentation, 15 minutes of writing with your students, and 15 minutes of Q&A. In addition, I also have special programs available on the following topics:

Rhyming (for primary grades)

National Poetry Month

Famous Children's Poets (Dr. Seuss, Shel Silverstein, Lewis Carroll, etc.)

Poetic Forms (Acrostics, Diamantes, Haikus, Limericks, etc.)

Writing 'Fractured' Nursery Rhymes

Seasonal Poetry (Separate programs for Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer)

Getting your poetry published (for ages 13 and up)

Would you like to see a program that isn't listed here. Please just let me know. I can also create a custom presentation for your school.

Sign Up Now

I offer sessions for grades K-2, 3-6, 6-8, and 7-12. Check my calendar for availability. Any date not otherwise marked as is most likely available. Dates already marked with a Skype visit to another school are almost definitely available. To sign up, simply fill out the form below and I will contact you to get you set up. If you would prefer a different date or time than what is listed on my calendar, please just let me know.

Want More Information?

Fill out this form to receive more information about Kenn Nesbitt's in-person and online school and library visit programs.

Rhythm in Poetry - The Basics

When you read rhyming poetry, one of the things you might notice is how the words often have a nice rhythmical quality. That is, there is a pattern to the rhythm of the words that makes them fun to say and easy to remember. Sometimes the rhythm is a simple one, and sometimes it's more complex, but it's not there by accident. Poets arrange their words in such a way as to create those rhythmical patterns.

When rhyming poems also have a rhythm in the words, they are much more fun to read. By contrast, rhyming poems that do not have a rhythm are usually not as enjoyable to read.

Over the next several lessons, I'm going to show you how to identify the rhythms in poems and how to write rhythmical poems of your own so that others will enjoy reading them.

A Dazzling Display of Dogs Concrete Poems by Betsy Franco

As , one of my jobs is to select a collection of poetry each month to feature on the . There you'll find my , and those of the previous Children's Poets Laureate.

My pick for August, 2013 is A Dazzling Display of Dogs , concrete poems by , illustrations by Michael Wertz .

Interview with Children's Author Betsy Franco

In addition, I interviewed Betsy Franco about her life as a poet and about her new book. Here is what she had to say.

Here are some of the poetry writing lessons for children that I have written. These should help you learn to write your own poems.

How to Write Funny Poetry

Rhythm in Poetry

The Basics

You Can Scan, Man

I Am the Iamb

Okie Dokie, Here's the Trochee

Poetic Forms

A poetic "form" is a set of rules for writing a certain type of poem. These rules can include the number of lines or syllables the poem should have, the placement of rhymes, and so on. Here are lessons for writing several common poetic forms.

Other Poetic Styles

There are many different styles of poems. These are not "poetic forms" because they don't usually have firm rules about length, syllable counts, etc., but they are common enough that many well-known children's poets have written poems like these.

Reciting Poetry

Other Poetry Writing Lessons

Poetry Lesson Plans for Teachers

Video Poetry Lessons

Poetry Dictionaries and Rhyming Words Lists

When reading these lessons, you may come across some unfamiliar words. If you see a poetic term and don't know what it means, you can always look it up in the Poetic Terms Dictionary. Poetry4kids also has a rhyming dictionary and a list of rhyming words you can use to help you write poems.

How to Write a Japanese Tanka Poem

Tanka , which means "short song," has been an important literary form in Japanese culture for nearly a thousand years. The original Japanese form of tanka had only one line of poetry containing 31 speech sounds-what we would call syllables . However, most tanka poems that are written in English today are broken into five poetic lines with a certain number of syllables in each line.

The basic structure of a tanka poem is 5 - 7 - 5 - 7 - 7. In other words, there are 5 syllables in line 1, 7 syllables in line 2, 5 syllables in line 3, and 7 syllables in lines 4 and 5. If you have ever written a haiku , you will notice that tanka is kind of like a longer version of haiku that gives you a little more room to tell a story. Here is one example of a tanka poem:

Three Poetry Activities to Celebrate Martin Luther King Day

Martin Luther King, Jr. was an incredible orator, harnessing the power of words rather than weapons as he lead this country on its road to civil liberty. In fact, many of his speeches have the power of poetry, using some of the same conventions writers use when composing poems: alliteration, personification, simile, repetition, metaphor, and even rhyme. So, what better way to celebrate Martin Luther King Day than with words?

Here are some examples of poetry based activities you can do to commemorate Martin Luther King, Jr. on the third Monday of each January... or any time you feel so inspired!

A Glossary of Poetic Vocabulary Terms for Children

A

Accent
The emphasis placed on some syllables in words more than others. For example, the word "apple" has two syllables, and the accent is on the first syllable, so it is pronounced "AP-pull." "Banana," on the other hand, has three syllables, with the accent on the second syllable, so it is pronounced "buh-NA-nuh."

Acrostic
A form of poem in which the first syllables of each line spell out a word, name, or phrase. See .

Alliteration
Repeating the consonant sounds at the beginnings of nearby words, such as the "p" sound in the words "My puppy makes pizza" in the poem My Puppy Makes Pizza. See Alliteration and Assonance Lesson Plan.

Anagram
A word or phrase created by rearranging the letters of another word or phrase. For example, "notes" is an anagram of "stone." See the poem Anna Graham for many more examples of anagrams.

Assonance
Repeating the vowel sounds in the stressed, or accented, syllables in nearby words. For example, in the phrase "fl ying k ites" the repeated long "i" sound are assonant. See Alliteration and Assonance Lesson Plan.

B

Ballad
A form of poetry, usually suitable for singing, that tells a story in stanzas of two or four lines, and often has a refrain.

C

Cinquain
A five-line poetic form in which the lines have 2, 4, 6, 8, and 2 syllables, in that order. See How to Write a Cinquain Poem.

Clerihew
A four-line humorous poetic form comprised of two rhymed couplets, with the first line usually being the someone's name. See How to Write a Clerihew.

Close Rhyme
A rhyme of two words that are next to one another or close to one another, such as "Humpty Dumpty," tighty-whitey," "fat cat," or "fair and square." Not to be confused with Near Rhyme.

Concrete Poem
A poem in which the meaning is conveyed by the placement and design of the words on the page instead of, or in addition to, the usual arrangement of words. Also sometimes called Visual Poetry.

Consonance
The repetition of consonant sounds within nearby words, especially the consonant sounds at the ends of words, as in "a stro ke of lu ck" or "a bi te to ea t."

Couplet
Two lines of poetry, one after the other, that rhyme and are of the same length and rhythm. For example, "I do not like green eggs and ham. / I do not like them Sam I Am."

D

Double Rhyme
A rhyme where the stress is on the second-to-last syllable of the words, and the end sounds are the same, starting with the vowel of the stressed syllables. Some examples are batter / fatter, ocean / lotion, and camping / stamping. Double rhymes are also called "feminine rhymes." See How to Rhyme .

E

End Rhyme
Rhyming words at the ends of the lines of a poem . See also internal rhyme .

Epitaph
A short poem written about someone who has died, often inscribed on the headstone of their grave. Epitaphs usually praise the person, and are sometimes humorous.

Exaggeration
To overstate something; to claim that it is bigger, better, faster, smellier, etc. than is actually true. When Larry Made Lasagna is an example of a exaggeration poem. See How to Write an Exaggeration Poem . See also Hyperbole .

F

H

Haiku
A short, unrhymed Japanese poetic form with three lines of five syllables , seven syllables, and five syllables. See How to Write a Haiku .

Homonym
A word that has the same spelling and sound as another word, but a different meaning. For example "fine" (an adjective meaning nice) and "fine" (a noun meaning money you have to pay as a punishment) are homonyms.

Hyperbole
Pronounced "hi-PER-buh-lee." A extreme and obvious exaggeration , not meant to be believed or taken literally. For example, "he has million-dollar hair" or "this test is taking forever." See .

I

Imagery
Language and poetic techniques used to create mental pictures and cause emotions in the reader.

Internal Rhyme
Rhymes within a line of poetry . For example, the poem My Pet Germs by Kenn Nesbitt contains an internal rhyme on the third line of each stanza .

L

Light Verse
Poetry that is intended to be humorous, amusing, or entertaining. While there is some light verse written in free verse , most light verse is written in and meter . There are also many light-verse poetic forms , such as limericks , clerihews , double-dactyls, etc.

Limerick
A humorous 5-line poetic form with an AABBA . See How to Write a Limerick .

Line
A single row of words in a poem . For example, a has five lines, while a haiku has three lines. Lines are one of the main things that distinguish from .

List Poem
A poem that contains a list of things, people, places, etc. See .

M

Meter
patterns of and unstressed in .

N

Narrative Poem
A that tells a story. Narrative poems usually have a plot and one or more characters.

Near Rhyme
Also called a "slant rhyme" or a "half rhyme," "near rhyme" is a general term describing words that sound similar, but aren't a . Assonance , consonance and sight rhymes are common types of near rhymes. See also Assonance and Alliteration Lesson Plan .

Nonsense Poem
A form of light verse , usually and metrical , often with strange characters, fantastic or impossible situations, and made-up words. Lewis Carroll's Jabberwocky and Edward Lear's are famous examples of nonsense poetry.

Nursery Rhyme
A short, rhyming poem for young children, often telling a short story or describing an interesting character. The most well-known nursery rhymes in the English language are those attributed to Mother Goose .

O

Occasional Poem
A poem written to commemorate a specific occasion or event, such as a birthday, wedding, funeral, anniversary, graduation, military victory, etc.

P

Parody
A poem written in the style of another poem, usually humorous. Parodies usually assume the reader is familiar with the original work. For example, the poem "" by Kenn Nesbitt is a parody of the song "."

Perfect Rhyme
Two words that have exactly the same vowel and consonant sounds at the ends, starting with the first vowel of the last stressed syllable . For example, gr een/b ean, d ummy/t ummy, and c avity/g ravity are all perfect rhymes. Note that the first consonant sound of the last stressed syllable must be different. For example leaf/belief is not a perfect rhyme because the final stressed syllable of each word begins with the same consonant "l" sound. See also: , , and .

Poem
A written composition, often using rhythm , , , and other such artistic techniques to express an idea, feelings, or a story.

Poetry
Literature written in verse , as opposed to , often written in metrical lines .

Prose
Ordinary writing or spoken language, usually written in sentences and paragraphs, as opposed to rhythmical lines.

Pun
A "play on words," usually using homophones or homonyms , where a word or phrase has multiple meanings. For example, "Six was afraid of Seven because Seven ate Nine." This is a pun because the word "ate" sounds like "eight."

Q

Quatrain
A four-line poem or stanza .

R

Refrain
A phrase, line , or stanza that is repeated throughout a , often after each stanza.

Repetition
Using the same word, phrase, line , or two or more times in a poem .

Rhyme
Having the same sound at the end of two or more words such as pine / fine, nickel / pickle, and ability / fragility. See also , , , and .

Rhyme Scheme
The pattern of in a , written out as letters, such as AABB or ABAB. See to learn how to write the rhyme scheme of a poem.

Rhythm
The sound and feel created by the pattern of and unaccented , usually repeated, in a .

S

Sight Rhyme
Words that end with the same letters, but not the same sound, such as rough / cough / plough or prove / love / grove.

Single Rhyme
A rhyme in which the stress is on the final syllable of the words, such as cat / hat, and play / away. Also called a "masculine rhyme." See How to Rhyme .

Stanza
A group of lines in a poem, separated by space from other stanzas, much like a paragraph in prose.

Stress
Same as accent.

Syllable
A part of a word, usually a vowel and it's surrounding consonants, that makes a single sound when spoken. All words have at least one syllable. For example, cat, I, and would are all one syllable long because they are spoken with a single movement of the mouth. Cattle, eyeball, and wouldn't are all two syllables because they require two separate sounds to be spoken.

T

Tanka
A 5-line, 31- syllable unrhymed traditional Japanese poetic form, with five syllables on the first and third lines, and seven syllables on the second, fourth, and fifth lines. See also How to Write a Tanka Poem .

Tercet
A group of three lines that rhyme with one another, or are connected to another tercet by their rhyme scheme.

Theme
The main idea, topic, or subject of a poem.

Triple Rhyme
A rhyme in which the third-to-last syllable in the words final stressed syllable. For example, cavity / gravity, hammering / stammering, and nobility / agility are all triple rhymes. See How to Rhyme .

V

W

Wrenched Rhyme
the final of two words, where one is and the other is not. For example the words " sing" and " morning" are a wrenched rhyme because " sing" is stressed on the final (and only) syllable, but " morning" is stressed on the second-to-last syllable. Other examples include tin/ imagine, frog/ catalog, etc. See also .

Starting a Poetry Journal

A journal is a place to express yourself, to record your thoughts, feelings and observations, and to cultivate your poetic style. The cool thing about your journal is that it's yours. You can keep it secret or share it with your friends and family. You might even read some of your poetry out loud at a talent show or poetry jam. Whatever you decide to do with it, a daily poetry journal will keep you writing. And the more you write, the better writer you become!

Step One: Choose a journal that fits your style

Do you like to draw pictures and doodle around your poetry? If so, you might want a book with blank pages. Do you need help keeping your words in order? Then try a journal with lines, such as a spiral-bound notebook. If you write all day long whenever inspiration strikes, use a smaller book with a hard cover that you can tuck into your backpack, purse, or pocket.

Step Two: Organize your journal

While this is an important step, it will be different for everyone. You can divide your journal in several different ways:

Emotions: Joy, Anger, Sorrow, Humility, Pride

Seasons: Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall (add the different holidays within each season.)

Chronological: Just write the date at the top of the page.

Poetic Form: Acrostic, Cinquain, Clerihew, Diamante, Haiku, Limerick, Free Verse, etc.

Subject: Sports, Humor, Dance, Friends, Nature, School

Once you've decided how to organize your journal, use a paper clip, divider, sticky note, or colored tape to divide your sections. (You do not need to do this for a chronological journal.)

Step Three: Write!

Jot down interesting words, phrases, sentences, or feelings on the page before starting your poem. This provides a jumping-off point for your thoughts.

For example, today I heard someone say, "I can't be late for the bus!" So, I wrote that sentence on the top of a page in my "School" section.

Next, write down words that have to do with your phrase. For mine, I chose: Run, shout, nervous, hurry, stop, fast, heartbeat, homework, driver, windows, ice, puddles, clock, time, and wheels.

Then, decide what type of poem you want to write. For this one, I selected free verse.

Finally, use some of the words on your page to write your poem.

Bus Stop
My heart beats
so fast.

The puddles are lakes,
my homework... wet.

The clock ticks
faster than my feet
can run.

I shout to the driver,
"Stop!"

Wheels slow.
Take a breath.

I can't be late for the bus.

Step Four: Keep it up!

It's important to write in your journal on a regular basis. Finding a routine can help with that. Maybe you have quiet time at night before bed, when you're riding on the bus, or at lunch break. Make it a part of your day, and soon you'll have an entire journal full of incredible poetry!

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An Interview with Children's Poet Jack Prelutsky

Jack Prelutsky is the author of many, many colletions of poetry for children. His new book, I've Lost My Hippopotamus comes out today. I had a chance to speak with Jack about his career and his new book recently, and you can listen to that interview here.

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Search Results haiku - Kenn Nesbitt's Poetry4kids.com

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Sponsored Links Main Menu It is easy to learn to write a haiku, but it can take a lot of practice to learn how to do it well. This lesson will give you the basics for writing your own haiku. It's up to you to practice by writing a lot of them so you will get very good at it.

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Ken Nesbitt will teach you how to write a Concrete poem that looks like a shape!

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What is a Concrete Poem?

Concrete poetry-sometimes also called 'shape poetry'-is poetry whose visual appearance matches the topic of the poem. The words form shapes which illustrate the poem's subject as a picture, as well as through their literal meaning.

This type of poetry has been used for thousands of years, since the ancient Greeks began to enhance the meanings of their poetry by arranging their characters in visually pleasing ways back in the 3rd and 2nd Centuries BC.

A famous example is " The Mouse's Tale" from Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. The shape of the poem is a pun on the word tale/tail, as the words follow a long wiggling line getting smaller and smaller and ending in a point.

The name "Concrete Poetry," however, is from the 1950's, when a group of Brazilian poets called the Noigandres held an international exhibition of their work, and then developed a "manifesto" to define the style.

The manifesto states that concrete poetry ' communicates its own structure: structure = content '

There are 2 main ways that this can be achieved...

Outline Poems

A common way to make the visual structure reflect the subject of the poem is to fill an outline shape that relates to the topic of the poem, in the same way that Carroll's poem fits the outline of a mouse's tail.

Here is an example about a snowman:

Choose an object to be the subject for your poem. Good suggestions for beginners could be favorite animals or favorite foods.

Draw a simple outline of its shape on paper or on the computer. If you're using paper, draw with a pencil not a pen.

Write your poem normally. Try to describe how the subject makes you feel. The words will be fitted into your drawing, so don't make it too long - between 6-12 lines is probably a good length!

IT DOESN'T HAVE TO RHYME!

Lightly in pencil, or on the computer, write your poem into the shape. It's ok if it doesn't fit properly yet, because this is where you find out if you need to make the writing larger or smaller.

Decide if you need to make your writing bigger or smaller in certain parts of the drawing, then erase your first draft and write out the poem again. You can keep doing this until you are happy.

Finally, erase the outline of your shape, so that it is just the words from your poem left creating the image! If you were writing in pencil, you can now go over the words in pen!

(In my example I added the 'brrr...'s afterwards to make the picture look better, but without interrupting the story of the poem. If you want to try details like this, think of comic-book-style effect words like 'flash', 'purr', 'phew' or 'zzzz...' to add another element to the story-picture!)

Drawing Poems

Another way to make concrete poetry is to use the lines of words to make the lines of a drawing. The NASA website has a great example about the first ever airplanes if you click here.

This time, the subject doesn't have to be an object, but it does have to be something you can draw an illustration of using 'stick' figures.

This is my example of 'growing':

Choose your subject

Draw a simple line - or 'stick' - drawing to illustrate your subject on paper or on the computer. If you're using paper, draw with a pencil not a pen.

Write your poem normally. Simple is best, so stick to between 2-6 lines.

IT DOESN'T HAVE TO RHYME!

Lightly in pencil, or on the computer, write the lines of your poem along the lines of your drawing - remember that we normally read from left to right, and from top to bottom!

If you don't have enough words, or have some left over, don't worry! Decide where you need to make your writing bigger or smaller to make it all fit, then erase your first draft and write out the poem again over your line drawing. You can keep doing this until you are happy.

Finally, erase the line drawing, so that it is just the words from your poem left creating the image! (If you were writing in pencil, go over the writing in pen first.)

(In my example I wanted to add branches to the tree, so used repeated words from my poem to highlight the theme, and make the picture better. If you want to add details like this, think about what the most important word is in your poem and use the one that best sums up its message!)

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Concrete poetry-sometimes also called 'shape poetry'-is poetry whose visual appearance matches the topic of the poem. The words form shapes which illustrate the poem's subject as a picture, as well as through their literal meaning.

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Learn how to write a Cinquain poem and use descriptive words with this helpful video.

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These resources are for one-page poems. They are shorter and take less time to read. It has acrostic, cinquain, haiku, and concrete poem examples and how to make them. Click on the picture in the post to go to the poem or video.

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These resources are songs with poems. We did the Fireworks one together in class. You can choose to listen to and analyze a song for its poetry for the poetry assignment.  Click on the picture in the post.

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These resources are ebooks or audiobooks. You can listen to poetry instead of read it for your poetry unit. Click on the picture in the post.

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These resources are websites with poems for your poetry unit. You can go to them by clicking on the picture in the post. Pick a website. Explore the poetry options. Pick your favorite.

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These resources are poetry books from our Brookfield Library. They will help you explore poetry for your 3rd grade poetry unit. They can be checked out through the Destiny catalog.

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These are the Lyrics for the song "Up Above My Head I Hear Music". These lyrics can be used for the extended choice poetry assignment.

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A blues song of poetry by one of best! This song can be used for the extended choice poetry assignment.

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Sister Rosetta Tharpe - Up Above My Head (France 1965)

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The Poetry of Hip Hop: A Playlist for your classroom

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The Poetry of Hip Hop: A Playlist for your classroom

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A 1-hour playlist of hip hop songs with poetry for the classroom. These songs can be used for the extended choice poetry assignment.

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Poems in various forms celebrate everything from sitting in class to sailing through space. Amazon link https://www.amazon.com/Lettuce-Introduce-You-Poems-Poetry/dp/1429617039/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=lettuce+introduce+you&qid=1635615919&qsid=132-1403487-0582762&s=books&sr=1-1&sres=1429617039%2CB00ZQB3ZGE%2C1423601505%2CB086PN2KLH

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myON is here to help ensure your students can keep reading and learning even if schools close. To support you and your students, please see the learning and implementation resources available on our Renaissance at Home hub.

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myON is here to help ensure your students can keep reading and learning even if schools close. To support you and your students, please see the learning and implementation resources available on our Renaissance at Home hub.

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And Then There Were Eight: Poems About Space

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And Then There Were Eight: Poems About Space

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A collection of original, outer space-themed poetry for children accompanied by striking photos. The book demonstrates a variety of common poetic forms and defines poetic devices. Amazon link https://www.amazon.com/Then-There-Were-Eight-Poetry/dp/1515761533/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=and+then+there+were+eight&qid=1635615875&qsid=132-1403487-0582762&s=books&sr=1-1&sres=142961207X%2C0972887970%2C1983164658%2C1258223996%2C1250244145%2CB015MQS3XW%2C1501161938%2C0778389448%2C0140280197%2CB01B3DIPMW%2C9124377597%2C1501171348%2C1250760127%2C0553609416%2C0593318072%2CB07V712186

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myON is here to help ensure your students can keep reading and learning even if schools close. To support you and your students, please see the learning and implementation resources available on our Renaissance at Home hub.

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myON is here to help ensure your students can keep reading and learning even if schools close. To support you and your students, please see the learning and implementation resources available on our Renaissance at Home hub.

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Trust, Truth and Ridiculous Goofs: Reading and Writing Friendship Poems

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Trust, Truth and Ridiculous Goofs: Reading and Writing Friendship Poems

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Friends make everything better even poetry! This book celebrates friendships of all kinds. And, like a good friend, it shares the tools you'll need to write your own poems. So open up, and discover the poet in you! Amazon link https://www.amazon.com/s?k=trust+truth+and+ridiculous+goofs&i=stripbooks&ref=nb_sb_noss

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myON is here to help ensure your students can keep reading and learning even if schools close. To support you and your students, please see the learning and implementation resources available on our Renaissance at Home hub.

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myON is here to help ensure your students can keep reading and learning even if schools close. To support you and your students, please see the learning and implementation resources available on our Renaissance at Home hub.

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If words describe a feeling or some words rhyme, you're reading a poem. How else do you know? Quick, fun examples help you understand the beauty of poetry. Amazon link https://www.amazon.com/Learning-About-Poems-Language-Arts/dp/1491406488/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=learning+about+poems&qid=1635615701&qsid=132-1403487-0582762&s=books&sr=1-5&sres=0582291305%2C1494487853%2C1491405805%2C1732596379%2CB08SBDL4SC%2C1647184991%2CB088N67PLS%2CB098GT2QFC%2C1647397294%2C0763676446%2C0763617083%2C1732151520%2C1580899374%2C1337097616%2C1990469108%2C0578811146&srpt=ABIS_BOOK

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myON is here to help ensure your students can keep reading and learning even if schools close. To support you and your students, please see the learning and implementation resources available on our Renaissance at Home hub.

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myON is here to help ensure your students can keep reading and learning even if schools close. To support you and your students, please see the learning and implementation resources available on our Renaissance at Home hub.

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Amusingly absurd and playfully profound, this delightfully illustrated volume of original poems is sure to tickle the fancy of children and adults alike. Amazon link https://www.amazon.com/Wishing-Bone-Other-Poems/dp/0763611182/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=the+wishing+bone&qid=1635615628&qsid=132-1403487-0582762&s=books&sr=1-2&sres=1444009974%2C0763611182%2C0915520443%2C1790247950%2CB08NCTJ24Q%2C004823141X%2C1734740477%2CB088BNZTHZ%2C1623368391%2CB088N4XZG8%2CB01M7O4QQJ%2CB0793QZGWT%2CB000FBJFZA%2C1680101404%2C1733456503%2C039304002X

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TumbleBookLibrary is a curated database of children's e-books, available by subscription to Elementary Schools and Public Libraries around the world. TumbleBookLibrary Premium has over 1100 titles for grades K-6, and includes our unique animated, talking picture books, read-along chapter books, non fiction books and videos, curated playlists, as well as books in Spanish and French.

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In Rhyme Stones, we go spelunking, we meet a witch who can't stay on her broomstick, a schoolyard bully, and we see how a simple piece of cloth can become anything we want it to be. Each long poem is followed by an exclusive interview with the main character, and each short poem has a "trailer" of cool facts about the theme. Amazon link https://www.amazon.com/Rhyme-Stones-Orca-Echoes-Skene/dp/1551436361

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Amazon link https://www.amazon.com/Other-Goose-Re-Nurseried-Re-Rhymed-Childrens/dp/0811868826

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YouTube link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DC_b8C08nsg

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In Monster Lunch we dine with Frankenstein, attend a burgoo and a birthday party, meet a grumpy garden dude and slurp hot zoop. Each poem is followed by an interview with the main character or fascinating facts about food. This collection of yummy, yucky, messy and hot rhyming stories is bursting with rhythmical fun. Amazon link https://www.amazon.com/Monster-Lunch-Orca-Echoes-Skene/dp/1551439417

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Haiku is a form of Japanese poetry. Haiku is also a little cat who can't seem to stay out of trouble. "A Cat Named Haiku" tells the story of the day in the life of a mischievous little cat, as he learns a valuable lesson on love told completely in haiku. After disobeying his owner, Haiku discovers at the end of the day even if someone is mad at you it doesn't mean they don't still love you. Youtube link: https://youtu.be/CdfhAOwGwps

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The Poetry Foundation has links to many different types of poems.

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Here are my newest funny kid's poems for you to read and rate. I post new poems as I write them, so please check back often. Have fun!

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Write your own Haiku poem with the tool on this website.

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With this interactive, students can learn about and write haiku, a popular Japanese poem that traditionally has three lines of 5, 7, and 5 syllables. Students begin by brainstorming words for their poem, and then they compose their poem with attention to how many syllables they've written for each line. The final step allows students to customize the design of their poem with one of the provided artistic backgrounds or by uploading their own image.

Saving capability allows students to return to their work and make revisions. Final work can be shared via e-mail, as a PDF, or printed out.

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With this interactive, students can learn about and write haiku, a popular Japanese poem that traditionally has three lines of 5, 7, and 5 syllables. Students begin by brainstorming words for their poem, and then they compose their poem with attention to how many syllables they've written for each line.

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Shel Silverstien Books/Poetry Read Alouds

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Shel Silverstien Books/Poetry Read Alouds

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Lots of fun for Shel Silverstein fans! Follow the links below for Shel Silverstein activities, wallpapers, audio, and more!

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Lots of fun for Shel Silverstein fans! Follow the links below for Shel Silverstein activities, wallpapers, audio, and more!

Then further explore www.shelsilverstein.com to find exclusive animations for many of Shel Silverstein's poems. Welcome to the magical world of Shel Silverstein!

Wallpapers

View All

Click to download free wallpaper images for your desktop!

Don't Bump the Glump!

Printables

View All

Print these fun activities to share with your friends

Poetry Workshop Kit

Download

Falling Up Special Edition Door Hanger

Make your own Shel Silverstein door hanger featuring "Keep-Out House" from Falling Up Special Edition!

Download

Make Your Own Bookmark

Download

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Lots of fun for Shel Silverstein fans! Follow the links below for Shel Silverstein activities, wallpapers, audio, and more! Then further explore www.shelsilverstein.com to find exclusive animations for many of Shel Silverstein's poems. Welcome to the magical world of Shel Silverstein! View All Click to download free wallpaper images for your desktop!

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Choose from 180 different poems to read from the Library of Congress's website.

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List of All 180 Poems | Poetry 180 | Poet Laureate Projects | Poet Laureate | Poetry & Literature | Programs | Library of Congress

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The Library of Congress promotes poetry and literature year-round through our online and in-person programs, our honors and prizes, and our ambassadors.

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Use the tool on this website to find rhymes, synonyms, adjectives, and more for your own poetry!

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rhyming dictionary rhyme rhymes thesaurus spelling spellcheck words songwriting poetry language lyrics shakespeare quotations mother goose quotes rimezone rymezone

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RhymeZone rhyming dictionary and thesaurus

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A comprehensive rhyming dictionary, thesaurus, and brainstorming tool for the English language. Includes dozens of functions to help songwriters, poets, and anyone else in need of a word.

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Use the tool on this website to find words starting with particular letters. Create an acrostic poem with your own word!

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Acrostic Poems. Mnemonics. Backronyms.
Fast, Free & Fun.

Find words starting with particular letters. Create anacrostic poem,backronym ormnemonic for...

Acrostic Poem / Mnemonic Keywords & Quickstart

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Acrostic poem, mnemonic, backronym and word playground.

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Acrostic Poems. Mnemonics. Backronyms. Fast, Free & Fun. Find words starting with particular letters. Create anacrostic poem,backronym ormnemonic for... Acrostic Poem / Mnemonic Keywords & Quickstart

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No more poems! : a book in verse that just gets worse

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No more poems! : a book in verse that just gets worse

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These poems talk about the problems of childhood as well as the happenings of modern family life.

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Beware, take care : fun and spooky poems

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Beware, take care : fun and spooky poems

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A collection of poems starring monsters of all shapes, sizes, and colors, including a twelve-toed creature and a little lost dragon.

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A beautiful day in the neighborhood : the poetry of Mister Rogers

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A beautiful day in the neighborhood : the poetry of Mister Rogers

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From funny to sweet, silly to sincere, the lyrics of Mister Rogers explore such universal topics as feelings, new siblings, everyday life, imagination, and more

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Sports! sports! sports! : a poetry collection

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Sports! sports! sports! : a poetry collection

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A of poems celebrates the joy and anguish of baseball, basketball, football, ice hockey, soccer, skating, swimming, and running races

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The palm of my heart : poetry by African American children

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The palm of my heart : poetry by African American children

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Twenty inner-city children, ages 6 to 12, wrote these moving and powerful poems during a writing workshop

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Pass it on : African-American poetry for children

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Pass it on : African-American poetry for children

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A collection of poetry by fourteen African-American poets.

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One summer morning in the sizzling city, seven kids gather on a street corner to share the power of poetry. As they move through the neighborhood, the kids transform their experiences -- standing up to a tough kid, slurping spaghetti and ice cream, a good "hiccup cough sniff" cry -- into a poetry slam celebrating the strength and energy of their own unique voices.

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Animal ark : celebrating our wild world in poetry and pictures

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Animal ark : celebrating our wild world in poetry and pictures

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A howling wolf, a stalking tiger, a playful panda, a dancing bird –  pictures by Joel Sartore and words by Kwame Alexander

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National Geographic Book of Animal Poetry

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National Geographic Book of Animal Poetry

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Beautiful pictures with musical words celebrating animals with poetry.

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Poetry can have both a rhyme and a rhythm. Sometimes it is obvious; sometimes it is hidden. But either way, make no mistake, poetry is as vibrant and exciting as it gets. And when you find yourself clapping your hands or tapping your feet, you know you've found poetry with a beat!

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Take a wild ride with poet Sara Holbrook as she guides young writers in performing their poetry with style and pizzazz. With enthusiasm and a touch of irreverence, Ms. Holbrook, a performance poet herself, explains how to use voice, rhythm, attitude, movement, and other techniques to perform poetry in a group, duo, or solo. More than thirty poems are included for young readers to practice, as well as instructions for putting on a poetry jam at school or in the community.

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Here are some fun short poems for an easy read.

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Short poems for kids can help spark their interest in poetry and even help them learn to read. The key is choosing pieces that are quick and fun so kids don't get overwhelmed. The following poems are great for kids of all ages.

short poem for kids My Missing Shoe

The Crocodile

"The Crocodile" is a short, funny poem for kids by Lewis Carroll, the author of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. It's got plenty of rhyme, which makes it an easy poem to memorize, and the hilarious ending will charm even the youngest children.

How doth the little crocodile

Improve his shining tail,

And pour the waters of the Nile

On every golden scale!

How cheerfully he seems to grin!

How neatly spread his claws,

And welcomes little fishes in

With gently smiling jaws!

The Purple Cow

Another funny poem for kids, "The Purple Cow" by Gelett Burgess has been delighting children since its publication in 1895. It's amusing and easy to learn, and it will introduce kids to the joy of poetry. With only four simple lines, even Kindergarten students will be able to memorize it.

I never saw a purple cow,

I hope to never see one,

But I can tell you, anyhow,

I'd rather see than be one!

The Eagle

You might not think of Alfred, Lord Tennyson as a children's poet, but his short poem, "The Eagle" is perfect for the middle grades. It's a great introduction to visual imagery with its vivid descriptions, and the rhyme makes it easy for kids to enjoy and remember.

He clasps the crag with crooked hands;

Close to the sun in lonely lands,

Ring'd with the azure world, he stands.

The wrinkled sea beneath him crawls;

He watches from his mountain walls,

And like a thunderbolt he falls.

Dream Variations

" Dream Variations" by Langston Hughes offers a different vision of children's poetry. This poem, about race and ethnicity, is told from the perspective of a child and offers a playful quality that will appeal to kids and adults alike. This excerpt is the second stanza of the poem.

To fling my arms wide

In the face of the sun,

Dance! Whirl! Whirl!

Till the quick day is done.

Rest at pale evening . . .

A tall, slim tree . . .

Night coming tenderly

Black like me.

I'm Nobody, Who Are You?

When it comes to short poems for kids to recite, no one can beat Emily Dickinson. The beautiful rhythm and rhyme scheme of her work makes it fun to read aloud. "I'm Nobody, Who Are You?" playfully deals with the concepts of identity and individuality, something that will resonate with kids of all ages.

I'm Nobody! Who are you?

Are you-Nobody-Too?

Then there's a pair of us!

Don't tell! they'd advertise-you know!

How dreary-to be-Somebody!

How public-like a Frog-

To tell one's name-the livelong June-

To an admiring Bog!

At the Zoo

Many people don't realize that William Makepeace Thackeray, author of important Victorian novels like Vanity Fair, was also a poet. "At the Zoo" is a fun, short rhyming poem for kids, and it's also a great alliteration example for younger readers. Kids will love the repetition of sounds and the easy-to-remember rhyme and rhythm.

First I saw the white bear, then I saw the black;

Then I saw the camel with a hump upon his back;

Then I saw the grey wolf, with mutton in his maw;

Then I saw the wombat waddle in the straw;

Then I saw the elephant a-waving of his trunk;

Then I saw the monkeys-mercy, how unpleasantly they-smelt!

What Are Heavy?

Christina Rossetti wrote several short poems for kids during the 1800s, and a few of them stand the test of time. "What Are Heavy?" is a poem that sounds like a riddle. The question-and-answer pattern of the lines is easy to remember, and it captures the attention of young readers.

What are heavy? Sea-sand and sorrow;

What are brief? Today and tomorrow;

What are frail? Spring blossoms and youth;

What are deep? The ocean and truth.

First Fig

Kids who are tempted to stay up late on school nights will enjoy "First Fig" by Edna St. Vincent Millay. This is an easy poem to memorize and recite, and it's also a good way to learn about symbolism in poetry.

My candle burns at both ends;

It will not last the night;

But ah, my foes, and oh, my friends -

It gives a lovely light!

Bed in Summer

Written more than a century ago, Robert Louis Stevenson 's charming poem "Bed in Summer" speaks to a topic that resonates just as beautifully with children today: going to bed before it's dark outside. It's a great poem for kids to recite, since the rhyme scheme makes it easy to remember each line.

In winter I get up at night

And dress by yellow candle-light.

In summer, quite the other way,

I have to go to bed by day.

I have to go to bed and see

The birds still hopping on the tree,

Or hear the grown-up people's feet

Still going past me in the street.

And does it not seem hard to you,

When all the sky is clear and blue,

And I should like so much to play,

To have to go to bed by day?

My Missing Shoe

You can also use original short poems for kids. Write your own poem about something that will resonate with child readers. Be specific and keep the language at the appropriate level. "My Missing Shoe" by Kate Miller-Wilson is an original children's poem about a child searching for their shoe.

I looked for you by the front door,

Under my bed, on the bathroom floor,

Near the back stairs, in the drawer with my socks,

Next to the table, and out in the sandbox.

My mother is calling me, and I'm calling you,

Where have you gone, my missing shoe?

Start Small With Short Poems

If you start small with short poems for kids, you can help them develop a passion for poetry without getting overwhelmed. Once they've learned to love reading and reciting poems, introduce them to children's poetry books that will spark their imaginations and keep them reading verse for a lifetime.

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Short poems for kids can help spark their interest in poetry and even help them learn to read. The key is choosing pieces that are quick and fun so kids don't get overwhelmed. The following poems are great for kids of all ages.

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This resource gives you anchor charts for 12 different types of poems. Use some of them or use them all!

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There are so many different types of poems for kids to learn about. Poetry is an important tool that can be used in the classroom to reinforce reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills. The natural rhythms and rhymes of poems help kids build their fluency and expression. Poetry is also great for making inferences, connections, and visualizations. Kids love to create their own poems and share them with the class. Click on any of these 12 different types of poems below to get more activities and resources.

Types of Poems

Poetry Activities

Would you love to have all 12 types of poems with activities and writing paper? In the beginning, I created these resources out of necessity. When it came time to teach poetry in the classroom, I quickly realized there were limited materials. It took a lot of time and energy to create resources for each type of poem. Now my students and I both agree that poetry is one of our favorite writing units. My hope is to save you the extra work so you and your kids can get started enjoying poetry too! Click the picture below for the poetry bundle.

Poetry Covers

Now that you know some of the types of poems for kids, think about having students write their own to create a poetry journal. Click the picture below or this link to download FREE cover pages.

You Might Also Like:

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Types of Poems for Kids to Read and Write - Vibrant Teaching

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There are so many different types of poems for kids to learn about. Poetry is an important tool that can be used in the classroom to reinforce reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills. The natural rhythms and rhymes of poems help kids build their fluency and expression.

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Poems with many different topics for kids.

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The following selections of poems are curated around specific themes and are appropriate for young readers.

Find poetry lesson plans, essays about teaching, a glossary of poetry terms, and other educator resources on our Materials for Teachers page. Visit our Poetry for Teens page to find more selections of poems tailored to a high school audience. Encourage students to participate in the Dear Poet project. And, celebrate Poem In Your Pocket Day virtually on April 30.

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Poems for Kids - The following selections of poems are curated around specific themes and are appropriate fo

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These are the lyrics to be used with the song "Firework".

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Free Download: Figurative Language and Poetic Devices/Poetry Terms Identification using Katy Perry's "Firework"

Use Katy Perry's popular song "Firework" to teach figurative language, sound devices, and other poetry terms. You can decide how many and which devices you'd like your students to find.

Those I've pointed out in this exercise include:
alliteration, anaphora, simile, metaphor, hyperbole, personification, onomatopoeia, rhyme, internal rhyme, and assonance.

Best of all, this fun lesson is free!

This IS included in my mega bundle: ALL of my POETRY RESOURCES GROWING BUNDLE.

You might also like:
One Direction Song Lyrics Poetry Activity
Poetry Task Cards - Common Core Aligned
Poetry Terms Review Powerpoint Game
Tracee's Poetry Resources

Created by Tracee Orman
Mrs. Orman's Classroom

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Free Downloads: "Firework" by Katy Perry Poetry Terms Figurative Language

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Free Download: Figurative Language and Poetic Devices/Poetry Terms Identification using Katy Perry's "Firework" Use Katy Perry's popular song "Firework" to teach figurative language, sound devices, and other poetry terms. You can decide how many and which devices you'd like your students to find.

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These are the lyrics to be used with the song "You're a Mean One, Mr.Grinch".

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This activity is fun and engaging and help students identify similes and metaphors. This is great to use when focusing on poetry.

FREE Product Includes:

- lyrics of "The Grinch Song"
- similes and meaphors recording sheet

Play the Grinch song (from YouTube) and let the students listen to the song without the lyrics. Then pass out a copy of the lyrics to the students and play the song a second time. Have students highlight, circle, or underline the similes and metaphors found within the song. Then, on the recording sheet, students can write down 3-5 different similes and metaphors that they have found.

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Teaching Similes & Metaphors Through Music

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This activity is fun and engaging and help students identify similes and metaphors. This is great to use when focusing on poetry. FREE Product Includes: - lyrics of "The Grinch Song" - similes and meaphors recording sheet Play the Grinch song (from YouTube) and let the students listen to the so...

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This song can be used for the extended choice poetry assignment.

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"You're a Mean One, Mr Grinch" ~ Dr Seuss

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Katy Perry's song Firework. This can be used with the song as poetry part of the poetry unit lesson.

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Katy Perry - Firework (From “The Prismatic World Tour Live”)