From writing a funny ode to making a poem on a kite, here are five fun and easy ways to celebrate this special day with your bundles of joy!
Fun Fact: Did you know that poetry is one of the oldest art forms – it existed even before literacy did. In ancient times, poetry was a method of conveying historical facts, cultures, and traditions. In 2500 B.C was written in Epic forms, or long poetic passages that form a story, like the Odyssey by Homer.
The rhythmical and often lyrical nature of poetry makes it easy to learn by heart. So, no
wonder why people have been using it to express themselves for a very long, long time!
Poetry is timeless, and what better way to celebrate it than to take part in the Great Poetry Reading day with your kids!
Here are three easy and super fun ways to make the most of the day!
1. Help your child write an ode to someone or something they love
An ode is a lyrical poem that addresses and celebrates a person, thing, or idea! Here are a few super fun odes were written by school kids that you can read together with your kids to inspire your little ones! Check out: https://witshouston.org/notebook/5-amazing-odes-by-kids/
You can help pick your kids something they love, like their favourite pair of dinosaur socks or their favourite fruit. This activity super fun, and it’s an opportunity for you and your kids to put your creative hats on. You can also use the rhyming dictionary by http://www.poetry4kids.com/rhymes/
to discover some new rhyming words that you could pop into your ode!
2. Write a haiku poem about Spring
Spring is here! Flowers are blossoming, and everything looks shinier and greener. Why not celebrate this beautiful season with your kids by setting some time apart from your day to write a fun Haiku together.
Traditionally, a Haiku is made up of three lines. The first and last lines of a Haiku have five syllables, and the middle line has seven syllables. The lines don’t have to rhyme. They rarely rhyme. You can make a simpler version of the Haiku by focusing only on making sure your poetry is three lines long.
Here are a few great examples of playful Haiku poems: https://www.kidzone.ws/poetry/haiku.htm
To inspire you and your kids.
3. Learn a fun poem by heart
Sometimes singing the same nursery rhymes all the time can get repetitive and boring. That’s okay because there are plenty of new and existing poems that will make your little one’s stump their feet, clap their hands and laugh out loud! Here are some suggestions of best-loved contemporary poems to check out:
• Poetry Pie by Roger McGough: http://www.minervareads.com/poetry-pie-by-roger-mcgough-a-video-special/
• 100 Best Poems for children by Roger McGough
• Poems Out Loud! By Lady Bird: https://www.waterstones.com/book/poems-out-loud/ladybird/9780241370704
• Poems to Preform by Julia Donaldson https://www.amazon.co.uk/Poems-Perform-Collection-Childrens-Laureate/dp/023075743X
• Funny Poems by Jan Dean
• The Day I Fell Down the Toilet by Steve Turner
• You can listen to best-loved free poems on the Children’s Poetry Archive: https://childrens.poetryarchive.org
4. Try some cool poetry and craft
A paper aeroplane with a twist
• Make a paper aeroplane and on the front wing write a short poem about the place or country the plane is going to visit.
A poem that can fly
• You can make a remarkable poem on a kite by watching this tutorial by Poetry Roundabout https://poetryroundabout.com/2020/06/08/a-poem-on-a-kite-craft-and-poetry/ (For some inspiration, here is my little poem I placed on my kite!)
Kites take flight
the sun
is shining brightly,
kids are running wildly,
flying kites up high,
one by one, touching
our Spring
sky!
For more poetry and craft ideas visit Real life at Home blog:
https://www.reallifeathome.com/celebrating-national-poetry-month-with-hands-on-poetry-projects/ It has a wide range of exciting poetry and art and crafts activities for the whole family to enjoy!
5. Listen to young poets
It’s lovely to read poetry with your kids but what can really motivate children to read, write and enjoy poetry is other kids, just like them reading their poetry aloud for the world to hear. It may just light a flame and give them the confidence to embark to one day, not so far from today, become a poet or a spoken word artist and change the world.
Solli Raphael is a 13-year-old boy from the East Coast of Australia. Last year he became the youngest ever winner of the Australian Poetry Slam. Incredible!
To read more about this click here: https://www.teachstarter.com/gb/blog/world-poetry-day-activities-2018-gb/
