POETRY IN FIFTH GRADE

Candice Gockel5th Grade teacher

Stamford Central School

POETRY IN FIFTH GRADE

Poetry Collection Assignment You must write at least one of each of the following poems. Use the outline

Mrs. Gockel has given you to ensure you are writing your poems correctly. Final copies of poems should be word processed on the computer or

handwritten in your neatest handwriting. One poem per sheet of paper. Include the type of poem at the top of each

page. Do not use the back of the paper. Each poem must have a colored illustration, which may be hand drawn or

printed from computer clip art. Your poetry collection must have a cover. It can be hand drawn or created

using a computer. Include a title for your poetry collection, your name, 5th grade and the year. There must be an illustration or clip art on the cover.

When your poetry book is finished and is bound using the folder I provide you, you will complete the self reflection and critiques page. We will discuss that later in the slideshow.

Your overall grade will depend on ALL the above elements of the assignment which includes: a poetry collection cover, a table of contents, the poems you write and the illustrations that go with them. Neatness of the over all project, quality of work, spelling and turning it in on time will all count!

Have fun and be creative!

Poetry isa kind of writing, usually in verse.

Poetry verse is set out in short lines with words put together in rhythm or rhyme or both.

Poetry is about a writer sharing with the reader an experience or strong feelings.

Poems are written with words chosen for their sounds and beauty as well as their meaning.

*from http://42explore.com/poetry.htm

What is poetry? From “A Good Poem Will Give You Goose Bumps!” by Kenn Nesbitt (www.educationworld.com) “Good poetry always makes you feel something.”

May not always make you feel GOOD, but it invokes a feeling within you: pride, silly, sad, anger, love…

“Poetry has power.”It can help you remember things.For example: “ I do not like green eggs and ham…”

“Poetry is intimate.”It can say things that might not be said any other way. It

can help you deal with problems you may have. “Poetry is something you can share.”

Before TV, families talked more to each other and often they read poetry to one another.

Poetry is fun to read and to write.Trust me on this one!

Acrostic PoemAcrostics are poems that go down and across. The poems DO NOT have to rhymeThey can be as many words as you like.You can choose any subject you like, even

your own name.Highlight or make the word you chose stand

out in some way.

*from www.misscantillion.comMiss Cantillion’s Class Fifth Grade Poetry 2007

Acrostic Poem EXAMPLES:

Crunchy, munchyOh, so sweetOodles of chocolate and nutsKids love them!I like to eat them hot from the ovenEveryone waits for them to cool.

Miss Cantillio’s Class Fifth Grade Poetry 2007

JILL Jill is very funnyI like it when she tells jokesLoveable and smartLaughter fills her house

Shel Silverstein, A Light in the Attic, 1981

Alphabet Alliteration PoemIn alliteration, each important word in the line

begins with the same letter.The poem usually ends up being one that is

crazy and full of nonsense.Use your imagination and your skills at

alliteration to write three words for each alphabet letter.First word: an adjective (word describing a noun)Second word: a noun (subject: person, place or

thing)Third word: a verb (predicate: showing the action

of the subject)

Alphabet Alliteration PoemEXAMPLE

Awesome ants acheBony baboons bakeCrazy cats crawlDizzy dogs droolEager egrets eatFerocious ferrets fake…etc.

Miss Cantillon’ s Class Fifth Grade Poetry 2007

Cinquain Poem“Cinq” means “five” in French A cinquain is a special kind of five-line poem with a very strict form.

Line 1 One word – the subject of the poemThis word is a noun

Line 2 Two words describing the title These words are adjectives, words that describe the

nounLine 3 Three words expressing action

These are words that tell what the noun in line one does. Separate the verbs with commas.

Line 4 Four words expressing a feeling This can be a short phrase or a series of

words.Line 5 One word that is another word for the subject

This should be a synonym for the subject.

Cinquain PoemEXAMPLE

MotorcycleNoisy, fastRacing, climbing, crashingFun on two wheelsDirt bike

Miss Cantillon’s Class Fifth Grade Poetry 2007

Color PoemColor poems use your imagination and

senses to investigate a subject.The focus of the poem is on using similes

and metaphors.Similes compare two things using the words

“like” or “as”. The two things are typically nothing alike.

Metaphors compare two things without using the word “like” or “as”. They state that one thing is something else.

Color PoemEXAMPLE

Blue is the color of the sky.Blue is the waves in the ocean crashing against the shore.Blue is the feeling I get sometimes when I am sad.Blue is the icy color of glacial snow.Blue smells like freshly washed bed sheetsBlue tastes like blueberry Kool-Aid.Blue sounds like jets soaring through the clouds.Blue looks like the clear waters of the Hawaiian waters as I’m snorkeling.Blue feels like the snow on my face while I’m skiing at Mt. Hood.Blue makes me want to put on my coat, hat and gloves.Blue is my sister’s favorite color.

Miss Cantillon’s Class Fifth Grade Poetry 2007

Concrete PoemA concrete poem, or shape poem, is written

to represent objects that they describe.The poem can be written in the shape of

the object.The artwork adds to the visual effect of this

type of poem.

Concrete PoemEXAMPLES

www.poetryclass.nethttp://blog.richmond.edu/openwidelookinside/archives/932

Five Senses PoemFive senses poems use your senses to study or

investigate an object.The focus of the poem is on using similes.Remember: similes are comparisons between two

unlike things using the words “like” or “as”Directions: (use your imagination!)

Line 1: Tell what color an emotion or idea looks like to you

Line 2: Tell what the emotion or idea tastes like.Line 3: Tell what the emotion or idea sounds like.Line 4: Tell what the emotion or idea smells like.Line 5: Tell what the emotion or idea looks like.Line 6: Tell how the emotion or idea makes you feel.

Five Senses PoemEXAMPLE

Summer is yellow.It tastes like lemonade.It sounds like kids splashing in a lake.It smells like dandelions.It looks like boating.It makes me feel overjoyed.

Haiku Poem Haiku is a form of ancient Japanese poetry. The poems are often written about things in nature or seasons. They are also written about emotions or feelings about something. Haiku poems are not written as complete sentences. They are more often written as short thoughts and capitalization and

punctuation is up to the writer. Haiku follows this form:

Line 1: 5 syllablesLine 2: 7 syllablesLine 3: 5 syllables

Include images that appeal to the five senses What colors do you see?What sounds can you hear?What is the taste you imagine?What smells do you notice?How does it feel?

Haiku PoemEXAMPLES

Waking up to chirpsBirds singing in the morningBeautiful bird songs

The evening sun setsBrilliant colors glimmeringBeautiful sunsets

Miss Cantillon’s Class Fifth Grade Poetry 2007

Who-What-When-Where-Why PoemW-W-W-W-W PoemShould be 5 lines long.Each poem should tell a story or give a

strong picture of someone or something.Each line should answer one of the “W”

questions in the order listed above.When you read the poem, it should sound

like two sentences put together.

Who-What-When-Where-Why PoemEXAMPLES:

“Politics”WHO: A famous senatorWHAT: shook hands and ate lunchWHEN: last weekWHERE: at a restaurant in town.WHY: He raised money for his campaign.

“Getting Ready”WHO: IWHAT: prepare for the race by running five milesWHEN: every morning before schoolWHERE: around the neighborhood.WHY: You should always be prepared.

Miss Cantillon’s Class Fifth Grade Poetry 2007

Self Reflection and CritiquesUse the sheet I have given you with your folder.First you will write a few thoughts explaining

your feelings about writing poetry. Answer the questions:Which poems did you enjoy the most?Did your feelings about poetry change as we read

and wrote poetry?Share your poetry book with several other

people (only one may be by another student). Have these people write a few comments about your work (creativity and effort); then have them sign their names.

Poetry Unit Grading SheetI will use the one I am giving you now to grade your

poetry collection. Please keep it in your folder with your collection.

Your final grade is based upon all the elements on the grading sheet. If you have any questions, please ask Mrs. Gockel.

You will choose one poem and share it during our “Poetry Slam”. Your poem will be presented to the class and you will read it. It can presented as a PowerPoint Slide Show, with illustrations, photos, objects…whatever you come up with to showcase your poem. This presentation will be part of your grade as well.