Inaugurated by the Academy of American Poets in 1996, National Poetry Month is now held every April, when schools, publishers, libraries, booksellers, and poets throughout the United States band together to celebrate poetry and its vital place in American culture. Thousands of organizations participate through readings, festivals, book displays, workshops, and other events.

Poetry is a wonderful way to get kids engaged in reading and writing. Poetry.org is a great place to start. Here are some more wonderful resources to help bring poems into your students’ and children’s lives.

Lesson Plans/Activities

• Great collection of resources for National Poetry Month from Scholastic
• Several lessons and ideas from Read Write Think
• Giggle Poetry for Kids – Lots of funny poems, contests and more! Ideas for educators on teaching poetry in fun and interesting ways.
• Teach repetition, onomatopoeia, and use of white space with popcorn
• Poetry for Kids: Name Poems
• Teach Your Child How to Write a Haiku
• 10 Ways For Kids to Experience Poetry
• Hands on activities for kids: puzzles, theme poems, rhyme practice, and more! Shel Silverstein is my personal favorite! 🙂
• Reading & Writing Readiness Activity for Kids {Illustrating Poetry}
• Have a “Poetry Picnic“

Printables

• “I Am” Poem Template
• Figurative Language Reference Sheet
• Autobiography Poem Template
• Patterns in Poems
• Free Printable Frames and Poem Templates
• If I Were In Charge of the World Graphic Organizer
• Recitation Cards {free printable!}
• Mother’s Day Printables

Miscellaneous Resources

• Great site for kids from poet Kenn Nesbitt – includes lessons, games, activities, poems and more! Perfect for National Poetry Month!
• Fun activity for kids
• Easy Places to Find Ideas
• Haiku Books For Kids

For even more National Poetry Month resources, check out my Pinterest Poetry board (be sure to follow as new resources are added all the time)!