Celebrating National Poetry Month

Celebrating National Poetry Month

Celebrating National Poetry Month

(Image by Esther Merbt from Pixabay)

April is National Poetry Month. Celebrate by reading and/or writing 30 poems in 30 days or trying the activities suggested below.  You can also visit your local library for resources, ideas, and programs.

All Ages


Pre-K and K:   

(Most preschoolers have already been exposed to nursery rhymes since they are such a classic part of childhood. They help children develop the pre-reading skill of phonemic awareness (the ability to focus on and manipulate individual sounds in words)  because they are full of rhyme, rhythm, sounds, and syllables.)

  • ABC Poem:  Write an ABC Poem. Pick a general topic such as animals and write a word that begins with each letter in the alphabet, starting with A and moving in alphabetical order all the way to Z.

1st and 2nd:

  • Senses Poem:  Write a Senses Poem.  Review the five senses (sight, hearing, smell, touch, and taste).  Pick a topic and brainstorm how each of the five senses describes your topic. For example:   
Spring
Looks like green grass and colorful flowers
Sounds like birds chirping
Smells like freshly cut grass
Feels like a warm breeze
Tastes like lemonade and jelly beans

3rd and Up:  

  • Participate in the Dear Poet Project:  The Academy of American Poets is sponsoring the Dear Poet Project in which children in grades 5 and up are invited to write letters in response to poems written and read by award-winning poets.  For more information, see https://www.poets.org/national-poetry-month/dear-poet-project-2019  


Sometimes poetry is overlooked in favor of other forms of literature.  Take advantage of National Poetry Month to explore a vast array of different types of poems and the variety of emotions and ideas they convey.