Need poetry fun activities or lesson ideas? Whether you’re looking for easy poems for 7 year olds or fun poetry books for 12 year olds and up, we’ve got you covered for kids’ poems and even poetry games for students! Great for April Poetry Month, poetry day activities, or studying poems any time of year! Huge list of fun poetry for kids/rhymes ideas for lessons on poems!
Teaching Kids Poetry: How To Make Poetry Fun For Children
These unique teaching poetry activities are sure to be a hit to add to your lessons on poems!
How To Get Kids Interested In Poetry
- Use magnetic poetry as a fun introduction to writing poems. (One of my favorite fun poetry exercises!)
- Play kids’ poetry games.
- Go on a Haiku Hike and work on kids writing in nature.
- Use crosswords or old magazine articles for blackout poetry.
- Listen to poetry in songs and music.
- Make shape poetry where they write a poem in the shape of an item mentioned in the poem. For example, a flower poems can be written in the shape of a flower.
- Act out funny poems for kids.
- Use their names for an acrostic poem.
- Listen to poets recite their favorite poems.
- Pick out short poems for children to recite.
- Pair art with poems to create visual poetry.
- Have a poetry slam party with friends for fun group poetry activities.
- Do funny MadLibs poetry.
- Learn about limericks for poetry funny jokes.
- Use well-known children’s poetry books (like Shel Silverstein) for fun poetry to read.
- Search online for where to submit poetry for publication and let kids submit their poetry!
- Search writing classes kids near me and join one!
These are just a few creative poetry activities for kids and ways you can create fun poetry lesson plans. There are many more ways to make poetry fun and engaging for children, and the key is to encourage creativity and exploration. KEEP SCROLLING FOR MORE POETRY FUN IDEAS AND DETAILS ON THE POETRY LIST!
Learning Poetry For Kids
If you’re trying to explain beginner poetry to kids, you may be looking for a what is poetry kid friendly definition or help getting them to understand poetry fundamentals.
What is poetry for students?
Poetry is a form of creative writing that uses language to express emotions, ideas, and imagery in a unique and artistic way. It is often written in verse, with a specific rhythm, structure, and style. Sometime poems rhyme and sometimes they don’t! Poetry can cover a wide range of topics and themes, from nature and love to social and political issues.
Why is poetry important for kids?
You may be wondering is poetry useless and do I really need poetry lessons in my studies or do kids need to learn how to write poetry.
Poetry is important for kids for several reasons:
Enhances language development: Poetry exposes kids to new words, rhythms, and sounds that they may not encounter in everyday conversation. This exposure helps to build vocabulary, improve language skills, and encourages creativity.
Encourages self-expression: Poetry allows kids to express their thoughts and feelings in a creative and imaginative way. Through poetry, children can learn to articulate their emotions and experiences, which can help them develop a better sense of self-awareness.
Improves reading and writing skills: Reading and writing poetry can improve reading comprehension and writing skills. Kids can learn to identify and analyze literary devices, such as metaphors and similes, and understand how to use them in their own writing.
Fosters empathy and understanding: Poetry can help kids develop empathy and understanding for others. By reading and writing poems about different experiences and perspectives, children can gain a deeper appreciation and respect for diversity.
Stimulates imagination and creativity: Poetry encourages children to use their imagination and think outside the box. It can inspire them to create their own stories, characters, and worlds, which can help develop their creativity and problem-solving skills.
Overall, poetry is a valuable tool for helping children develop a range of skills, including language development, self-expression, empathy, and creativity!
What is the best type of poetry for children?
There are many different types of poetry that can be enjoyable and engaging for children The best type of poetry for children will depend on their individual interests, preferences, and age.
It is important to expose children to a variety of different types of poetry and to encourage them to explore their own creative expression through writing and reading poetry.
Types of Poetry For Kids:
1. Nursery Rhymes: These are traditional poems and songs that are often used to teach children language and literacy skills. They are typically short, rhythmic, and easy to remember. Nursery rhymes are great for poetry activities for preschoolers or poetry for kindergarten.
2. Haiku: Haiku is a form of Japanese poetry that uses a specific structure of three lines and 17 syllables. Haiku poems often focus on nature and use vivid imagery to evoke emotions and sensations. Once kids understand how haikus work, they often enjoy writing them!
3. Free Verse: Free verse poetry does not follow a specific rhyme or meter, and allows for more creative expression and experimentation with language. It can be a great way for children to explore their own unique voice and ideas, but some kids may find free verse poetry a little more intimidating since there are fewer rules than other types of poetry.
4. Concrete Poetry: Concrete poetry is a form of poetry that is shaped to look like an object or image related to the poem’s subject matter. It can be a fun and creative way for children to explore the visual and written aspects of language. This is a fun book that demonstrates concrete poetry for kids.
5. Limericks: Limericks are humorous poems that typically have five lines and follow a specific rhyme scheme. They can be a fun and entertaining way for children to explore language and creativity. These types of poems make super fun poetry writing activities! Because they are funny, kids often enjoy this type of poetry. This is a fun book that shows how limericks work and also includes fun limericks for kids for poems funny short ideas.
What are the 5 elements of poetry for kids?
The five elements of poetry for kids are:
- Rhyme: Rhyme is the repetition of sounds at the end of words, such as “cat” and “hat.” Rhyme can help create a rhythmic and musical quality to a poem.
- Rhythm: Rhythm (meter) is the pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry. It helps create a flow and musicality to the words.
- Imagery: Imagery is the use of descriptive language to create sensory images in the reader’s mind. It helps the reader to better understand and visualize the poem.
- Repetition: Repetition in poetry is the deliberate use of words, phrases, sounds, or other literary elements multiple times within a poem. This technique is often used to create a specific effect or to emphasize a particular point or theme. Repetition can also help to create a rhythm or musical quality to the poem, and can be used to build tension or anticipation.
- Theme or Shape: The theme of a poem is the underlying message or idea that the poet is trying to convey. It helps the reader to understand the purpose and meaning of the poem. It sometimes uses a specific shape.
These five elements can help children to understand and appreciate poetry by providing a framework for analysis and interpretation.
Where can I find poems for kids?
These are good sites for poems, poetry writing lessons, poetry assignment help, and teacher resources for poetry, so be sure to check them out! (Great poem topics for beginners and advanced poetry writer!) Check them out for poem ideas!
Poems to use for school or home:
Poetry4Kids: This website features a large collection of funny and educational poems for children, as well as resources for teachers and parents.
Children’s Poetry Archive: The Children’s Poetry Archive offers a diverse collection of poems by both contemporary and classic poets, including audio recordings of many of the poems.
Poets.org: The Academy of American Poets’ website, Poets.org, has a section dedicated to children’s poetry that includes a variety of poems and resources for educators.
The Poetry Foundation: The Poetry Foundation offers a selection of children’s poetry, as well as lesson plans and activities for teachers.
Shel Silverstein: Shel Silverstein’s website features many of his beloved poems and illustrations, as well as games and activities for children. If you’re looking for funny poem examples for kids, definitely check this website.
Poetry Minute: This website offers short, fun poems for children that can be read or watched as videos.
Family Friend Poems: Family Friend Poems features a large collection of poems for children on a variety of topics, including love, nature, and friendship.
Giggle Poetry: Giggle Poetry is a website that features funny poems and poetry contests for kids. (There’s also a GiggleVerse.com.)
The Children’s Poetry Place: The Children’s Poetry Place offers a collection of poems by children’s poets from around the world, as well as resources for educators.
My Word Wizard: My Word Wizard features a large collection of poems for kids, as well as resources for parents and educators.
Storyberries: Storyberries is a website that features a variety of children’s stories and poems, including classic tales and original works.
Fun Poetry Lessons and Poetry Activities for Kids
How To Make Poetry Fun
Making poetry fun for kids can involve a variety of strategies that engage their imagination, creativity, and curiosity.
Here are some ideas for incorporating poems into your lessons and kids activities:
Start With Something Familiar
Dr. Seuss is a great place to start with poetry (even for older kids, yes even for high school poetry writing) because most kids have read a Dr. Seuss book in their life.
Choosing something familiar makes it less intimidating!
Try:
Free Dr Seuss Coloring Pages, Printables, Worksheets for Fun Learning Activities
Dr Seuss Birthday Lesson Plans, Activities, Ideas for Read Across America
Choose Topics That Interest Them
Let kids choose the topics they want to write about.
It could be their favorite food, animal, or hobby.
This helps them feel invested in the writing process and makes it more enjoyable.
Use Humor
Incorporate humor into poetry by adding funny rhymes or silly phrases.
Kids love to laugh and will enjoy the process more if it’s entertaining (especially if you’re doing funny poetry readings!).
(Children’s limerick books are great for this!)
Make Poetry Interactive
Incorporate activities that get kids involved in the writing process.
For example, have them create a group poem where each person adds a line, or use a visual prompt to inspire their writing.
Or, try this fun Post-It Note Game (just as a poem!).
Encourage Experimentation In A Safe Space
Encourage kids to experiment with different forms of poetry, such as haiku, sonnets, or free verse and let them know there are no wrong answers.
This helps them explore different ways to express themselves and develop their writing skills without worrying about doing it wrong.
Have Kids Perform Their Poetry
Have kids perform their poetry for others, either in person or online.
This can build their confidence and give them a sense of pride in their work.
Provide Support and Positive Feedback
Provide positive feedback and encouragement to kids to help them feel motivated and excited about their writing.
Ask them what worked best and what they had the most trouble with. This can help them better understand the process and develop a love for poetry and writing!
How To Write Poems For Kids Resources
These resources are great to use as lessons for poetry and teaching poems.
Learn more about how are poems written:
- How to Write a Poem Workbook
- Writing Prompts for Kids: A Creative Writing Workbook To Inspire Young Writers
- How to Write a Poem Grade 3 – 6
- Poetry Matters: Writing a Poem from the Inside Out
- How to Write a Poem
- Amanda Gorman Poetry For Kids
- Introduction To Poetry Task Cards
- A Child’s Introduction to Poetry
- Hip Hop Speaks to Children: 50 Inspiring Poems with a Beat
- Poem idea: Play a words that rhyme dare where you give a word and see who can come up with the rhyming word quickest.
If you have resources for a writing a poem lesson plan, let us know and we’ll add it to our poetry resources list and poetry writing for kids ideas!
Creative Poetry Activities For Kids
Use Magnetic Poetry As An Introduction
Use a set of magnetic words to create poetry on a refrigerator or other metal surface.
Kids can mix and match words to create unique and fun poems.
Use a set like this for a fun introduction to poetry that doesn’t intimidate children!
Have Fun With Found Poetry
Have kids collect words or phrases from magazines, newspapers, or other sources and use them to create their own visual poems.
This can be a fun and creative way to explore language and develop writing skills.
Take A Haiku Hike
Take kids on a nature walk and ask them to observe and describe what they see in a haiku poem.
Haiku poems are typically three lines, with a 5-7-5 syllable count.
Give each kid a poetry journal like these to take with them.
Make Collaborative Poetry
Have kids work together to create a group poem. Each child can contribute a line or phrase to the poem, and then the group can work together to edit and revise it.
Do Blackout Poetry
Blackout Poetry is a fun and creative way to explore language and express ideas. It can also be a great way to recycle old books or pages that would otherwise be thrown away.
Many people enjoy creating blackout poems as a form of creative expression and as a way to connect with the written word in a new way.
To Make A Black Out Poem:
- Use a page from a book or newspaper and have kids blackout or cross out words to create a poem.
- Read through the text and looks for words or phrases that stand out or resonate with them.
- Then, use a marker to black out the remaining words or phrases that they don’t want to use, leaving only the selected words visible.
- The selected words are then arranged to form a poem that conveys a new meaning or message. They can be arranged in any way to create a unique and creative poem!
You can do a blackout poetry lesson plan just by changing the different poetry topics / poem prompts.
Make Acrostic Poetry
Acrostic poems are a great poems to teach for beginners because they’re easy and can be used as poetry prompts.
Have kids create an acrostic poem using their name or another word.
Each letter of the word becomes the first letter of a new line in the poem.
Acrostic poems are also great for specific themes or seasons. For example, make an acrostic poem from SPRING.
Have A Poetry Slam
Slam poetry for kids: Have kids perform their poems in a poetry slam style event.
This can be a fun and engaging way for kids to showcase their creativity and performance skills, especially if you’re looking for fun poetry activities high school students!
(This is one of my favorite fun poetry ideas!)
CHECK OUT: Wham! It’s a Poetry Jam: Discovering Performance Poetry
Make Visual Poetry
Encourage kids to create visual poetry by incorporating images or drawings into their poems.
This can be a fun and creative way to express their ideas and feelings, especially if you have kids who love art!
ACTIVITY TIP: Use sets like this to create visual poetry posters!
Play Poetry Games
We’re big on gameschooling, so we always incorporate learning games when we can! Try these fun games for poetry!
Try these games for poems:
- Poetry for Neanderthals — great for fun poetry for middle school through high school, especially!
- Paint Chip Poetry
- MadLibs Poems to create funny poetry for kids
If you have fun poetry activities for kids that you love, let us know and we’ll add them to our list!
Overall, making poetry fun for kids requires a balance between structure and creativity.
By using engaging prompts, encouraging experimentation, and providing positive feedback, kids can become a poetry writer and develop a love for poetry that will stay with them for a lifetime!
IF YOU’RE DOING THIS FOR POETRY MONTH IN APRIL, CHECK OUT MORE FUN APRIL THEME ACTIVITIES!
Enjoy your poetry fun with kids!
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