Poetry Writing Teaching Resources
Explore poetry writing in your elementary ELA classroom with printable worksheets, poem templates, graphic organizers and more resources to teach students how to write a poem and get kids excited about the world of verse!
Created by teachers for teachers like you, the teaching resources in this collection are aligned with both TEKS and Common Core standards, each printable and digital resource has undergone a careful review by a member of our expert teaching team.
You'll find editable versions to easily differentiate your instruction for individual students, plus a variety of options to make lesson planning easier this school year so your students can write haiku, acrostics, shape poems and more.
New to teaching students to write poetry or just looking for fresh and engaging ways to teach this portion to the ELA curriculum? Read on for a primer from our teacher team, including a look at some of the poetry types that kids love most.
Types of Poems for Kids to Help Teach Poetry Writing
With more than 100 different types of poems on bookshelves at your local library, it can be a challenge to pick just which types you should be teaching your students to write. Do you start with a basic rhyming poem? Challenge your 6th graders to tackle free verse? Bring out the acrostics for your 3rd grade class?
Take a breath! Our teacher team has compiled a list of some of the best poetry types for teaching kids how to write a poem.
1. Rhyming Poems
For many kids, rhyming poems are their very first experience with poetry. Appearing in popular children's books and nursery rhymes, these poems are a classic starting place for teaching kids to write poetry as you explore rhyme schemes and how to carry a rhyming pattern through a piece of writing.
Some rhyming patterns to explore in the elementary school grades include:
- Alternate rhyme
- Rhyming couplets
- Enclosed rhyme
2. Limericks
Speaking of rhyming patterns, limericks are short poems at just 5 lines long, and they follow a predictable AABBA rhyming pattern.
Designed to be funny, this poetry type allows kids to bring out their silly sides as they're writing, which makes limericks a student favorite in any classroom.
3. Haiku
Another type of poetry that follows a predictable format, haiku are always 17 syllables, and they are always broken out in the same way:
- Line one — 5 syllables
- Line two — 7 syllables
- Line three — 5 syllables
First created in Japan, this popular poem type for kids allows young poets to practice their descriptive writing, as well as focusing on syllables.
4. Shape Poems or Concrete Poems
Have you noticed the array of shape poem templates in this teaching resource collection? These simple poems create a visual shape from words that are related to the theme of the poem, and they're another basic but fun poetry type for younger kids.
Teaching your students to write shape or concrete poems is a good way to encourage them to explore the relationship between the form of a poem and its content.
5. Acrostic Poems
Another type of poem with a distinct format, acrostic poems tend to open up kids' creativity. Without the pressure of creating rhymes, kids can write more freely!
Teaching How to Write Poetry
Learning how to write poetry is an exploration in creativity for students, and it can be incredibly freeing for kids as they learn that they can experiment and have fun with language!
Writing poetry can be a powerful tool for self-expression that lets our students learn to express their unique perspectives, building their confidence and self-esteem as they learn to value their own ideas and opinions.
Of course, plenty of learning benefits also tie back to ELA standards. Poetry writing helps kids build their literacy skills, including reading comprehension, vocabulary and grammar. It's key in teaching kids to recognize different literary devices, from metaphor and simile to alliteration and imagery, and giving them a chance to practice using them effectively in their own writing.
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Write an Acrostic Poem Worksheet
Set your students up for success when writing an acrostic poem with this set of scaffolded, easy-to-follow worksheets.
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Write a Cinquain Poem Worksheet
Set your students up for success when writing a cinquain poem with this set of scaffolded, easy-to-follow worksheets.
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Five Senses Poem Craft Templates
Use this five senses craft to introduce your students to descriptive language and five senses poetry.
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Roll-a-Holiday Poem Dice Game
Get your students to write fun holiday poems with this engaging “Roll-a-Poem” dice game.
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Writing a Simile Poem - Worksheet
Experiment with similes by writing a simile poem about a special person.
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Poetry Cloze Passage Worksheets
Use these poetry cloze worksheets to introduce your students to various types of poetry in a fun and engaging way.
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Write an Autobiographical Poem Worksheet
Set your students up for success when writing an autobiographical poem with this set of scaffolded, easy-to-follow worksheets.
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Elements of Poetry Teaching Slides
Explore the key elements of poetry with your students using this comprehensive and age-appropriate slide deck perfect for your poetry writing unit.
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All About Me! Simile Poem Poster and Worksheet
Get to know your students and explore poetry at the same time with this simile poem scaffolding template.
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Rhyming Poems Poster and Template
Teach your students all about rhyming couplet poems with this classroom poster and accompanying student worksheets.
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Concrete Poem Poster and Templates
Use this concrete poem example and accompanying template to teach your students how to write a concrete poem.
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Five Senses Poem Poster and Template
Use this five senses poem example and accompanying template to teach your students how to write a sensory poem.
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Write a Color Poem Worksheet
Set your students up for success when writing a color poem with this set of scaffolded, easy-to-follow worksheets.
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Write a Haiku Poem Worksheet
Set your students up for success when writing a haiku poem with this set of scaffolded, easy-to-follow worksheets.
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Life Event Poetry Prompt Task Cards
Use these poetry prompts to help your students write simple poems about their life experiences.
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People and Places Poetry Prompt Task Cards
Use these writing prompts for poetry to help your students write simple poems about people and places.
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Types of Poetry Anchor Charts with Annotations
Introduce structured forms of poetry to your students with this set of 9 annotated poetry posters.
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Poetry Anchor Chart With Annotations
Use this poetry anchor chart to introduce your students to the structure and language features of poems through an annotated example.
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Nature Poetry Prompt Task Cards
Use these poetry writing prompts to help your students write simple poems about nature.
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I Am Poem Template
Get to know your students and create back-to-school poems with a printable ‘I Am… Poem template.
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Grandparents' Day Poems with Similes
Celebrate grandma and grandpa with heartfelt simile poems using a printable Grandparents’ Day poem template.
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Create Your Own Grandparents' Day Poem Pack
Write a special Grandparents’ Day Poem with our printable Kenning poem worksheet pack.
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Halloween Shape Poem Templates
Inspire spook-tacular writing this Halloween with a variety of printable Halloween Shape Poem templates.
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Cooperation Word Splash and Acrostic Poem
Discuss cooperation with your students and write an acrostic poem with a printable word splash worksheet and poem template.
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Mother's Day Acrostic Poem
Create a special keepsake for mom, grandma, aunt, or another special lady with a Mother’s Day acrostic poem template.
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Earth Day - Acrostic Poem Template Pack
An acrostic poem template pack to use in the classroom to celebrate Earth Day and National Poetry Month.
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How to Write a Limerick - Worksheet Pack
Use this 2-page worksheet when teaching students how to write a limerick.
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Prompts for Poetry – Family and Culture
Download this set of 16 illustrated poetry task cards to help students write about their family and cultural celebrations.
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Poetry Terms - Word Wall Display
Display and discuss terms related to poetry and figurative language with a set of 30 word wall cards.
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Forms of Poetry Teaching Slides
Explore the different forms of poetry with your students using this comprehensive and age-appropriate slide deck.
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Father's Day Acrostic Poem Worksheet
Create a special keepsake for dad, grandpa, uncle, or another special father figure with a Father’s Day acrostic poem template.
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Grandparents Day Acrostic Poems
Celebrate grandma and grandpa in the classroom with a Grandparents Day acrostic poem template.