Writing Poetry

Formula Poems
A good way to introduce young children to writing their own poetry is to have a format ready for them to fill in--it becomes rather like magic, enabling them to feel confident as writers quite easily. Find three examples here to try with your primary students.

Ideas for Writing Poetry in the Classroom
A great little twist on the usual acrostic poem format is included here; be sure to give it a try.

Poetry Writing with Jack Prelutsky

Write a 5W Poem
This poetry format for early elementary students is quite easily completed, and teaches your class how to identify the components of other literature formats: who, why, when, what, and where. Let them practice this poetry form with several of the stories you have read as a class.

Writing W Poems
The five W's: who, what, where, when, and why--will all be employed in this  lesson plan. From a prompt, students will complete these five line poems as creatively as they wish.

Writing Poetry
This online workshop, hosted by poet Karla Kuskin, demonstrates to upper elementary students the power of choosing the exact word to describe or to tell. Students will follow guidelines and samples to learn how to write their own descriptive poem.

Fooling with Words
High school students and teachers will find much here to explore. A Teacher's Guide accompanies lesson plans, featured poets--including poets reading their own works--and resources for further activities.

Introducing Poetry
How do you teach a poetry unit to middle and high school students and have them love it? Try the suggestions here; your students won't even realize they're studying poetry.

Poetry Projects from KidZone
These include five line stanza poems and haikus.

Poetry Terms Quiz
Test your middle school students with this online poetry terminology quiz. Eleven multiple choice questions are accompanied by an answer sheet.

Poetry Teachers.com
Poetry lessons, activities, poetry theatre, online poems and more.

Sidewalk Poetry
There are sidewalk sales, sidewalk art festivals, and now... Sidewalk poetry. Students will choose some of their favorite poems to write and illustrate on your very own school grounds. Be sure to invite parents to a special picnic luncheon for this event; it would make a great end-of-school year exhibition to showcase your students' work.

Poetry Examples

Great Poems to Teach
These poems are all treasures, and have been selected by high school language arts teachers as worthwhile and successful poetry examples to use in your classroom. A listening booth is available for selected poems.

Internet Poetry Archive
Seven major poets are featured in this internet archive and you can listen to them reading from their own works. RealAudio Player is required.

A Plethora of Poetry
With this reproducible worksheet students
 must work in teams to look up examples of various types of poetry. Included are sonnets, haikus, limericks, lyric poems, couplets, etc.

The Poet's Bookshelf

Sonnets Central