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28 Fresh & Fun 5th Grade Poems to Share With Students

Poetry lessons are our favorite.

Fifth grade students have been learning about rhymes all of their lives. Most of the poems from their younger years, though, may be feeling cheesy to them now. As they approach the end of their elementary school years, they’re ready for something more substantial. We’ve put together a list of 5th grade poems to take your poetry lessons to the next level!

1. Homework Stew by Kenn Nesbitt

“I cooked my math book in a broth.”

2. The Night Has a Thousand Eyes by Francis William Bourdillon

“And the day but one.”

3. Spring by Henry Gardiner Adams

“A bursting into greenness…”

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4. Summer by Walter Dean Myers

“I like hot days, hot days.”

5. This Morning is Our History Test by Kenn Nesbitt

“I’ve pinned my notes inside my vest.”

6. Autumn by Emily Dickinson

“Through the street of St. Germain…”

7. A Lesson by Ruby Archer

“Would ye build that generations…”

8. Winter by Russell Blair

“Winter is white as a fluffy cloud.”

9. The Scarecrow by Annie Stone

“A figure rugged and forlorn…”

10. I Have to Write a Poem by Kenn Nesbitt

“So maybe I’ll just make a rhyme.”

11. Harlem by Langston Hughes

“What happens to a dream deferred”

12. Peepers by William Skinner

“A voice of amphibians chirping…”

13. My Pets by Lacey Broughton

“My dog’s name is Missy.”

14. Who Has Seen the Wind? By Christina Rossetti

“Neither I nor you.”

15. Falling Snow by Amanda Colomb

“It looks like a big white blanket.”

16. The Miser by Ruby Archer

“I caught old Ocean this morning early…”

17. In Time’s Swing by Lucy Larcom

“Father Time, your footsteps go…”

18. If-ing by Langston Hughes

“If I had some small change I’d buy me a mule…”

19. Adventures by Holly Fiato

“You can meet anyone.”

20. Toad by the Road by Joanne Ryder

“Watching the world go by.”

21. The Sky by Elizabeth Madox Roberts

“I saw a shadow on the ground.”

22. I’m Nobody—Who are You? By Emily Dickinson

“Are you nobody, too?”

23. Conscience and Remorse by Paul Laurence Dunbar

“And conscience smitten sorely…”

24. Bleezer’s Ice Cream by Jack Prelutsky

“I am Ebenezer Bleezer…”

25. Merry-Go-Round by Langston Hughes

“On the bus we’re put in the back…”

26. Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost

“Whose woods these are I think I know.”

27. The Branch by Elizabeth Madox Roberts

“We stopped at the branch on the way to the hill.”

28. School Year Extension by Kenn Nesbitt

“I know it’s the last day of school…”

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Grade 5 Poetry Worksheets

Related ela standard: rf.5.4.b.

In fifth grade students should come to class understanding what poetry basically is and have had some success writing their own poems. They will then start to analyze poetry independently and work to understand the voice and word choices of poets. As students progress they will begin to understand the purpose and use of line breaks in poetry and begin publishing their own work. The goal here is write with purpose to communicate a clear message. The worksheets in this section will have students begin to work with poetry using these fifth grade skills.

Grade 5 Poetry Worksheets To Print:

My Friend - The poem looks at how our friends lift us up. Answer the questions that follow.

Delight Becomes Pictorial - A metaphoric poem for our younger students. Look up the word "pictorial". What does it mean?

The Oak - This really makes you feel how trees are really living breathing things.

The Hungry Mouse - The endless cheese quest for a mouse with an attitude. Why do you think the mouse exaggerates when he tells the others what happened?

Mr. Miller - Reading this aloud makes a huge difference. What happens when Mr. Miller pulls the string on his parachute?

The Cat and the Mouse - We explore the concept of opposites of nature. Which two lines rhyme in each stanza?

First Frost - This reminds me to buy a new hat every year. I always lose hats over the summer.

The River - You read the title, then you read the poem, then you read the title again and finally get it.

A Considerable Speck - What does the speaker in the poem think that the speck is "expressing" with its feet?

A Book - What does it mean that he "ate and drank the precious words"? What is the overall effect of the book on the boy?

Saturdays - Which line in the poem indicates how the speaker feels about doing her chores?

My Sister - What does the boy in the poem like best about his sister? There are a few to choose from.

The Road Not Taken - The timeless thoughts of Frost. Does the speaker think he will ever be able to come back and try the other road?

The Star - Science teachers tell me that this poem is scientifically sound too. What comes out of the woods in the poem?

Fire - When Autumn falls, it's time to fire up the fireplace. Name one sign of autumn the poem mentions.

The Basic Forms of Poetry

Over time, different attempts have been made to define poetry and fix the rules for its writing. However, in the English literature, poetry is simply understood as a form of expression that has no strict rules at all. Such an immense amount of independence for the poets to compose verses in the English language has given birth to a lot of distinct forms of poems.

Here are some of the most commonly known and recognized forms of poetry in the English literature:

Narrative Poems

As the name indicates, a narrative poem is a poem that narrates an event or a story, either real of fictional, in verse form. Such a poem has a proper plot, characters, and usually more than one themes being discussed in it. It can either be very long or short depending on what the poet is describing.

Made famous by William Shakespeare, a sonnet is a poem consisting of 14 lines and is usually written in iambic pentameter.

These are poems that are not composed under any rules. The author can literally write anything and in any way he or she may like to compose his ideas in. There are no fixed number of lines, meter, or rhyming scheme for such a form of poetry.

Haiku Poems

Haiku poems are classical poems that mostly describe the nature and its beauties. These are written in three-line stanzas with a simple syllable and punctuation style used in the lines.

Epics are generally very lengthy poems that are meant to describe a fictional adventure of some great knight or hero of the ancient times.

A limerick is a very short poem, only consisting of 5 lines and addressing something in a witty style. The first, second, and fifth lines in a limerick are longer and have a rhyming pattern as compared to the shorter two lines that have no rhythm.

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Free Printable Poetry Worksheets for 5th Grade

Poetry: Discover the beauty of language with our free printable Reading & Writing Poetry worksheets, tailored for Grade 5 students. Enhance your students' literary skills and spark their creativity with Quizizz.

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Explore printable Poetry worksheets for 5th Grade

Poetry worksheets for Grade 5 are an excellent resource for teachers looking to enhance their students' reading and writing skills. These worksheets provide a variety of engaging activities that focus on different aspects of poetry, such as understanding figurative language, identifying poetic devices, and analyzing the structure and meaning of poems. By incorporating these worksheets into their lesson plans, teachers can help their students develop a deeper appreciation for poetry and improve their overall writing abilities. Additionally, these worksheets can be used to support fiction writing exercises, as students learn to incorporate poetic elements into their own creative stories. With these Grade 5 poetry worksheets, teachers can create a well-rounded and engaging curriculum that fosters a love for reading and writing in their students.

Quizizz is a fantastic platform that offers a wide range of educational resources, including worksheets, quizzes, and interactive games, making it a valuable tool for teachers of all subjects and grade levels. For those focusing on Grade 5 reading and writing, Quizizz provides a variety of poetry worksheets that can be easily integrated into the classroom. These worksheets not only cover the basics of poetry analysis and appreciation but also delve into more advanced topics such as metaphor, simile, and personification. Teachers can also utilize Quizizz's extensive library of quizzes and games to assess their students' understanding of poetry and other reading and writing concepts. By incorporating Quizizz into their teaching strategies, educators can create a dynamic and interactive learning environment that encourages students to develop their skills in reading, writing, and fiction writing.

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28 Fresh & Fun 5th Grade Poems to Share With Students

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Introduction:

Poetry is a powerful tool to engage and inspire young minds. It stimulates creativity, encourages self-expression, and helps develop language skills and critical thinking. Sharing poems with 5th-grade students can be an enjoyable and educational experience. Here’s a list of 28 fresh and fun poems that are perfect for adding some diversity and excitement to your poetry lessons!

• “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost
• “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” by Robert Frost
• “Dreams” by Langston Hughes
• “Jabberwocky” by Lewis Carroll
• “The Tyger” by William Blake
• “Where the Sidewalk Ends” by Shel Silverstein
• “Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout Would Not Take the Garbage Out” by Shel Silverstein
• “A Light in the Attic” by Shel Silverstein
• “Caged Bird” by Maya Angelou
• “The Pasture” by Robert Frost
• “Casey at the Bat” by Ernest Lawrence Thayer
• “The Walrus and the Carpenter” by Lewis Carroll
• “The Raven” by Edgar Allan Poe (abridged version)
• “Paul Revere’s Ride” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (abridged version)
• “Don’t Be Too Moralisttical!” by Hamzat Insha Khan
• “To Be or Not to Be (From Hamlet)” by William Shakespeare (abridged version)
• “How to Paint a Donkey” by Naomi Shihab Nye
• “Sick” by Shel Silverstein
• “A Pizza the Size of the Sun” by Jack Prelutsky
• “There was a Young Lady of Ryde” by Edward Lear
• “The Owl and the Pussycat” by Edward Lear
• “It’s Ill to Bump into Chairs!” by Lafcadio Hearn
• “Up in the Morning Early” by Robert Burns
• “First Fig” by Edna St. Vincent Millay
• “The New Colossus” by Emma Lazarus
• “An Address For All” by Paul Laurence Dunbar
• “A Red, Red Rose” by Robert Burns
• “A Tragic Story” by William Makepeace Thackeray

Conclusion:

These 28 poems offer a variety of themes, styles, and subjects that will captivate your 5th-grade students and make them fall in love with poetry! Don’t hesitate to explore other poems and authors as well, as there are countless great works out there that can engage young minds across any age group. Happy reading!

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Poems for 5th Graders

Table of contents.

• The Night Has a Thousand Eyes by Francis William Bourdillon
• I Marred a Day by Annette Wynne
• Spring by H. G. Adams
• Autumn by Emily Dickinson
• In St. Germain Street by Bliss Carman
• Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost
• A Lesson by Ruby Archer
• The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, Excerpt by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
• The Scarecrow by Annie Stone
• Conscience and Remorse by Paul Laurence Dunbar
• The Miser by Ruby Archer
• I'm Free by Anonymous
• A Recipe For a Day by Amos Russel Wells
• In Time's Swing by Lucy Larcom
• The Creator by John Keble
• Afterglow by Anonymous
• The Manly Life by Henry van Dyke
• John Curzon's Watch by Amos Russel Wells
• Purpose by Amos Russel Wells
• Morning Windows by Amos Russel Wells
• Perseverance by Alice Cary
• The Sky by Elizabeth Madox Roberts

The Night Has a Thousand Eyes

The night has a thousand eyes, And the day but one; Yet the light of the bright world dies With the dying sun. The mind has a thousand eyes, And the heart but one: Yet the light of a whole life dies When love is done.

I Marred a Day

I marred a day, a shining day, (God lent it clean and bright); I sent it lusterless away, I dimmed its gracious light; And God I know was sorrowing For that poor soiled and tarnished thing. In everlasting tenderness Another day of light God sent; each hour I strove to bless, I kept it clean and bright; And God was glad—it shone away The meanness of my other day.

A bursting into greenness; A waking as from sleep; A twitter and a warble That make the pulses leap: A watching, as in childhood, For the flowers that, one by one, Open their golden petals To woo the fitful sun. A gust, a flash, a gurgle, A wish to shout and sing, As, filled with hope and gladness, We hail the vernal Spring.

The morns are meeker than they were, The nuts are getting brown; The berry's cheek is plumper, The rose is out of town. The maple wears a gayer scarf, The field a scarlet gown. Lest I should be old-fashioned, I'll put a trinket on.

In St. Germain Street

Through the street of St. Germain March the tattered hosts of rain, While the wind with vagrant fife Whips their chilly ranks to life. From the window I can see Their ghostly banners blowing free, As they pass to where the ships Crowd about the wharves and slips. There at day's end they embark To invade the realms of dark, And the sun comes out again In the street of St. Germain.

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

Whose woods these are I think I know. His house is in the village though; He will not see me stopping here To watch his woods fill up with snow. My little horse must think it queer To stop without a farmhouse near Between the woods and frozen lake The darkest evening of the year. He gives his harness bells a shake To ask if there is some mistake. The only other sound’s the sweep Of easy wind and downy flake. The woods are lovely, dark and deep. But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep.

Build as doth the lowly coral,— Give yourselves. That shall endure. – Ruby Archer A Lesson “

Would ye build that generations Yet to be may call you great? Would ye have your lives' creations O'er the ages tower elate? Hearken then a world-old moral,— Abnegation, meek and pure. Build as doth the lowly coral,— Give yourselves. That shall endure.

He Prayeth Best Who Loveth Best

Farewell, farewell! but this I tell To thee, thou Wedding-Guest! He prayeth well who loveth well Both man and bird and beast. He prayeth best who loveth best All things, both great and small: For the dear God who loveth us, He made and loveth all.

The Scarecrow

Here is the scarecrow, see him stand Upon the newly planted land; A figure rugged and forlorn, A silent watcher of the corn. His dangling legs, his arms spread wide, A lone man of the countryside; Uncouth, the butt of pen and tongue, Unheralded, unsought, unsung To you, old scarecrow, then this lay To cheer you on your lonely way; Would that all men, their whole lives through, Served some good purpose same as you.

Conscience and Remorse

I cried: "Come back, my conscience; I long to see thy face." But conscience cried: "I cannot; Remorse sits in my place." – Paul Laurence Dunbar Conscience and Remorse “

"Good-bye," I said to my conscience — "Good-bye for aye and aye," And I put her hands off harshly, And turned my face away; And conscience smitten sorely Returned not from that day. But a time came when my spirit Grew weary of its pace; And I cried: "Come back, my conscience; I long to see thy face." But conscience cried: "I cannot; Remorse sits in my place."

I caught old Ocean this morning early Down on his knees on the shore. Shells were hung in his beard so curly, He was counting his golden store. He let it glitter between his fingers, Tossed it bright in his hand. No such wealth in the fabled Indies— Treasure of golden sand.

I'm Free

Don’t grieve for me, for now I’m free I’m following the path God has laid you see. I took His hand when I heard him call I turned my back and left it all. I could not stay another day To laugh, to love, to work, to play. Tasks left undone must stay that way I found that peace at the close of day. If my parting has left a void Then fill it with remembered joy. A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss Oh yes, these things I too will miss. Be not burdened with times of sorrow I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow. My life’s been full, I savored much Good friends, good times, a loved one’s touch. Perhaps my time seemed all too brief Don’t lengthen it now with undue grief. Lift up your hearts and peace to thee God wanted me now; He set me free.

A Recipe For a Day

Take a little dash of water cold, And a little leaven of prayer, And a little bit of morning gold Dissolved in the morning air. Add to your meal some merriment, And a thought for kith and kin; And then, as your prime ingredient, A plenty of work throw in. But spice it all with the essence of love And a little whiff of play; Let a wise old Book and a glance above Complete the well-made day.

In Time's Swing

Father Time, your footsteps go Lightly as the falling snow. In your swing I'm sitting, see! Push me softly; one, two; three, Twelve times only. Like a sheet, Spread the snow beneath my feet. Singing merrily, let me swing Out of winter into spring. Swing me out, and swing me in! Trees are bare, but birds begin Twittering to the peeping leaves, On the bough beneath the eaves. Wait,—one lilac bud I saw. Icy hillsides feel the thaw. April chased off March to-day; Now I catch a glimpse of May. Oh, the smell of sprouting grass! In a blur the violets pass. Whispering from the wildwood come Mayflower's breath and insect's hum. Roses carpeting the ground; Thrushes, orioles, warbling sound:— Swing me low, and swing me high, To the warm clouds of July. Slower now, for at my side White pond lilies open wide. Underneath the pine's tall spire Cardinal blossoms burn like fire. They are gone; the golden-rod Flashes from the dark green sod. Crickets in the grass I hear; Asters light the fading year. Slower still! October weaves Rainbows of the forest leaves. Gentians fringed, like eyes of blue, Glimmer out of sleety dew. Meadow green I sadly miss: Winds through withered sedges hiss. Oh, 't is snowing, swing me fast, While December shivers past! Frosty-bearded Father Time, Stop your footfall on the rime! Hard you push, your hand is rough; You have swung me long enough. "Nay, no stopping," say you? Well, Some of your best stories tell, While you swing me—gently, do!— From the Old Year to the New.

The Creator

Come, and I will show you what is beautiful. It is a rose fully blown. See how she sits upon her mossy stem, the queen of flowers. Her leaves glow like fire. The air is filled with her sweet odor. She is the delight of every eye. But there is one fairer than the rose. He that made the rose is more beautiful than the rose. He is altogether lovely. He is the delight of every heart. I will show you what is strong. The lion is strong. When he raiseth himself up from his lair, when he shaketh his mane, when the voice of his roaring is heard, the cattle of the field fly, and the wild beasts of the desert hide themselves; for he is terrible. But He who made the lion is stronger than the lion. He can do all things. He gave us life, and in a moment can take it away, and no one can save us from his hand. I will show you what is glorious. The sun is glorious. When he shineth in the clear sky, when he sitteth on his throne in the heavens, and looketh abroad over the earth, he is the most glorious and excellent object the eye can behold. But He who made the sun is more glorious than the sun. The eye cannot look on his dazzling brightness. He seeth all dark places, by night as well as by day. The light of his countenance is over all the world. This great Being is God. He made all things, but He is more excellent than all that He has made. He is the Creator, they are the creatures. They may be beautiful, but He is Beauty. They may be strong, but He is Strength. They may be perfect, but He is Perfection. There is a book, who runs may read, Which heavenly truth imparts, And all the lore its scholars need— Pure eyes and loving hearts. The works of God, above, below, Within us, and around, Are pages in that book, to show How God himself is found. The glorious sky, embracing all, Is like the Father's love; Wherewith encompassed, great and small In peace and order move. Thou who hast given me eyes to see And love this sight so fair, Give me a heart to find out Thee And read Thee everywhere.

I'd like to leave an afterglow of smiles when life is done. – Anonymous Afterglow “

I'd like the memory of me to be a happy one. I'd like to leave an afterglow of smiles when life is done. I'd like to leave an echo whispering softly down the ways, Of happy times and laughing times and bright and sunny days. I'd like the tears of those who grieve, to dry before the sun; Of happy memories that I leave when life is done.

Four Things

Four things a man must learn to do If he would make his record true: To think without confusion clearly; To love his fellow-men sincerely; To act from honest motives purely; To trust in God and Heaven securely.

John Curzon's Watch

Conquer—from things as they are! - Amos Russel Wells John Curzon's Watch “

Have you heard of John Curzon, of Poland? A wonderful artisan, he! A watchmaker equalled in no land, As you, I am sure, will agree. For the Czar of the Russias, to try him, Commanded a watch for his fob, And bade that his envoy supply him With all he might use in the job. So the messenger brought some wood chippings, Some glass that was smashed in a fall, Copper nails and some bits of wire clippings, And a cracked china cup; that was all! John Curzon, this rubbish receiving, Contrived, with no other to aid,— it is true, though it seems past believing,— A watch that was perfectly made! The case—it was formed of the china. The works were patched up from the rest. it was worthy a rez or rigina; And Curzon had won in the test! So, my lad, with no money and no land, And Fate as severe as the Czar, Just think you are Curzon of Poland, And conquer—from things as they are!

Deeply and long the sap must flow Ere the merest layer of elm can grow. Many a wave's recurrent shock Is needed to smooth the tiniest rock. Thousands of leaves must fade and fall To make the mold by the garden wall. Thus, as the patient seasons roll, Slowly is fashioned a human soul. Purpose and failure and purpose still, Steadily moved by a quiet will,— Layer on layer in sturdy way, Hardly seen the growth of a day,— Times of failure and fear and fall, But one strong tendency through it all,— God and purpose and sun by sun Reach the stars before they are done!

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. – Jeremiah 29:11 The Bible, NIV “

Morning Windows

The brightest thing a house can do, When morning fills the skies, Is just to catch the sun's first rays, And flash the brilliant prize. No eighty-candle lights within Can match the dazzling sight, And every window-pane becomes A fusillade of light! Thus, thus it is when households kneel In humble morning prayer. The very Sun of Righteousness Is caught and captured there: And all the day, in all its ways, However dull they be, The happy windows of that home Are scintillant to see!

Perseverance

The boy who does a stroke, and stops— Will ne’er a great man be; ’Tis the aggregate of single drops That makes the sea the sea. The mountain was not at its birth A mountain, so to speak: The little atoms of sand and earth Have made its peak a peak. Not all at once the morning streams Its gold above the gray, It takes a thousand little beams To make the day the day Not from the snow-drift, May awakes, In purples, reds, and greens; Spring's whole bright retinue it takes To make her queen of queens. Upon the orchard, rain must fall, And soak from branch to root, And blossoms bloom and fade withal, Before the fruit is fruit. The farmer needs must sow and till And wait the wheaten head, Then cradle, thresh, and go to mill, Before his bread is bread. Swift heels may get the early shout, But, spite of all the din, It is the patient holding out That makes the winner win. Make this your motto, then, at start, ’Twill help to smooth the way, And steady up both hand and heart,— “Rome wasn't built in a day!”

I saw a shadow on the ground And heard a bluejay going by; A shadow went across the ground, And I looked up and saw the sky. It hung up on the poplar tree, But while I looked it did not stay; It gave a tiny sort of jerk And moved a little bit away. And farther on and farther on It moved and never seemed to stop. I think it must be tied with chains And something pulls it from the top. It never has come down again, And every time I look to see, The sky is always slipping back And getting far away from me.

We stopped at the branch on the way to the hill. We stopped at the water a while and played. We hid our things by the osage tree And took off our shoes and stockings to wade. There is sand at the bottom that bites at your feet, And there is a rock where the waterfall goes. You can poke your foot in the foamy part And feel how the water runs over your toes. The little black spiders that walk on the top Of the water are hard and stiff and cool. And I saw some wiggletails going around, And some slippery minnows that live in the pool. And where it is smooth there is moss on a stone, And where it is shallow and almost dry The rocks are broken and hot in the sun, And a rough little water goes hurrying by.

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5th Grade Poetry Lesson Plans

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Every Student Can Be a Poet

Five easy-to-implement strategies to make poetry writing accessible and fun for all students.

Each year, when I tell my students that we are going to write poetry, a few are excited, but the majority let out an audible sigh. They 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.

With each new type of poetry I teach, I work through writing a poem with them and talk through my thinking. Showing students that their teacher’s writing is far from perfect and sometimes comes out a lot different than envisioned empowers them to create their own work. I also model the risk-taking of starting a poem and the beauty of improvement through revision.

The poetry-writing process can become more inclusive and engaging when you offer a variety of poetry-writing exercises.

Blackout Poetry

Start with a page from any text and ask students to choose words from that text to create a poem. They black out any words they don’t want in their poem with a marker. They then rewrite all the remaining words into a poem.

Ask students to plan what they want to black out by lightly underlining in pencil before they begin marking through words. The only rule is that they must use these words in the order that they appear.

Students enjoy using texts that seem uninteresting at first glance, such as pages out of discarded grammar books. They love turning something boring into a fun poem.

Blackout poetry is a good starting point for new poets because the words are already on the page and students only need to determine which words to use. This strategy can also be used as an interdisciplinary assignment in which students use text from specific content to create a poem about that content, such as using the Bill of Rights to create a poem about the Revolutionary War.

Word-Scramble Poetry

This strategy begins with a pile of words cut out on individual pieces of paper. They can be specific words chosen by the teacher or words collected from students. Students organize the words to create any poem they would like without adding new words. This strategy allows students to see that there is not a right way to write a poem, and everyone leaves class with a completed poem. When I model this for students, they love to see me moving words around, changing my mind and wishing so much for words that I don’t have.

There are several variations of the word-scamble poetry method. One involves giving all students the same group of words and discovering how many different ideas are formulated using those same words. Another involves giving students different groups of words and allowing them to trade words. A last variation involves a bit of stealing by the teacher: Periodically walk around the classroom and distribute new words or take some words away.

My Life in ___ Words

Students are given the task of writing the story of their life using only the same number of words as their age. This helps students practice word choice and takes a little of the pressure off because it is, by default, a short piece.

A variation of this method is to use a different cap on the number of words that students may use. I’ve asked students to write about a specific topic using fewer than five or 10 words.

Prose to Poetry

Students write out their ideas for a poem without worrying about format. They are encouraged to write freely about whatever emotion or topic they would like to convey in their poem. Then students follow four steps to turn the prose into poetry:

• Decide what emotion or idea is most important for you to convey in your poem, and keep that in mind as you make revisions.
• Cut the word count by at least half by eliminating unneeded words and phrases. Highlight the most important words and phrases that you want to keep and delete the rest.
• Highlight what you think is the most important phrase, and make it your title.
• Rearrange the remaining words and phrases in a way that helps you convey your idea. Consider starting and ending all lines with a noun, adjective, or verb.

My Worst Poem

Ask students to write the worst poem ever about something they feel strongly about. Then have them go through a few revisions, making edits to turn it into something they are proud to share. This takes the pressure off of getting something on paper. Once they get over the stress of what to write and just start writing, they almost always realize that their “worst poem” isn’t that bad at all.

Celebrating Successes

After working through a few of these activities, students often comment on how surprised they are about how many poems they wrote and how much fun they had. I end the unit celebrating their writing with a poetry café, where students share their poems with their classmates and enjoy a few snacks. Creating easy and accessible exercises for poetry writing can turn skeptical students into poets.

Poetry: A Feast to Form Fluent Readers

• Resources & Preparation
• Instructional Plan
• Related Resources

In this lesson for grades 3–5, students watch an example of poetry performed orally and then discuss elements of the performance that lead to reading fluency. Students then use online resources to select a poem to perform in class. A performance critique sheet is used to evaluate performances and can be used for self-evaluation, peer evaluation, and teacher evaluation.

Featured Resources

Performance Critique sheet This sheet can be used in preparation for the oral poetry reading and after the class performance for self, peer, and teacher evaluation.

From Theory to Practice

• Excessively slow, disfluent reading leads to less overall reading, has been associated with poor comprehension, and creates frustration for the reader.
• Strategies to increase the fluency of students include the use of poetry, which is often overlooked as a motivator for elementary students.

Common Core Standards

This resource has been aligned to the Common Core State Standards for states in which they have been adopted. If a state does not appear in the drop-down, CCSS alignments are forthcoming.

State Standards

This lesson has been aligned to standards in the following states. If a state does not appear in the drop-down, standard alignments are not currently available for that state.

NCTE/IRA National Standards for the English Language Arts

• 4. Students adjust their use of spoken, written, and visual language (e.g., conventions, style, vocabulary) to communicate effectively with a variety of audiences and for different purposes.
• 6. Students apply knowledge of language structure, language conventions (e.g., spelling and punctuation), media techniques, figurative language, and genre to create, critique, and discuss print and nonprint texts.

Materials and Technology

• Computers with Internet access
• LCD projector
• Highlighters and note-taking tools
• Video camera (optional)

Performance Critique sheet

Student Objectives

Students will

• Be able to identify text written in poetry form and the elements that are applicable (e.g., rhyme, repetition, onomatopoeia)
• Analyze oral expressions (e.g., pause, accent, rhythm) that are used in poetry to convey meaning
• Develop effective styles for reading poetry aloud
• Create an oral performance of a self-chosen piece of poetry using fluency and expression to convey meaning

Session 1: Introduction (60 minutes)

Session 2: Analyze and Apply Process (30 to 45 minutes)

Encourage students to use an "analyze and apply process" when preparing to read their poem aloud:

• Read the poem through once and identify any words that you do not know. Use current classroom techniques to identify word meanings and discuss with students how knowing the meaning of a word can help them in reading it aloud.
• Read the poem a second time. Do you understand the poem's message? How will this affect your reading? What emotions will you use when reading the poem?
• Read the poem a third time. Are there any clues (e.g., repetition, punctuation marks, onomatopoeia) in the text that tell you how to read the poem aloud?
• Practice reading the poem a few more times.
• Rehearse your poem by reading it aloud to your partner (i.e., paired reading). How does the poem sound to your partner? The Performance Critique sheet can be used for peer evaluation.

Sessions 3 and 4: Rehearsal (5-10 minutes per session)

Provide students optimal time to practice reading their selected poem. As a homework assignment, students rehearse their poem with a parent or adult. Other possible times for rehearsal include transitions and reader/writer workshops.

Session 5: Poetry Feast (120 minutes)

Students perform an oral reading of their poem in small groups or in front of the whole class. Focus on the celebration of the written word performed. The Performance Critique sheet is then used to evaluate the oral reading. Students will evaluate their own performance and also the performance of one of their peers. If peer evaluation is not common practice in the classroom, guidance from the teacher is highly recommended.

• Students create their own poem to perform aloud.
• Student performances are videotaped for the purpose of creating a class video poetry collection (similar to a class poetry book). Don't forget to secure video release forms if your school requires them.
• Students prepare a poetry performance for another class or parent night.
• Students create a class book entitled "How to read poetry aloud."
• Students listen to recordings of authors (e.g., Pretlusky, Silverstein) reading their own poetry aloud.

Student Assessment / Reflections

The performance critique sheet can be used on three levels to evaluate student performances:

• Teacher evaluation
• Peer evaluation
• Self-evaluation

Options for scoring:

• Option 1: Review all performance critiques and develop a narrative assessment for each student.
• Option 2: Assign numbers to each level (e.g., wow = 3; working = 2; whoa = 1). Sum up the scores of each performance critique (i.e., self, peer, and teacher) to determine an average score for assigning a grade.
• Option 3: Use the self and peer evaluations as feedback and assign a grade based on the teacher evaluation.

Use your professional judgment when engaging in assessment activities.

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Home » Blog Posts » ELA » Engaging Poetry Activities for Upper Elementary

Engaging Poetry Activities for Upper Elementary

Want some fresh ideas to make learning poetry fun for your students? This post shares 7 engaging poetry activities for upper elementary students that can be used all year long.

Plus, you can grab a FREE digital poetry activity to use in your classroom!

Fun, Year-Long Poetry Activities for Upper Elementary Students

I LOVE reading and teaching poetry to my 4th graders!

Each year, I look for ways to infuse poetry reading and writing activities in our class throughout the year–not just for National Poetry Month in April.

Here are some general tips that will help you incorporate fun, year-long poetry activities in your upper elementary classroom:

• Include poetry games and activities with your on-going literacy centers.
• Use poetry to help your older kids with phonics. Often times, my students complain that phonics activities are “baby-ish,” but they enjoy reading poetry. Many poems with a simple rhyme scheme has word / phonics families that they need to practice, so it’s a win-win!
• Teach your students to look for poetic forms through read-alouds or novel studies. (I’ll go into more detail with this one below.)

In addition to these general tips, I use music, brain breaks, and online games to teach poetry all year long.

Now I’ll dig into more details with these engaging poetry activities below!

“Poetry Hour” Makes Reciting Poetry So Much Fun

Poetry Hour is one of my favorite poetry activities for upper elementary students!

Once a month, I allow my students to choose a poem they want to stand up and recite to the class.

It can be a poem I have provided in class or one they found on their own. I even have students recite a poem they’ve written themselves.

In addition to reading the poem, students are allowed to dress up as a character if they want. They do not have to memorize the poem, but many of them do it anyway.

Then I give them a toy microphone from The Dollar Tree, plus a decorated podium to make it seem like a “stage.”

My kids LOVE getting up to share their poems! We even “snap fingers” instead of clap at the end of each recitation.

Teaching Students to Talk about Poetry with “Poetry Talks”

I’ve never had a group of students that didn’t like to talk!

So, I find ways to channel their chattiness into our learning activities. Poetry Talks allow students to work with partners and discuss poetry with one another.

Then I give my students sentence stem cards to help them discuss their poetry appropriately. This also helps me hold them accountable to stay on track while they talk about their poems with one another.

We use this poetry activity during our poetry centers and after a whole-class mini-lesson on poetry.

“Poetry Puzzles” Provide Excellent Hands-on Poetry Practice

It should come as no surprise that 3rd through 5th grade students thrive with hands-on literacy activities.

So, one of the poetry activities for upper elementary students that I use is a poetry puzzle.

Here’s one way you can use this in your classroom too:

• Find a poem you want to teach your students.
• Cut each stanza or line apart in strips and place in sandwich baggies or envelopes.
• After analyzing the poem with the whole class, split students into small groups of 2-4 kids in each group.
• Give them the poem in baggies and have them put it back together again like a puzzle.

Not only is it hilarious to see what they come up with (since they don’t have the poem memorized), but it really strengthens their understanding of stanzas, line breaks, and rhyme scheme!

Poetry Writing Task Cards for Upper Elementary Students

I don’t just want my students to read poems more, but I also want them to write more poetry.

So I use task cards to build up their poetry writing muscles.

Task cards are easy to incorporate, plus it allows me to expose my kids to different types of poetry.

The diverse writing prompts push students to write all sorts of interesting poems!

Not only this, but my students keep a writing journal, which holds all their written poems for the year.

It’s always so fun to see how much they’ve grown with poetry writing by the end of the school year.

Analyzing Poetry Through Music

During our Poetry Hour, I had a student ask if he could perform rap songs. I told him yes and helped him choose appropriate examples to recite.

Needless to say, it was a huge hit with my students!

Thankfully, music and poetry have so many similarities that allow them to go hand-in-hand.

So, analyzing music of all genres provides excellent exposure to different examples of figurative language in poetry.

Incorporating Poetry through Read-Alouds for Upper Elementary Students

Another one of my favorite poetry activities for upper elementary students is to find examples of it through read-alouds.

Just like with music, books showcase poetry examples that help students get on-going exposure to it.

In my class, students use literacy choice boards , which include an option called “The Poetry Finder.”

I teach them how to identify different types of poetry when they’re reading independently.

The more poetry students see in different forms, the stronger they get with interpreting figurative language and inferencing while reading .

Play Online Poetry Games

If you’re looking for ways to connect poetry with technology, you’ll love this poetry activity.

Poetry Games ( poetrygames.org ) is a free website that does three things:

• Defines different types of poems
• Gives examples of each poetry type
• Provides a built in writing template where students will type their own poem into a “Poetry Machine.”

The poetry machine will “spit out” the student’s typed poem. I love how the templates provide scaffolded writing tips and lines to help students write/type their poems independently.

Plus, it will not allow students to click the “Create Your Poem” button until they fill in each blank in the template.

It’s one of my favorite, no-prep ways to include poetry practice with our technology centers!

Poetry Lesson Plans for Upper Elementary Teachers

Teaching poetry can seem intimidating; especially if you feel short on time–which most of us do!

This is why all of my PowerPoint Lesson slides and step-by-step lesson plans for my poetry units are available in my shop HERE.

Each poetry unit also has printables and poetry assessments + rubrics included that help you teach poetry to your 3rd through 5th grade students.

They are designed for whole class mini-lessons AND poetry centers that can be used all year long.

More Poetry Resources

Bookmark or pin these poetry posts to infuse more poetry activities into your classroom:

• How I Teach Haiku Poetry
• Poetry Books That Also Celebrate Diversity
• Books That Teach Figurative Language

Don’t forget to grab your free digital poetry activity before you go. This freebie is only available to my email subscribers.

When you sign up, you’ll also be subscribed to my newsletter, where you’ll get more exclusive content from me.

Happy Poetry Teaching! 🦋

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5th Grade Poetry Lesson Plans

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Elements of Poetry PowerPoint - Grade 5 and Grade 6

A 25 slide editable PowerPoint template to use when introducing students to the elements of poetry.

Types of Poetry - Anchor Chart Pack with Annotations

Introduce structured forms of poetry to your students with this set of 9 annotated poetry posters. .

Poetry Match Game - Elements of Poetry Activity

Practice identifying poetic elements in examples of poems with a poetry sorting activity for fourth grade and fifth grade.

Poetry and Figurative Language Workbook - Poems for Middle School

Print a pack of poems with figurative language worksheets to practice poetry analysis.

Onomatopoeia Words - Vocabulary Display

Display a fun onomatopoeia word wall in your classroom with printable cards containing onomatopoeia examples.

Sound Devices in Poetry - Teaching Slide Deck

Teach the different sound devices used in poetry with this Google Slide Deck.

Exploring Figurative Language in Poetry Workbook

Teach your upper elementary and middle school students to read, analyze, and discuss poetry with a printable and digital poetry workbook.

Writing With Alliteration Worksheet

Identify and create alliteration patterns in texts.

Alliteration Brainstorming Template

Use this brainstorming template to practice using the sound device alliteration.

Onomatopoeia Poster

A poster providing a definition and examples of onomatopoeia.

A Fistful of Flavors Alliteration Activity

Make alliteration fun with a printable worksheet that challenges students to create flavors of ice cream.

Animal Alliteration Activity - Brainstorming Template

Use this brainstorming template when teaching about alliteration.

Sound Devices Sorting Activity

Reinforce sound devices used in text by sorting 16 poetic device cards into their appropriate category.

Poetic Devices PowerPoint

A 23-slide editable PowerPoint template to use when introducing students to poetic devices.

Onomatopoeia Man Poster

Figurative Language Anchor Chart - Onomatopoeia

Help young readers and writers recognize figurative language and onomatopoeia with a set of onomatopoeia anchor charts.

Interpreting Figurative Language - Worksheets

Explore figurative language in poetry with this age-appropriate poem and accompanying vocabulary questions.

Elements of Poetry Worksheet - Sound Devices

A worksheet to help students understand sound devices in poetry.

Sound Devices

A 60 minute lesson in which students will identify and investigate sound devices in poetry.

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Find Poetry resources | TPT

Learn more about poetry resources.

Poetry encourages students to engage with language, explore their thoughts and feelings, and connect with the broader human experience. If you’re a teacher or parent looking for printable and digital poetry resources, look no further. TPT has an extensive collection of resources, created by other teachers, that are designed to help with any need across grade levels.

If you want to make poets out of younger students in elementary grades, then acrostic poems or fill in the blank poems are the perfect place to start. (In fact, many poetry resources on TPT include templates so your students can easily get started producing their own poetry, whether it’s a haiku, or limerick.) For older students in middle and high school, you can find an array of resources to teach them about everything from iambic pentameter, figurative language, to famous poets from history. With plenty of TPT resources at your fingertips, you can sharpen your students’ poetry skills in no time.

Fun and engaging poetry activities to try

Teaching students about poetry can be an engaging and creative experience. Here are a few ideas for poetry activities that you can find on TPT to help you introduce and explore the world of poetry with your students:

Poetic Device Scavenger Hunt

Distribute some poems and have students identify and highlight poetic devices like similes, metaphors, alliteration, onomatopoeia, and imagery. Discuss what these are and the overall impact on the reader's experience.

Poetry Analysis Jigsaw

Divide students into small groups, assigning each group a different poem. Have each group analyze the assigned poem's themes, tone, and literary devices, and present their findings to the class.

Poetry Slam or Performance

Organize a poetry slam where students can perform poems they’ve written themselves or those written by famous poets. This will help build confidence and strengthen their public speaking skills.

Writing Poetry from Different Perspectives

Ask students to write a poem from the perspective of an inanimate object or an animal to foster empathy and encourage creative, out-of-the-box thinking.

Creating Found Poetry

Provide magazines, newspapers, or online articles. Have students cut out interesting words and phrases, and use them to create their own unique poems.

These (and other!) activities can help deepen your students’ appreciation for poetry and enhance their creative writing skills.

Frequently asked questions about teaching poetry

What types of poetry resources are available on tpt.

There are many different types of poetry resources sold by Sellers on TPT. Some popular poetry lessons include learning how to write haikus, acrostic poems, limericks, and free verse.

How do I find poetry resources on TPT?

Educators can save time preparing poetry lessons with resources created by experienced teachers. Simply start a search for poetry resources on the TPT marketplace, and filter by grade level, price, and/or resource type to find materials that've been proven to work in classrooms like yours. No matter what you’re teaching, there are plenty of poetry lessons and activities sold by Sellers on TPT that are tailored to meet your students' skill levels.

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