Poems for Kids

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!

ABC Poem

Concrete Poem

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