Resources
Poetry is a paradox—structured and free, dark and light, simple and complex. These three structures for National Poetry Month help students across all grade levels step into the art of poetry—from rhyming sounds to interpreting symbolism—and capture feelings that are hard to put into words. Take a look.
Use a Columns structure to help elementary students explore basic vowel sounds. By generating words that rhyme with “at,” “or,” “in,” and “you,” students build a bank of rhymes to spark ideas for their own poems. Use this structure in your classroom!
The Sequence structure guides middle schoolers as they build a haiku from the ground up. They craft each line and choose a title that captures the heart of their poem. When finished, students can explore their classmates’ haikus and step into the small, vivid moments their peers have created. Use this structure in your classroom!
A Noteboard structure provides space for high schoolers to share their interpretations of "Loveliest of Trees, The Cherry Now" by A.E. Housman. In exploring themes like time and the fleeting nature of life, students also connect the poem's meaning to their own experiences. Use this structure in your classroom!
And here’s a little rhyme from us to you:
May every verse you teach take flight and soar,
By opening minds to new worlds to explore.
Happy teaching!