FOR KIDS
Graphics from http://www.thekidzpage.com/
Here are some different types of poems to try in your classroom or at home for fun.
Here are some different types of poems to try in your classroom or at home for fun.
ACROSTIC:
In Acrostic poems, the first letters of each line are aligned vertically to form a word.
The word often is the subject of the poem.An example is-
Elegantly and efficiently shaped
Good to eat
Great fun to find at Easter
Smooth shelledAcrostic poems - https://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/lesson-plans/acrostic-poems-about-favorite
https://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/student-interactives/acrostic-poems
https://examples.yourdictionary.com/acrostic-poem-examples.html
https://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poems/other/acrostic/
https://www.youngwriters.co.uk/types-acrostic
https://www.poetry4kids.com/lessons/how-to-write-an-acrostic-poem/
https://www.kidzone.ws/poetry/acrostic.htm
ALPHABET:
Each line begins with the letters of the alphabet in order.An example - A young girl was busy working on her project for school
But suddenly she had a question.
Could this be her lucky day?
Deciding to find out, she
Entered her backyard and
Found hundreds of green shamrocks waiting for her.Another type of alphabet poem requires you to use all 26 letters of the alphabet in your poem.
Edward Lear - https://poets.org/poem/alphabet-poem
https://discover.hubpages.com/literature/Alphabet-Poem
https://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poems/other/abc/
AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL:
Write a poem about yourself using this form or another poetry form.
Line 1: __ Your name
Line 2: _, _, _ 3 personal characteristics or physical traits
Line 3: Brother or sister of__ or son/daughter of
Line 4: Who loves__, __, and __ 3 people, things, ideas
Line 5: Who feels__ about__1 emotion about 1 thing
Line 6: Who needs__, __, and __ 3 things you need
Line 7: Who gives __, __, and __3 objects you share
Line 8: Who fears__, __, and __3 items
Line 9: Who'd like to see, __1 place, or person
Line 10: Who dreams of __ 1 item or idea
Line 11: A student of__ your school or teacher's name
Line 12: __ Nickname or repeat your first name
BALLAD:
Retell an event in history, in the news, or in your life as a ballad.
You will want the ballad to rhyme. You may copy the style of other poets.An example is -
Joan of ArcThe day was cold,
Both armies bold,
As hands grasped the ladders,
Ramparts were scaled,
Arrows were sailed,
But the French climbed the Tourelles.Although Joan was hit in the shoulder,
The French continued to grow bolder,
Even slowly healing in a field,
She raised a fiery French revolt,
Just hit by a crossbow bolt,
Armor glistening white.The English got cold feet,
And began a hasty retreat,
As French crawled out of Orleans,
Passing the cold river on boards,
Attacking English with sharp swords,
They set the Tourelles on fire.English Captain Sir Glasdale,
Certainly looked very pale,
When they found him drowned in the river,
Sir Talbot ordered the English forts be left,
To avoid anymore French fort theft,
And so Orleans was freed.-Pierce
History of the Ballad - https://poets.org/glossary/ballad
Writing a ballad - http://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Ballad
https://grammar.yourdictionary.com/writing/how-to-write-a-ballad-poem-step-by-step.html
https://www.aresearchguide.com/write-a-ballad.html
CINQUAIN: ( History of )
Cinquains have five lines
Line 1: Title (noun) - 1 word
Line 2: Description - 2 words
Line 3: Action - 3 words
Line 4: Feeling (phrase) - 4 words
Line 5: Title (synonym for the title) - 1 wordAn example is -
Mom
Helpful, caring
Loves to garden
Excitable, likes satisfying people
TeacherSammie
****Create a cinquain online at http://www.eduplace.com/tales/content/wwt_045.html
http://www.eduplace.com/activity/poem_cinquain.html
Animal cinquain - https://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/administration_pdf/lpanimalcinquain.pdf
More: https://poets.org/glossary/cinquain
http://pages.uoregon.edu/leslieob/cinquain.html
https://www.poetry4kids.com/lessons/how-to-write-a-cinquain-poem/
https://writeshop.com/writing-a-cinquain-poem/
COLOR:
A poem about your favorite color. Express your feelings about a single color with analogies or similes or list nouns which are (or remind you of) that color.
Another easy form is to use the 5 senses-looks like, sounds like, smells like, tastes like, feels like.
Color looks like
Color sounds like
Color smells like
Color tastes like
Color feels likeAn example is -
Orange
Orange is feeling in your stomach after an orange soda quenched your thirst.
Orange is the sun after a summer day.
Orange is the sound of a field filled with dandelions blowing in the wind.
Orange is the taste of a pizza that just came out of the oven.
Orange is the sound of a busy bumblebee.
Orange is the taste of cold glass of orange juice.
Orange is the feeling inside you when you accomplish something.
Orange is the sound of a tomato plant growing.
Orange is the color of a carrot that just popped out of the ground.
Orange is the smell of a Tiger-Lily petal.
Orange is the feeling after a baby smiles.
Orange is the color of a brown beaver's incisor.
Orange is the smell of a late July day.
Orange is the feeling of a puppy's fur.
Orange is the color of peach marmalade on a side of toast.
Orange is the sound of a canoe paddling through shallow water.
And orange is a color that is safe and alive.Julia
About color poems - https://discoverpoetry.com/poems/color-poems/
https://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/lesson-plans/color-poems-using-five
http://www.bolivar.k12.mo.us/BIS/bishome/faculty/lberg/lessons/colorpoem.htm
https://www.teachercreated.com/lessons/36
DIAMANTE:
The Diamante is a form similar to the Cinquain. The text forms the shape of a diamond.
Line 1: Noun or subject - one word
Line 2: Two Adjectives that describe line 1
Line 3: Three 'ing words that describe line 1
Line 4: Four nouns - the first two are connected with line 1; the last two are connected with line 7
Line 5: Three 'ing words that describe line 7
Line 6: Two adjectives that describe line 7
Line 7: Noun Synonym for the subject
An example is-
Pencil
Sharp,
skinny
Writing,
answering, erasing
Wood,
lead, ink, plastic
Drawing,
smudging, leaking
Durable,
comfortable
Pen
By
Abbie
Diamantes online -
https://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/student-interactives/diamante-poems
https://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/printouts/diamante-poem
About diamantes -
http://www.poetry4kids.com/blog/lessons/how-to-write-a-diamante-poem/
http://pages.uoregon.edu/leslieob/diamantes.html
Explorer Poems:
Remember "In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue"? I mentioned that line to my students while we were doing explorer reports, and they
assured me they had never heard of it before. So, it made great sense to assign explorer poems.
The plan was to start with 5-10 facts about the explorer from their reports. Then we reviewed simple rhyme schemes and discussed
poetic license. The students began their poems in class, and then took them home to share (and revise) with parents.See our explorer poems at: http://www.kathimitchell.com/explpoe.htm and
http://www.kathimitchell.com/explpoems.htm
HAIKU:
Haiku is Japanese poetry that reflects on nature and feelings. You use your observation skills to write what you see in a new or different way.
There are three lines with five syllables in the first line, seven syllables in the second, and five syllables in the third.
How To - http://www.kidzone.ws/poetry/haiku.htm
http://www.poetry4kids.com/blog/lessons/how-to-write-a-haiku/
https://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/student-interactives/haiku-poem-interactive
https://poets.org/glossary/haiku
https://www.creative-writing-now.com/how-to-write-a-haiku.html
Haiku lessons and ideas - http://www.smith.edu/fcceas/curriculum/girard.htm
Harry Potter haiku - http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/lesson/lesson180.shtml
I WISH POEMS -
Each line of the poem begins with the words "I wish" and then you fill in your ideas
The poem should be 8-10 lines long.
http://www.teach-nology.com/worksheets/language_arts/poems/poetry11.pdf
http://lets-explore.net/blog/2010/09/i-wish-poems/
http://poetryforchildren.tripod.com/poetryforchildren/id25.html
LIES:
Here is your chance to tell a falsehood
and not get punished!
In this type of poem, each line
contains an outrageous lie.
Each line must begin differently.
The
main rule
is
not to say anything that hurts anyone.
LIMERICK:
A limerick has five lines.
The last words of lines one, two, and five rhyme.
The last words of lines three and four rhyme.
A limerick has to have a pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables.
U S U U S U U S
U S U U S U U S
U S U U S
U S U U S
U S U U S U U SAn example is -
"There was an old man from Peru
Who dreamed he was eating his shoe
He awoke in the night
With a terrible fright
To discover it was totally true."
Limericks online - https://www.teachingideas.co.uk/writing-poetry/limericks
http://www.learner.org/teacherslab/math/patterns/limerick/limerick_acttxt.html
http://www.poetry4kids.com/blog/lessons/how-to-write-a-limerick/
https://www.kidzone.ws/poetry/limerick.htm
https://www.education.com/activity/article/write-st-patrick-day-limerick/
http://www.webexhibits.org/poetry/explore_famous_limerick_make.html
MONSTER POEM:
Describe an imaginary monster. Try to have a theme (food, sports, animals, school subjects etc.)An example is-
"The Scrumptious Sweet- Tooth Monster"The Scrumptious Sweet- Tooth Monster has:
Hershey Kiss Cranium
Peppermint Smirk
Appealing Rock Candy Torso
Red Licorice limbs
Black Licorice appendagesGreen and Blue M&M eyes
Bubble gum feet that blow up into hefty bubbles when he scampers
Snout is made of a bulky scoop of rocky road ice cream that is so cold it will never liquefy
Vibrant Colored Chiclets for his choppers
Tootsie Rolls for eyebrows
In a crown form he has Sweet Tarts for locks of hairLeft Fingers are made of grape lollipops
Right Fingers are made of Watermelon lollipops
This is one appetizing monster!By: Kate
Monster poems - https://www.poetry4kids.com/topic/monsters/
https://www.poemhunter.com/poems/monsters/
http://cmspoets.edublogs.org/2010/05/26/monster-poems/
RHYMING:
Couplets are made up of two lines whose last words rhyme. They are often silly.
An example is -
My cat ate a mouse
And then brought it in the house.Triplets are made up of three lines. The rhyming pattern can be AAA or ABA.
An example is -
What a fine day
To go out to play
In the month of May.Quatrains are made up of four lines. The rhyming pattern can be AABB or ABAB.
An example is -
The Purple Cow
Gelett BurgessI never saw a purple cow,
I never hope to see one:
But I can tell you, anyhow,
I'd rather see than be one.****For help finding words that rhyme, go to http://www.rhymezone.com/ and https://www.poetry4kids.com/rhymes/
SHAPE (or CONCRETE):
Shape poems are made up of words that have been placed in such a way that they make the shape of an object and also use words to describe the object.Start by making a simple outline of the shape or object ( an animal, a football, a fruit etc.) large enough to fill a piece of paper.
Then brainstorm a minimum of ten words and phrases that describe the shape. List action and feeling words as well.
Next, place a piece of paper over the shape and decide where your words are going to be placed so that they outline your shape but also fit well together.
Separate words and phrases with commas.https://www.poetry4kids.com/news/how-to-write-a-concrete-poem/
https://libguides.bernardsboe.com/c.php?g=701044&p=4974427
https://www.dkfindout.com/us/music-art-and-literature/poetry/shape-poems/
https://www.ssf.net/home/showpublisheddocument/20534/637271681182230000
Christmas Tree-shaped Poems - http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/00-2/lp2256.shtml
THIRD EYE:
The Third Eye poem tells about things that might go unnoticed and are improbable or impossible to see with regular eyesight.
The Third Eye knows what is really happening.An example is -
The third eye notices when Abbie spilt juice on the rug and said it was Lizzie.
The third eye notices when you tell your mom you brushed your teeth for two minutes,
and you only brushed for one.
The third eye notices when you're supposed to be doing your homework, and you're listening to music.
The third eye sees when you're on the phone for five minutes longer then you're supposed to be.
The third eye can tell when you had ice cream for dinner when your parents went out.Courtney
Ideas for Poetry in the Classroom - https://www.weareteachers.com/poetry-games-for-the-classroom/
https://www.teachwriting.org/612th/2018/3/7/3-poetry-activities-students-students-will-love
https://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/article-write-a-structured-poem
https://www.edutopia.org/article/every-student-can-be-poet
http://www.educationworld.com/a_special/poetrymonth.shtml
https://www.readingrockets.org/calendar/poetryWriting Poetry - https://www.teachingideas.co.uk/subjects/writing-poetry
Scholastic poetry ideas - http://teacher.scholastic.com/poetry/index.htm
FizzyFunnyFuzzy Poetry for Kids - http://www.fizzyfunnyfuzzy.com/
Poets.org - http://www.poets.org/page.php/prmID/87Poetry 4 Kids - http://www.poetry4kids.com/poems
The Teacher's Guide - http://www.theteachersguide.com/poetrymonth.htm
Why Poetry in the Classroom? - https://proudtobeprimary.com/reasons-teach-poetry-classroom/
https://www.readingrockets.org/article/10-ways-use-poetry-your-classroom
This
page was developed by Kathi Mitchell
and was last updated on March 17, 2022
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