Poetry for first graders

Hello!
I am a first grade teacher and it is my first year. As a school all first graders are writing poetry. Any ideas on some simple poems to help with teaching it?

[czacza]

I think it's best not to focus on rhyming poetry - most kids who try rhyme force it and it really isn't good. Young kids are natural poets because they look at the world in quirky, poetic ways- like 'the acorn cap is a teacup for the squirrels' kind of stuff. Find a few poems that are written with 'poet's eyes' to describe things- sheeplike clouds, snowflakes like confetti, that kind of stuff. Your class should only need one or two of these to get rolling...

[mommaruthie]

http://www.canteach.ca/elementary/songspoems.html
songs and poems for themes and lessons

http://www.sabine.k12.la.us/zes/poetry/
poetry for themes and lessons

http://www.poetryteachers.com/poetclass/poetclass.html
poetry lessons

http://www.msrogers.com/English2/poe..._of_poetry.htm
poetry for themes

http://www.thekcrew.net/focuspoetry.html
poetry lessons and themes

Hi, I'm new at this but I wanted to reply to your question.
There is a great book by Regie Routman called Kid's Poems. He has a book for K, 1st, and 2nd that I know of. I'm sure he has one for higher levels. It really has great ideas. But one that my first grade class has really taken off on is the repetitive poem. Demonstrate first by picking a subj. that they may be interested in. I chose "class" and we created a poem like this.
Class, Class,
boys and girls
Class, Class
likes to talk
Class, Class
Etc.
Now the children chose a topic and write a poem using the repetitive phrase. Even my low children really enjoyed doing this writing activity. When we have free write, I have many children who still write repetitive poems. Good luck and I hope this will help
Autumn

Originally posted by Unregistered
Hello!
I am a first grade teacher and it is my first year. As a school all first graders are writing poetry. Any ideas on some simple poems to help with teaching it?

[Bookworm]

Here are some I have used with my class.

adjective
noun
verb
blank, blank, is blank

Here is an example:
White
Snow
Falling
Winter is coming.


List poems

Summer fun
Summer read
Summer sun
Summer nap
Summer swim
Summer hike
Summer fun

Cinquain

five line poem using syllables

line 1- 2 syllables
line 2- 4 syllables
line 3- 6 syllables
line 4- 8 syllables
line 5- 2 syllables

Thanks for the good ideas. I 've used the list poems before but look forward to use the adjective, noun, verb , blank is blank

Originally posted by Bookworm
Here are some I have used with my class.

adjective
noun
verb
blank, blank, is blank

Here is an example:
White
Snow
Falling
Winter is coming.


List poems

Summer fun
Summer read
Summer sun
Summer nap
Summer swim
Summer hike
Summer fun

Cinquain

five line poem using syllables

line 1- 2 syllables
line 2- 4 syllables
line 3- 6 syllables
line 4- 8 syllables
line 5- 2 syllables

[hescollin]

Answer the five W's in this order.... Who, What, When, Where, Why

Snowman
Standing tall
A cold winter day
In the yard
If it was hot he'd melt