Introducing poetry to elementary students can be a challenge, but it doesn’t have to be boring or intimidating. With a little creativity and some fun activities, you can help your young learners appreciate and enjoy the beauty of poetry. Here are some tips and ideas to make poetry fun for elementary students.
Start with familiar topics and themes.
When introducing poetry to young learners, it’s important to start with familiar topics and themes that they can relate to. This could include animals, nature, family, or even their favorite foods. By starting with familiar topics, students are more likely to engage with the poetry and understand its meaning. You can also use poetry that has been adapted for children, such as nursery rhymes or Dr. Seuss books, to help them get comfortable with the rhythm and structure of poetry.
There are also lots of wonderful poetry books that have been written just for kids. Books can make lessons fun and add much-needed background knowledge. There are poetry books that are humorous and some that are musical. Here are some book suggestions to get you started. Just click the cover image to read more about each book.
Use visual aids and multimedia to enhance understanding.
Visual aids and multimedia can be powerful tools for helping young learners understand and appreciate poetry. Consider using images, videos, or even music to help bring the words to life. For example, you could show a picture of a bird while reading a poem about birds, or play a song that relates to the theme of the poem. This can help students make connections between the words and the world around them, and deepen their understanding of the poem. Additionally, incorporating technology into poetry lessons can make them more engaging and interactive for students.
KidTime StoryTime, a popular storyteller on YouTube, has a very entertaining, and child-friendly, reading of The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost. Your young students will definitely think this video makes poetry fun!
Another great way to incorporate multimedia is by showing your elementary students Storyline Online’s version of To Be A Drum. Evelyn Coleman’s book is read by James Earl Jones. The Teacher Activity Guide found on the site even offers suggestions on how you can use the video to inspire your students to write their own poems, which leads to the next suggestion for making poetry fun.
Encourage creativity and personal expression to make poetry fun.
When teaching poetry to young learners, it’s important to encourage creativity and personal expression. Allow students to write their own poems, even if they don’t follow traditional structures or rhyme schemes. Encourage them to use their own experiences and emotions as inspiration for their writing. You can also have students create visual representations of their poems, such as illustrations or collages. This not only helps them engage with the material on a deeper level, but also allows them to express themselves in a unique and meaningful way. Incorporating art also naturally adds a fun element to any lesson.
Incorporate movement and performance into poetry activities.
To make poetry more fun and accessible for young learners, try incorporating movement and performance into your activities. Have students act out their favorite poems or create movements to go along with the words. This not only helps them remember the material better, but also allows them to engage with the material in a more physical way. You can also have students create their own poetry performances, either individually or in groups, and share them with the class. This helps build confidence and public speaking skills while also encouraging creativity and self-expression.
Celebrate and share student work.
One of the best ways to make poetry fun and accessible for young learners is to celebrate and share their work. Display their poems around the classroom or school, create a class poetry book, or even have a poetry slam where students can perform their work in front of an audience. This not only validates their efforts and creativity, but also encourages them to continue exploring and experimenting with poetry. Plus, it’s a great way to build a sense of community and appreciation for the art form.
Conclusion
Teaching poetry to young students doesn’t have to be scary and it certainly doesn’t have to be boring! There are many ways to make poetry fun. Try some of these tips and see if you suddenly have a class of students begging for more poetry!