Poetry Unit Ideas for the Library

When you tell your students that you are going to write poetry, do you typically have a few that are excited, but the majority let out an audible sigh? Students often have the misconception that poetry is about following a lot of rules and using words that they don’t understand. They’re more open and excited when the focus shifts toward sharing their ideas and feelings with others in a creative format. Many students have a favorite type of poetry that they are drawn to. I have some different poetry unit ideas for elementary students to show you today.

Digital Poetry Activities

 I especially like to use these Digital Poetry Activities this year because they are perfect to use for a poetry unit with students who are either learning virtually or in-person. 

This digital poetry unit will have your students writing and enjoying poetry in no time! In this unit, students learn different poetry forms as well as review figurative language. It is full of fun and engaging activities. Students work directly in Google Slides or Microsoft OneDrive to complete these paperless activities. They can also be uploaded to Google Classroom. This is why it’s perfect to use for remote learning! I typically use these Digital Poetry Activities with my 3rd, 4th and 5th graders. 

Here are the different types of poetry that are included + reviewed in the unit:

• alliteration
• onomatopoeia
• hyperbole
• similes
• personification
• idioms
• bio poems
• acrostic poems
• cinquain
• haiku
• limerick
• couplet

What is included in the activity pack:

• 24 Google Slides presentation to use as an introduction to poetry vocabulary and figurative language. The slides are 11 x 8.5 and can be printed to use as posters.
• The Google slides poetry activities has 25 slides total after the introduction. Students will need to type on each slide to complete different activities. There are text boxes in every place that students need to type. 
• Links to poems for students to read online. All of the links lead to two different websites: www.poetryfoundation.org and www.poetry4kids.com. 

There are also slides for students to write their own poems, to respond to poetry and a poetry scavenger hunt.

Poetry Unit Activity Pack

The Poetry Unit Activity Pack is basically the printed version of the Digital Poetry Activities. I love to use these Poetry Posters that are included in the pack to show visuals to my students when we kick-off our poetry unit. This pack is best used with 2nd, 3rd and 4th graders. It’s packed with over 70 pages of posters, graphic organizers and writing activities. Students will learn different poetry forms as well as review figurative language.

What is included:

Posters

• Figurative language posters: alliteration, onomatopoeia hyperbole, similes, antonyms, personification, idiom, imagery 
• Elements of poetry posters: form, meter, poetry, repetition, rhyme, rhythm (with images and without images)
• Types of poetry posters: bio, acrostic, free verse, cinquain, diamante, haiku, limerick, concrete, couplet (with images and without images)

Worksheets/writing forms

• Figurative language worksheets: identifying similes, metaphors, alliteration, onomatopoeia and personification
• Visualizing a poem
• Poetry writing: cinquain, diamante, bio poem, couplet poetry, haiku, concrete, acrostic and limerick
• Poetry planning forms
• Evaluating and responding to poetry
• Poetry scavenger hunt and identifying poetic elements
• 2 sample poems

Other resources for your poetry unit:

• 30 Inspiring Poetry Games and Activities for Kids from We are Teachers. (Some really great ideas in here)
• Poetry Out Loud

(Lesson plans already ready for ya!)

• Pro Teacher-Poetry

Some tips to effectively teach your poetry unit!

1. Make sure you use poems that your students can relate to.
2. Read each poem aloud to students more than once.
3. Learn about the poet prior to reading their poetry.
4. Start each day with a read aloud poem.
5. Spend time analyzing poetry to really understand the author’s purpose.
6. Teach figurative language to your students!
7. Make sure you give students a chance to write their own poems.

What’s your favorite resource to use when teaching about poetry?