Freelance Writing Jobs | Today's Articles | Sign In


Write ABC, Haiku, Quatrain and Concrete Poems

A Poetry Guide for Elementary Education Lessons and Activities

May 16, 2007 Megan Sheakoski

Elementary school teachers can teach students how to write a quatrain poem, a haiku, an alphabet or ABC poem, and a concrete poem and display their poetry in class.

Teaching students to write and read poetry can be a lot of fun! Use this “cheat sheet” to develop fun poetry lessons and activities for elementary and middle school students.

1. Quatrain

A 4 line poem that can have two set of rhyming lines.

  • If the first line rhymes with the second line, the third line may rhyme with the fourth line (AABB).
  • If the first line rhymes with the third line, the second line may rhyme with the fourth line (ABAB).
  • A quatrain is very useful when taught in conjunction with word families or word endings or as a way to interact with spelling words.

An example of a quatrain:

On top of a mountain there sits a green bird.

The song that it sings is the best ever heard.

When it opens its mouth all the animals cheer,

For this song is a sound that all want to hear.

2. Haiku

A three line, seventeen syllable poem originating in Japan.

  • Traditionally, a haiku is about nature and does not rhyme.
  • The first line has five syllables, the second seven syllables and the third five syllables.
  • Haiku can be taught and written as part of a social studies or science unit.

An example of a haiku:

Woodpeckers chatter,

While bees and butterflies dance.

Spring is here again!

3. Alphabet (ABC)

A five line poem with the first letter in each line following an alphabetic pattern.

  • Each line is a word or short phrase.
  • Pick any letter of the alphabet to begin the first line; the second line would begin with the next letter of the alphabet and so on.

An example of an ABC poem:

Alligators

Buy

Chewing gum

During

Football games.

4. Concrete

A poem that is written in the shape of the subject.

  • Every line in the poem is about the chosen topic.
  • The poem is written so that the words create the shape of the subject.
  • A concrete poem can be used as a creative assessment for vocabulary words.

An example of a concrete poem: The lines of this poem would be written in a circle.

Ball

Bouncy and shiny,

Full of air,

Round fun wherever you go!

Becoming a poet empowers all students. Think outside of the box and use poems as introductions to units, study guides and assessments. Have students write and illustrate poems to be published in class poetry books, displayed on bulletin boards, posted on classroom web pages and entered into poetry contests. Invite other classes, teachers, parents and community members to a poetry reading planned and hosted by the students. Be creative and have fun using poetry with your class!

The copyright of the article Write ABC, Haiku, Quatrain and Concrete Poems in Primary School is owned by Megan Sheakoski. Permission to republish Write ABC, Haiku, Quatrain and Concrete Poems in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
ABC Poem, Megan Sheakoski ABC Poem
Concrete Poem, Megan Sheakoski Concrete Poem
 
What do you think about this article?

NOTE: Because you are not a Suite101 member, your comment will be moderated before it is viewable.
post your comment
What is 4+3?
12 Comments

Comments

Jan 19, 2009 10:01 AM
Guest :
I like this site and i do give credit to the kids who wrote these poems because i can't rhyme for my lyfe i'd b dead if u asked me to rhyme
Apr 18, 2009 4:09 PM
Guest :
This website is aight its just yall should and more different types of poems cuz they is many different type of poem Yall need to add them it jus aint right i kno i souwn like im fussin at yall im jus gettin real serious im so sorri cuz ya jus thinkin of yall self so srry
Apr 30, 2009 9:35 PM
Guest :
this site helped me! im a 6th grader who doesn't lnow what a quatrain poem is...lol thanks soo much for the help!!
p.s. you should add some more poems like limericks,clerihew,definition,and tanka poems it would help lots!! love ya!
May 29, 2009 11:01 AM
Guest :
Comment Below Me Needs To Learn Grammer... And I Pwn at poems! Thanks for explain teh types
Jun 9, 2009 9:38 PM
Guest :
Haha! Yea, I agree with those ppl down there. You should add sum more poems like snapshots, location, senses, and found poems. I know they sound weird but thats what my teacher assigned me to do. Im a seventh grader that really needs help! :( Nugh! I dont evne know half of what I'm supposed to do for these poems! Im stuck2 Ne'ways, it actually helped me for my catalog rhymes. hehe. XD
Jun 10, 2009 5:09 PM
Guest :
thanks for nothing!!!!!
Jul 9, 2009 3:31 AM
Guest :
let
mom
notice
other
people
I'm not quite sure what the child meant, but either way it sounds depressing:( :)
Dec 13, 2009 12:20 PM
Guest :
i think this website is really good.
its also has terrific poems :)
Dec 30, 2009 8:41 PM
Guest :
thanks for the samples!
Jan 18, 2010 5:35 PM
Guest :
it was pretty good
Jan 27, 2010 4:05 PM
Guest :
this website should have som diamontes
Feb 4, 2010 3:38 AM
Guest :
I think this article is very good and intresting. I give cresit to the kids that wrote these pomes they did a wonderful job they should keep on doing this.
12 Comments

Related Topics

Reference


;