April Showers Bring May Flowers

Thirty days hath September, April, June, and November…

In 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue…

Rhymes are one of the often used mnemonics to help children remember important facts about our world. The rhythm, repetition, and creative visual images conjured up by poems are intriguing to many. Yet the study of poetry can sometimes be dull and/or confusing with its counting of syllables and lines and myriad of terms like couplets, dactyl, iambic pentameter, and trochee.

While April has long been known as “National Poetry Month,” the following activities could be used in the classroom any time of year to engage students in the exploration of poetry and help them see it for the literary jewel that it is:

The Poetry Academy

The Great Poetry Race

Poetry: A Feast to Form Fluent Readers

Performing Poetry

An Introduction to Poetry

Eight Steps for Teaching Kids Poetry

 

Poetry Websites:

Kenn Nesbitt’s Poetry for Kids

Shel Silverstein’s official website

Giggle Poetry

Classic Poems for Children

PBS Kids: Fern’s Poetry Club

Poetry Foundation: Children’s Poetry