Curated OER
My Feelings
In this writing worksheet, students make a list of all the things that make them sad, happy, lonely, angry, afraid and silly. Students then write 6 short poems and put them together to make their own personal book of poems.
Curated OER
Write Your Own Poem
In this writing a poem worksheet, students read 15 words in a chart and color the ones that rhyme with "old". Students put the rhyming words in pairs, then write a poem using them.
Curated OER
Writing Poems Worksheet
In this writing poems worksheet, students record 10 nouns, then write 2 or 3 verbs next to each noun, and finally write a simile or metaphor that matches the noun and verbs in that row. Students then organize these lines into stanzas to...
Curated OER
Gwendolyn Brooks
Students write a poem. For this writing lesson, students learn about Gwendolyn Brooks, a famous poet. Students discuss shape poetry and how it is written. Students choose an object from nature and write their own shape poem.
Curated OER
Write Your Own Poem 'ack'
In this rhyming words worksheet, students complete four activities that help them learn words that contain the cluster 'ack.' Students spell words that contain the cluster, write a silly sentence with the words, and then compose two poems.
Curated OER
Art to Zoo: Kiting Up The Sky: The Vehicles of Understanding
Students gain perspective on the importance of kites by reading about and discussing how kites have been used throughout history. In this kite exploration lesson, students follow instructions to construct a kite to assist them in...
Curated OER
Free Verse
Students write free verse poems. In this poetry instructional activity, students use a three-step method to create a free verse poem. Students brainstorm ideas, let their ideas "incubate," and write a free verse poem.
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: Writing Poetry Like Pros
By looking to examples of popular poetry in a variety of forms, students learn to analyze, appreciate, and synthesize poetry in the classroom. "Writing Poetry Like Pros" provides several links to poetry texts and suggestions for creating...
Scholastic
Scholastic: Writing Riddle Rhymes With Jean Marzollo
Children's author Jean Marzollo will teach you how to write "I Spy Riddle Rhymes"! There is a teacher's guide included.
Yale University
Yale New Haven Teachers Institute: Steps Toward Writing Poetry
This site is actually meant for teachers but young scholars will find much of it useful, too. The writer, a teacher, describes her lesson plan for teaching children to write poetry. While her lessons are meant for elementary students, as...
Other
Core Knowledge: Poetry in Motion [Pdf]
Collection in pdf format of seven lessons integrating poetry across-the-curriculum. Includes dramatization, developing poetry reading skills, and creating poetry appreciation. Printable graphic organizers and a fine bibliography...
Other
Poetry teachers.com
This site has lots of teaching ideas for instilling a love of poetry in students. Sections include Poetry Class, Poetry Fun, Poetry Theater, Poetry Contests, and information on how to invite authors to your school.
Reading Rockets
Reading Rockets: Descriptive Writing
This is a comprehensive article about what descriptive writing including what it is, why to teach it and strategies to teach it. It also features two videos Five Senses Graphic Organizer and Writing Poems as well as an annotated list of...
Hopelink
Hopelink: Writing Lesson Idea: Poetry Writing
Many simple forms, such as cinquain and haiku, that follow set formats, are included in this poetry lesson plan.
Scholastic
Scholastic: Writing Poetry With Karla Kuskin
Karla Kuskin will take you through the writing process and will share many of her helpful hints! There is a teacher's guide included.
abcteach
Abcteach: Peace Poem Form [Pdf]
Lovely printable, ruled form on which students can write a peace poem. Illustrated with a dove carrying an olive branch.
American Forum for Global Education
American Forum for Global Education: Haiku as a Cultural Icon
These detailed lesson plans let students research about Shiki and Haiku, compose on their own poetry, and learn about Japanese culture.
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: The Ab Cs of Poetry
Contains plans for a poetry lesson that asks young scholars to write poems after brainstorming metaphors and other ideas as a group. Ideas are groups by different themes, like letters of the alphabet. In addition to objectives and...
Can Teach
Can Teach: Writing a Bio Poem
This site describes how a Bio poem can be used to teach young scholars to focus on the characteristics of a person or an animal, anything or anyone really. It requires the student to put themselves in the subject's shoes. Lesson plan...
Can Teach
Can Teach: How to Write a 5 W Poem
This site describes how a 5W poem is a good way to teach children to identify and focus on the five W's of a story or an event. Lesson plan indicated for 1st grade and above.
Can Teach
Can Teach: How to Write an "I Am" Poem
This is a template for "I Am" poetry. Learners will focus on their own characteristics as they create an autobiographical poem.
Can Teach
Can Teach: How to Write a Name Poem
This site describes how a Name Poem is a good way to teach children to focus the influence that people (friends and family) around them have. Lesson plan indicated for 3rd grade and above.
Can Teach
Can Teach: How to Write a Cinquain
At the most basic level a cinquain is a five line poem or stanza. Here are two variations. Lesson plan indicated for 1st grade and above.
Can Teach
Can Teach: How to Write a Diamond Poem
This is a good poem format to help teach adjectives, verbs, and nouns. Lesson plan indicated for 2nd grade and above.