National Poetry Month Activities

National Poetry Month takes place each April. Poetry has played a huge role in literature and has made an impact on many people by being a form of expression. Writing poems allows us to put our feelings, thoughts, and observations into words. Reading it brings us a sense of connection and meaning as we think about things from a different perspective.

Write A Haiku

With so many different forms of poetry, there is something for everyone to enjoy. One form of poetry that we’d like to dive into deeper is the Haiku. Haiku is a style of Japanese poetry that has three lines and 17 syllables. The first line is 5 syllables, the second is 7 syllables, and the third is 5 syllables. Check out these examples:

Example #1:                                                 Pattern of Syllables:

My name is William.                                   Syllables: 5

I like spending time with friends              Syllables: 7

And playing outside.                                  Syllables: 5

Example #2:                                                                              

I like playing sports.                                   Syllables: 5

My favorite is soccer                                  Syllables: 7

Because I run fast.                                      Syllables: 5

Now that you know what is needed, you can encourage your child to create a Haiku that describes something about them! Make sure to prompt them to use the pattern outlined above to keep track of the number of syllables in each line.

A Haiku is only one form of poetry but be sure to explore the different types of poems that can be created. The options of what to create are endless. That’s why we wanted to share a few ways to celebrate so you can help immerse your child into more poetry.

More Ways to Celebrate

Read poetry

Looking for a top way to experience poetry? Help your child browse through poetry collections and books. Read through the poems to find those that they connect with or enjoy. You may be interested to see the ones that they are more drawn to and inspired by.

Find a favorite poet

There are tons of poets out there. Some are legendary and some are current ones creating new poems. Once your child has read through different poems and found some they like, dive deeper to discover more poems by the same author. This will help them find ones that may have a similar style or just be ones that they find they can relate to or are entertained by.

Join a poetry reading at a local library or listen to an audiobook

Another fun way to experience poetry is to hear poetry being read aloud. You can select a few poems to read aloud with your kids or even consider joining a kid-friendly poetry reading at a local library. Another option is to listen to an audiobook. Hearing poetry read aloud can spark a new perspective for kids. The way it is read can be filled with energy, emotion, and even be silly. Your child may be more inspired to write their own after they experience the enthusiasm and excitement from hearing it come to life.

Create a rhyming list

One way to start writing poetry is by selecting a word and creating a list of words that rhyme. Keep track with a list on a piece of paper and incorporate a mixture of nouns, verbs, and adjectives. This will help your child create simple sentences to craft their own rhyming poem.

Start a word collection

Have your child browse through magazines and newspapers to find words that stand out to them. They can cut these words out and collect them in an envelope. Once they have quite a few impactful words, they can begin creating their poem. All that is needed is a piece of paper and a glue stick. Your child can glue down the words to create their own poem.

Write a themed poem

Your child can write a poem about anything but deciding on a theme can help them focus and think about a specific topic with a new perspective. For example, writing a poem about nature to prepare for Earth Day (which takes place on April 22.) To begin preparing and thinking about ways to discuss why Earth Day is important, encourage your child to write a poem about nature. Together you can find different components of nature to describe or the feelings that they experience when being outdoors. It’s a great way to connect with the beautiful outdoors and put it into words.

Create a poetry book

Now that your child is familiar with the different forms and unlimited topics of poetry, encourage them to write their own poems to create a book. They can create a book based on nature topics, their family, or whatever interests them! Illustrating the poems that were created is a fun way to add color and graphics to visualize an extra element to their words.

Share your favorite poetry with others

Now that your child has had time to read through, listen to, and write poetry, encourage them to share their favorite poems with others. This will allow them to share their thoughts on what they enjoyed about the poem or even their inspiration for writing their own. Sharing their favorite poetry will connect them with others and allow them to give their own perspective on the work. A fun way to share poetry is by setting up a virtual poetry reading with friends and family. Invite everyone to bring ones that they would like to read aloud and a reason why they enjoy it!

Join a supplemental reading program

Feeling inspired by the creativity of poetry? Continue encouraging your child to explore literature and expand their creativity by enrolling them in the Kumon Reading Program. The program incorporates various components of reading and writing that can help children develop into lifelong lovers of reading.

The Takeaway

Poetry is a component of literature that’s both expressive and fun that can be enjoyed by anyone. When it comes to what to read and write about in poetry, the options are truly endless. We hope these activities have you inspired to try a few but remember how you celebrate National Poetry Month is up to you!