Poems Lesson Plans

Fifth graders apply knowledge about Native American tribes while writing an acrostic poem. They enhance the writing with pictures that symbolize important characteristics of the tribes. They use digital cameras, scanners, image editing and word processing software to create a final presentation of the poetry.

Fifth graders read poetry from Words with Wings and Celebration to understand the definition of tone in a poem.  In this tone of the poem lesson, 5th graders view a poem with the emotion words underlined to get the feeling of the whole poem.  Students read additional poems for independent skill practice.

Students listen to Hailstones and Halibut Bones and write color poems.  In this color poems lesson, students create a graphic organizer to discover their feelings about color.  Students use models from the book to design original color poems.

Students work together to research a historical event. They create their own poems based on their research. They share their poems with the class and discuss the historical event further.

Students explore poetry writing. In this cross-curriculum literacy instructional activity, students listen to Adelita: A Mexican Cinderella by Tomie dePaola and discuss Mexican culture. Students write a bio poem using character traits of Adelita. Examples and extension ideas are given.

Explore rhyming in this phonemic awareness and French lesson plan. Listen to the poem "J'Adore la Pizza" by Karen Kransky and identify rhyming words. Compare grapheme spelling patterns with like phonemes, and sort word cards according to rhyming patterns. Finally, complete a related worksheet.

Groups of pupils circulate through five animal habitat stations and add information to the circle map located in each station. Then, they are shown the form of a lantern poem, and go to the computer lab in order to construct an original poem in the lantern form. They view a variety of animals in their habitats and create a poem about the animal of their choice. Both the poem and the picture are printed, and a bulletin board is created in class. Very nice!

Youngsters listen to Take a Pig to Lunch Other Poems About the Fun of Eating and use a highlighter to mark rhyming words. They will then make cards with rhyming words and mix them up to be sorted by rhymes. They will also practice reading them aloud with the class.

Students explore 5 senses poetry.  In this poetry writing lesson, students visualize a special day and brainstorm related vivid adjectives and phrases.  Students create mindmaps of the five senses to go with their visualization and write an original poem.  Students choose one of five methods to present their poem, and create a final copy at the appropriate station.

Second graders discuss various things that make him/her happy.  In this I feel happy lesson, 2nd graders express feelings in a poem.  Students reflect on the poems they have written.