National Poetry Month 2024 Teaching Resources
Celebrate National Poetry Month 2024 with printable poetry worksheets, poetry writing resources, poems for kids and more guides designed to engage students with the world of verse!
Not familiar with National Poetry Month? Don't worry! The ELA teachers at Teach Starter have got your lesson planning covered this April!
What Is National Poetry Month?
National Poetry Month is an annual observance here in the United States that occurs in the fourth month of the year. Designed to promote poetry and its appreciation and to encourage the reading, writing, and teaching of poetry, the event was started by the Academy of American Poets in 1996 and has since grown to become the largest literary celebration in the world!
It's also a prime chance for you to add activities to your lesson planning to celebrate poetry and its role in culture and society, challenging students to express themselves through verse!
When Is National Poetry Month 2024?
No matter the year, National Poetry Month is observed in April.
It seems to be fitting. After all, April is also the birth month of celebrated poets William Wordsworth (born April 7, 1770) and William Shakespeare ( born sometime in April 1564.
3 Fun National Poetry Month Activities for the Classroom
This resource collection is chock full of poetry writing prompts, templates, and more activities to inspire your students to bring out their inner poet. Use them along with these fun ways to celebrate this important date on the poetry calendar in your classroom!
- Plan a Poetry Writing Contest — Work with other teachers in your school to plan a poetry writing contest to get students excited about putting pencils to paper!
- Incorporate the Holidays — Earth Day and Arbor Day both fall in April and provide ample fodder for kids to trod as they write their poems.
- Hold a Poetry Slam — A poetry slam is a competition in which students can perform their own poems or recite poems by other poets. It's a great way to encourage students to express themselves creatively and build their confidence.
What Is the History of National Poetry Month?
Looking to impress upon your class just how important this month is? A little history lesson may be in order!
As we mentioned, National Poetry Month was established in 1996 by the Academy of American Poets. The goal was to increase awareness and appreciation for poetry in the United States, broadening the audience for poetry, encouraging more people — like our students — to read and write poems, and promoting a greater understanding of the role poetry plays in our culture.
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Printable Heart Templates
Teachers! Download a free printable heart template that’s perfect for any craft or activity.
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Sensory Chart Graphic Organizer
A graphic organizer for students to use when categorizing sensory details.
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Rhyming Word Cards
Reinforce students' knowledge of rhyming words with this set of 30 picture cards.
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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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Onomatopoeia Poems Poster and Templates
Use this onomatopoeia poem poster and accompanying template to teach your students how to write an onomatopoeia poem.
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Alliteration Poem Poster and Templates
Use this alliteration poem example and accompanying worksheets to teach your students how to write an alliteration poem.
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Simile Poster (Primary)
Show your students an example of a simile using this colorful classroom display poster.
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Elements of Poetry - Instructional Slide Deck
Investigate poetic elements with an interactive Elements of Poetry teaching slide deck.
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Figurative Language Flip Book
Practice identify examples of figurative language with this flip book template for kids.
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Exploring Figurative Language in Poetry Workbook
Teach your upper elementary and middle school students to read, analyze, and discuss poetry with a printable and digital poetry workbook.
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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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Roll and Find – Figurative Language Worksheet
Explore, identify and interpret figurative language with this engaging roll and find activity.
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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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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 Task Cards
A set of 20 task cards to practice different elements of peotry.
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Alliteration Brainstorming Template
Use this brainstorming template to practice using the sound device alliteration.
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The Troll Poem and Task Cards
A poem and set of task cards about a Troll.
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Acrostic Poems Poster
Use this acrostic poem example and accompanying templates to teach your students how to write an acrostic poem.
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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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A Fistful of Flavors Alliteration Activity
Make alliteration fun with a printable worksheet that challenges students to create flavors of ice cream.
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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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Sound Devices in Poetry - Teaching Slide Deck
Teach the different sound devices used in poetry with this Google Slide Deck.
- National Poetry Month 2024 Templates
- National Poetry Month 2024 Writing Templates
- National Poetry Month 2024 Posters
- National Poetry Month 2024 Worksheets
- National Poetry Month 2024 Task Cards
- National Poetry Month 2024 Instructional Slide Decks
- National Poetry Month 2024 Sorting Activities
- National Poetry Month 2024 Games
- National Poetry Month 2024 Craft Activities
- National Poetry Month 2024 Graphic Organizers
- National Poetry Month 2024 Dice Games
- National Poetry Month 2024 Flipbooks
- National Poetry Month 2024 for Pre-K
- National Poetry Month 2024 for Kindergarten
- National Poetry Month 2024 for 1st Grade
- National Poetry Month 2024 for 2nd Grade
- National Poetry Month 2024 for 3rd Grade
- National Poetry Month 2024 for 4th Grade
- National Poetry Month 2024 for 5th Grade
- National Poetry Month 2024 for 6th Grade
- National Poetry Month 2024 for 7th Grade