Image: sxc.hu

I worked with a class of second graders who wrote a poem on a Halloween topic…witches, bats, jack-o-lanterns, ghosts, etc.

Even though I teach poetry workshops for children and adults, this format was new to me.  The youngsters had great fun with it.  Perhaps yours would, too.

Simply choose a topic (and it could be about anything, not just Halloween).  Then answer these questions and your poem will evolve.

• Who?
• What?
• When?
• Where?
• Why?

You don’t place these words in the poem, simply give the answers.  For the second graders, this often consisted of one long sentence.  You could try to get rhyme in there eventually.

Millie, the witch with the crooked nose

Lost her broom

On Halloween

As she chased the little ghost

Who floated by to tease her.

Why don’t you try some of these with your youngsters?  Also have them draw pictures to accompany their poems.

Post from: Blisstree

Writing Poems with Children

Why not write a Thankful Poem for Thanksgiving?  This can be an activity you’re involved in with your children, holiday guests or simply yourself. 

For details on one way to do this, check out my post, Mary Emma’s Writing Tip – A Thankful Poem, at One Book Two Book.

Another way to write the poem is to spell the word THANKSGIVING down the page.  Then write something for each letter, such as Traveling to Grandma’s, Having a festive family meal, etc.  Then decorate the page with  a Thanksgiving motif. 

What about making a collage of either type of poem and decorating with fabric, paper, and embellishments?

Thankful Poems might be a Thanksgiving Day activity or something you do over the weekend.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Post from: Blisstree

Writing a Thankful Poem – A Fun Family Thanksgiving Activity