Our annual CD of patriotic music is playing in the background and I'm grateful today to consider America's hardwon independence. We are a blessed people.
These 3 activities are available as a free download in my online Resource Library
With summer in full swing, where parents (and grandparents) find themselves planning all manner of activities for kids, it’s hard to know how to balance fun and play with a little bit of learning.
‘Falling behind’ is a common concern of parents of school-aged kids. ‘ The good news? There are simple poetry activities grown ups can do to sneak in some learning disguised as fun during the summer months.
Especially with poetry!
Simple Poetry Activity #1: Try a Poetry Walk
What if you went for a walk in the park or your neighborhood and, using this little rhyme, asked kids to find rhymes for as many words as they can for what they see in nature? Start out with these lines, just for fun:
What will we find on our walk?
Tick tock, around the block…
On your walk (or in the car) model an idea for poem-making, like this:
It fills me with glee to spy a tree.
Where’s he at, the neighborhood cat?
Look at that flower, taking a shower!
Those are simple, silly rhymes that can keep kids’ thinking well oiled and also be a seed for more ideas.
Simple Poetry Activity #2: Incorporate Poetry Into an Ice Cream Outing
What if you went out for ice cream (or frozen yogurt) and read this together?
Ice cream-chocolate,
Vanilla with bright sprinkles.
Ice cream in a bucket?
Why, I’ll take a sink full!
Again, a silly rhyme but a way to get the poetry wheels turning no matter what the occasion.
These activities can also spur on your own thinking while you’re driving to and from the grocery store, washing dishes, sitting on the couch, or setting up a splash pad–where and how can you find some poetic rhymes?
A lovely book full of a wide range of poems
Simple Poetry Activity #3: Read Poetry Aloud
Another simple poetry activity is simply reading poetry to your kids this summer. Attuning kids to poetry begins with simply training their ears to listen….and reading poems takes only 10 or 15 minutes a day (or a week, if that’s all you’ve got!).
10 Best Poetry Books for Kids
Now We Are Six, A.A. Milne, with decorations by Ernest H. Shepard. c. 1927
Opposites, More Opposites and a Few Differences, Poems and Drawings by Richard Wilbur, 1973.
A Child’s Garden of Verses, Robert Louis Stevenson
Poems to Learn by Heart, Caroline Kennedy, paintings by John J. Muth. Poems in categories “That’s so Silly!”, “Bedtime”, “The Seashore” & more.
A Family of Poems, My Favorite Poetry for Children, Edited by Caroline Kennedy
Dear Miss Tickle,Poetry & Art for the Young at Heart, Marcia Lynch
The Oxford Illustrated Book of American Children's Poems, edited by Donald Hall.
Hailstones and Halibut Bones-Adventures in Color, by Mary O'Neill
The Random House Book of Poetry for Children, A Treasury of 572 Poems, selected by Jack Prelutsky, Illustrated by Arnold Lobel.
When We Were Very Young, A.A. Milne, with decorations by Ernest H. Shepard. c. 1924
If you'd like to download the FREE list above, that link is HERE.
I hope you'll take time to make friends with poetry this summer, even in the slivers of time....
Did someone forward you this email? Join my list via the button below and become part of the community and receive your FREE Poetry 101 Starter Kit.
Inbox too full? Need to unsubscribe? No hard feelings. Click here.
Jody Lee Collins
I am a retired educator with over 20 years in the classroom, including 5 years working with Special Needs kids. I’m also an author, poet and Nana of six with a heart for helping parents, teachers and homeschoolers introduce children to poetry. Click on the links below for my website where you'll find Free Resources like curated poetry lists and how-to's. Also be sure SUBSCRIBE for monthly poems and inspiration. When I'm not at my desk writing or reading I enjoy spending time with my children and grandchildren. My husband and I call the Seattle area home where we marvel at the birds and mess about in our garden.
