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!

1. 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!
2. 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.
3. 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.