National Poetry Month 2025 Teaching Resources
Celebrate National Poetry Month 2025 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 2025?
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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Alliteration Brainstorming Template
Use this brainstorming template to practice using the sound device alliteration.
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Primary Weekly Poetry Guide - Weeks 4 and 5
Use this weekly poetry guide to celebrate National Poetry Month in your primary classroom.
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Primary Weekly Poetry Guide - Week 3
Use this weekly poetry guide to celebrate National Poetry Month in your primary classroom.
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The Troll Poem and Task Cards
A poem and set of task cards about a Troll.
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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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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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Primary Weekly Poetry Guide - Week 2
Use this weekly poetry guide to celebrate National Poetry Month in your primary classroom.
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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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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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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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Writing Template - Primary Grades
A blank template to use for a variety of writing pieces in the primary grades.
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Sound Devices Sorting Activity
Reinforce sound devices used in text by sorting 16 poetic device cards into their appropriate category.
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Write an Acrostic Poem Worksheet
Set your students up for success when writing an acrostic poem with this set of scaffolded, easy-to-follow worksheets.
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Celebrating Poetry Month in the Primary Grades – Weeks 4 and 5
Celebrate National Poetry Month in the primary classroom with this planning guide and set of resources.
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Celebrating Poetry Month in the Primary Grades - Week 3
Celebrate National Poetry Month in the primary classroom with this planning guide and set of resources.
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Celebrating Poetry Month in the Primary Grades - Week 2
Celebrate National Poetry Month in the primary classroom with this planning guide and set of resources.
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Celebrating Poetry Month in the Primary Grades - Week 1
Celebrate National Poetry Month in the primary classroom with this planning guide and set of resources.
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National Poetry Month Activities to Get Kids Excited About Writing Poems
Celebrate National Poetry Month this April with teaching resources, poetry writing activities, and more ways to make learning poetry fun for kids.
- National Poetry Month 2025 Templates
- National Poetry Month 2025 Writing Templates
- National Poetry Month 2025 Posters
- National Poetry Month 2025 Worksheets
- National Poetry Month 2025 Task Cards
- National Poetry Month 2025 Sorting Activities
- National Poetry Month 2025 Games
- National Poetry Month 2025 Instructional Slide Decks
- National Poetry Month 2025 Flipbooks
- National Poetry Month 2025 Dice Games
- National Poetry Month 2025 Craft Activities
- National Poetry Month 2025 Card Games
- National Poetry Month 2025 Graphic Organizers
- National Poetry Month 2025 for Pre-K
- National Poetry Month 2025 for Kindergarten
- National Poetry Month 2025 for 1st Grade
- National Poetry Month 2025 for 2nd Grade
- National Poetry Month 2025 for 3rd Grade
- National Poetry Month 2025 for 4th Grade
- National Poetry Month 2025 for 5th Grade
- National Poetry Month 2025 for 6th Grade
- National Poetry Month 2025 for 7th Grade