Free Poetry Resources (by date, oldest first)

A Powerpoint which provides a brief overview of rhythm and rhyme scheme using poetry. I've used this as an introduction to poetry and pair this up with a poem in which students must find the rhyme scheme. It can be used with any poem.

Help your students master first-grade Dolch sight words with this engaging fluency poem. Perfect for building early reading confidence through repetition and fun. Download this freebie to enhance your literacy centers or small group instruction! Or display it as a poster in your classroom for decor. :)

✨fluency poems bundle✨

✨1st Grade Sight Word Bundle✨

✨1st Grade Bundle✨

What's Included

• "A Fun Day" poem with 15 Dolch sight words: see, a, runs, so, it, and, is, up, the, I, like, to, you, we, all
• color version
• black and white version

Ring in the new year with this NO PREP acrostic poem goal writing activity! Students can choose their favorite words and write their own acrostic poem on the printable template while spelling out the words HAPPY NEW YEAR. Enjoy as morning work, center activity, brain break, or for your New Year's Party!

Find this and more:

New Year's Bundle

Directions:

• Print the template in color or black and white
• students write a word or phrase to describe what they hope the new year will bring for them or what goals they have for the new year
• In an acrostic poem, each line starts with a capital letter that spells out the poem's theme vertically
• Acrostic poems don't need to rhyme, but all the other poetic devices like alliteration, similes, and rhythm are often used to create an effect on the reader

What's included?

• 1 "Happy New Year" acrostic poem template in Color
• 1 "Happy New Year" acrostic poem template in Black and White

New Year's Resources

Writing Resources

This lesson was designed to be used on the first day of a year-long 11th-grade American Literature course. The lesson includes a poetry packet with 7 poems by diverse American authors. Each of the poems raises important questions about what "America" represents. A land of freedom and equality? A refuge for immigrants? A diverse and inclusive nation? Or a land with entrenched inequality? A saber-rattling evil empire?

Here is a list of the poems:

1. Ada Limón, "A New National Anthem" (2018) — our new Poet Laureate!

2. Emma Lazarus, "The New Colossus" (1883)

3. Walt Whitman, "I Hear America Singing" (1860)

4. Langston Hughes, "I, Too" (1923) — responding directly to Whitman!

5. Claude McKay, "America" (1921)

6. James Lasdun, "The Question" (2012) — is America "good or bad"?

7. Tony Hoagland, "America" (2003)

This resource also comes with a classwork packet that features discussion questions on the poems by Ada Limôn, Emma Lazarus, and Langston Hughes. The discussion questions come on three handouts, each of which contains 7 questions about a particular poem. Each handout also has a quick write where students can answer one of the questions in writing.

How might the concept of "America" represent a set of ideals and promises? Has this nation lived up to its ideals and promises? How might the idea of America be different from the reality?

Thank you for choosing Rigorous Resources!

Happy teaching!

Adam Jernigan, Ph.D.

adamjernigan@gmail.com

P.S. Don't forget to click “follow” for email updates on new products by Rigorous Resources. New products will be 50% OFF for the first 24 hours!

Rigorous Resources is your one-stop shop for resources on American literature. Every unit was designed by a Ph.D. with a research specialization in American literature. Feel free to check out these complete units on canonical texts by diverse American authors:

Complete Unit on Tommy Orange's There There

Complete Unit on Arthur Miller's The Crucible

Complete Unit on Frederick Douglass's Narrative

Complete Unit on F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby

Complete Unit on Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God

Complete Unit on Nella Larsen's Passing

Complete Unit on J. D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye

Complete Unit on Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun

Complete Unit on Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye

Complete Unit on Gene Luen Yang's American Born Chinese

This 45-page EDITABLE unit focuses on poems about cultural identity! The unit on promises to elicit dynamic engagement from all students without compromising on intellectual rigor.

The thirteen poems are divided into two reading packets, with the first packet focusing cultural roots and affirming ancestors, and the second packet focusing on cultural hybridity. Each reading packet is followed by a classwork packet that contains a quiz on literary devices, discussion questions for some of the poems, quick writes, and a creative writing assignment. Finally, a third packet features an analytical writing assignment, sample student paper, and glossary of literary devices.

Here's a detailed account of what you'll find in this 45-page curriculum:

• Homework Packets with Poems: The two homework packets contain a total of 13 love poems by award-winning poets such as Elizabeth Acevedo, Maya Angelou, Sandra Cisneros, Lisa Parker, Nate Marshall, Clint Smith, and others. (15 pages)

• Literary Devices Glossary: A glossary with definitions and examples of the various types of figurative language, imagery, sound devices, and syntactic devices. Many teachers already have a glossary of literary devices, but I'm providing this in case you need one. (2 pages)

• Literary Devices Quizzes: Open each class with a quiz of 10 questions to assess whether students can accurately identify the literary devices found in poems from the packet: metaphor, personification, symbolism, imagery, alliteration, etc. Answer keys included. (4 pages).

• Discussion Questions: This unit features a list of discussion questions for three poems featured in the homework packets. The discussion questions will ensure that each class discussion is focused and productive. Every discussion question is grounded in concrete textual details and challenges students to arrive at lucid interpretive insights! The questions lend themselves to a range of different pedagogical uses: 1) to focus students’ thinking prior to beginning a discussion, 2) to prompt in-class writing, 3) to assign written reflections for homework, etc. Guaranteed to elicit student engagement and foster deep thinking! Answer keys included. (15 pages)

• Quick Writes: The quick writes give students an opportunity to capture and refine the best ideas generated in the discussion. Quick writes can also help reticent students to gather their thoughts so they'll feel ready and eager to contribute. (3 pages)

• Analytical Writing Assignment: Challenge students to take their interpretations one step further by writing an analytical paper on a poem of their choice. The assignment sheet contains detailed instructions for how to generate a formalist analysis of a poem (analyzing how the poem's formal features contribute to its meaning). This kind of formalist analysis is exactly what students are asked to generate on the AP Literature exam! Sample paper included. (3 pages)

This entire 45-page unit will come to you in two separate formats: Word *and* PDF. Because the Word doc is fully editable, you'll be able to customize the materials to suit the skill levels of your students — year after year! If you don't have Microsoft Word, you'll still be able to access all of the materials as a PDF — which is easy to navigate and quick to print!

My store is called “Rigorous Resources” because all of the resources contain rigorous content that will motivate students to engage in thought-provoking and productive discussions. Thank you for choosing “Rigorous Resources”!!

Happy teaching!

Adam Jernigan, Ph.D.

adamjernigan@gmail.com

Links to all of the poetry units in this collection:

Poetry Unit #1: Sensory Imagery in Poetry

Poetry Unit #2: Figurative Language in Poetry

Poetry Unit #3: Love Poems

Poetry Unit #4: Ethical Dilemmas in Poetry

Poetry Unit #5: Family Dynamics in Poetry

Store: https://www.TeachShare.com/Store/Rigorous-Resources

This resources features the first task of our popular Poetry ESCAPE ROOM. Check out this freebie to get a feel for how our escape rooms operate!

There is no wonder why escape rooms are so popular; they are highly engaging and encourage people to work together and think creatively in order to solve different puzzles... all while trying to beat the clock! This meticulously-crafted resource features all of the materials you need to conduct the first task of our Poetry ESCAPE ROOM in order to get a feel for what our escape rooms are like. The activity involves creative thinking, logic, and collaboration. Your students will be having so much fun that they won’t even realize the higher order thinking skills they are applying (and the number of poems they have analyzed) in the playing of this game!

How does it work?

The ghosts of Walt Whitman, Edgar Allan Poe, Langston Hughes, William Shakespeare, and Maya Angelou have risen from the grave to lock your students inside your classroom. They are upset because they believe that students spend too much time talking about (fill in the blank with whatever is hip with students these days) and not enough time reading and writing poetry. Students cannot escape until they complete 5 poetry-based tasks to show these ghosts of poets past that they do in fact know their poetry. This resource features task 1 of the escape room:

• Match 'Em Up: In this task, students must match up poetic terms and devices with their definitions. Letters intersected by the lines between the terms and definitions will reveal their code.

Product Includes:

• Task Sign
• Task Instructions
• Match 'Em Up Worksheet
• Answer Key

This task is suitable for middle and high school students and is ideal any time during your poetry unit.

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Get the full escape room here: Poetry ESCAPE ROOM

More poetry escape rooms by Language Arts Excellence

⭐ Digital Poetry Escape Room

⭐ Back to School Poetry Escape Room

⭐ Halloween Poetry ESCAPE ROOM

⭐ Thanksgiving Poetry ESCAPE ROOM

⭐ Christmas Poetry ESCAPE ROOM

⭐ Poetry Escape Room Bundle

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International Peace Day on September 21st is an important day. By celebrating, we can bring student awareness of the diversity of our world. Teachers can use International Peace Day as a meaningful lesson in their classrooms. It is an opportunity for students to learn about the importance of peace and how they can contribute to a better world.

* This free product includes an acrostic poem template.

Generate some ideas with your class on how we can promote peace!

Poetry Month Biography: William Shakespeare Reading Comprehension & Questions

Embark on a thrilling exploration of the timeless works and enduring legacy of William Shakespeare with this captivating reading passage! In this resource, students will delve into the life, plays, and poetic brilliance of Shakespeare, the iconic playwright whose words continue to shape literature and culture to this day.

What's Included:

• A simplified biography passage.
• Comprehension questions to assess understanding.
• Answer Key
• Cover page

There are so many ways to use this resource:

• Early Finishers
• Homework
• Centers
• Small Group
• Assessments
• Bell Ringers

This activity is perfect for students in 2nd to 4th grade.

⭐ This download is a sample from my:

Bundle April National Poetry Month Reading Comprehension Passage & Questions

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Math & Poems - A is for Area

An innovative resource that bridges the gap between math and ELA classes! With captivating math-themed poems and intricate mandala coloring pages, students will explore math concepts while enjoying a creative and relaxing experience. Foster cross-curricular connections and ignite a love for learning with "Math & Poems"!

In "Math & Poems," students will be presented with a carefully curated collection of math-themed poems that will captivate their hearts and minds. Each poem is designed to explore a specific math concept, making abstract ideas come alive through the power of language. Students will embark on a journey of exploration, discovering the beauty of mathematics woven into creative verses.

But that's not all - I believe in the power of artistic expression too! Along with each math poem is a captivating mandala coloring page . As students immerse themselves in the intricate designs, they will subconsciously reinforce their understanding of the math concept, creating an unforgettable sensory experience.

The combination of reading math poems and engaging in therapeutic coloring ignites a unique connection between math and ELA classes. "Math & Poems" fosters cross-curricular learning, encouraging students to think critically and make connections between seemingly unrelated subjects.

This set represents common concepts in 7th grade math, however these concepts transcend many grade levels. The following is the complete list of the letters of the alphabet and their corresponding mathematical concept.

• A is for Area
• B is for Base
• C is for Coordinate Plane
• D is for Decimal
• E is for Equation
• F is for Fraction
• G is for Geometry
• H is for Height
• I is for Integer
• J is for Joint Probability
• K is for Constant of Proportionality
• L is for Linear Equation
• M is for Math
• N is for Natural Numbers
• O is for Order of Operations
• P is for Percent
• Q is for Quadrilateral
• R is for Rational Numbers
• S is for Slope
• T is for Theoretical Probability
• U is for Unit
• V is for Volume
• W is for Whole Numbers
• X is for X-Axis
• Y is for Y-Axis
• Z is for Zero Pair

If you are seeking fun activities for your classroom, please consider subscribing to my bi-weekly mailing list for 5 FREE Order of Operations Color By Number activities.

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Resource List

This resource is a part of my 7th grade skills based curriculum that I am building, this is a work in progress and I will be focusing on 7th grade TEKS this year with hopes to expand to 6th and 8th grade. While I am based in Texas and most of the resources will be aligned with the TEKS, everything I am creating is skill based meaning they are not specific to Texas and can be used by anyone! Take a look through the Resource List linked below to see all that is available, it is a live document and will be updated as I go.

7th Grade Math Resource List

Terms of Use:

By purchasing this resource, you are agreeing that the contents are the property of Manic Math Teacher and licensed to you only for classroom/personal use as a single user. I retain the copyright, and reserve all rights to this product. Please remember to leave feedback so you will earn TeachShare Credits, which may be applied to your future purchase. If you like this resource and are interested in other similar products, please follow me on TpT.

How can I incorporate poetry into my daily/weekly lessons? You may have asked yourself this question. Solid Read Aloud is the answer! Solid Read Aloud products connect poetry to your classroom read aloud. Solid Read Aloud products not only connect poetry but enhance your curriculum with monthly themes and national observance days. The Good Neighbor Solid Read Aloud is designed for a one week time period. However, the unit can easily be stretched into two or three weeks. During this time the read aloud will include: poetry, fiction, and nonfiction selections. The unit also includes: comprehension work, good friend/neighbor activity, art project. This product is designed to enhance your curriculum, incorporate poetry, and infuse common core state standards into your teaching. The Solid Read Aloud product can easily be completed in approximately a 15-minute mini lesson. Thanks for visiting, Judy & Rachel

10 colorful, themed Valentine's Day stationary sheets with lines and addressings. Also, 10 black and white images to write and color. Students can write to family members and friends to express their emotions and gratitudes. Easy to use--just xerox and let students choose their favorites. Fun to give and get!

Increase reading fluency with these 60th Day of School-Themed Fluency Poems for 1st and 2nd Grade! This resource includes color and black-and-white versions to support reading comprehension and oral reading practice. Perfect for literacy centers, guided reading, or homework assignments!

This free Mother's Day resource provides you with instructions for teaching your students how to write a diamante poem. They can then write one for their mom or another special someone on fun "glitter paper."

To extend this activity you might want to check this out.

⭐ Year-End Thanks! Flower Readings, Poetry, & Create a Flower STEAM Challenge

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Enjoy this “Thankful” acrostic poem template for Thanksgiving this year! It is a fun and creative way to explore poetry and what students are thankful for during this season.

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Looking for Earth Day inspiration? Check out this Earth Day poem guide! With creative ideas for eco-friendly celebrations, students can use the letters in "earth" to craft a unique and meaningful poem. Whether you're a teacher planning a classroom activity or a parent looking for a fun project to do with your kids, this resource is perfect for engaging young minds in sustainability and environmental awareness.

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☺ Don’t quite see what you are looking for? Leave me a note in the “Ask a Question” tab. I would be happy to create a product to meet the needs of you and your students.

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Looking for a thought-provoking, creative activity to pair with your Wonder novel study? This acrostic poem and "Design Your Own Choose Kindness Shirt" art activity are just what you need to inspire your students while reinforcing themes of kindness, empathy, and self-expression!

Recommended for grades 5-8.

WHAT'S INCLUDED:

✨ Acrostic Poem Template: Students use their names to craft thoughtful poems inspired by the story and its powerful message. It’s perfect for encouraging critical thinking and creativity.

✨ Kindness T-Shirt Design Activity: Have your students imagine they’re creating their own “kindness campaign” by designing a T-shirt with a positive message or a powerful quote from the book. This hands-on activity promotes individuality, self-expression, and classroom collaboration.

WHY YOU'LL LOVE IT FOR YOUR CLASSROOM OR HOMESCHOOL:

✔️ No Prep, Easy to Use – Just print and go!

✔️ Aligned with SEL Themes – Focus on empathy, respect, and inclusivity.

✔️ Fun and Flexible – Use as a quick activity, a station in your classroom, or as part of a larger unit on Wonder.

✨ BONUS: These activities also make a great bulletin board display to celebrate your students’ creativity and showcase the lessons learned from Wonder.

Love this freebie? Take your Wonder novel study to the next level!

Check out my comprehensive Wonder Novel Study with over 100 pages of engaging activities that dive deeper into character analysis, themes, literary devices, and much more. It’s packed with tools to inspire rich discussions and critical thinking—all aligned to standards and designed for grades 5-8.

IMPORTANT DETAILS:

This is a digital download. You will not receive anything in the mail.

Please use a computer to download and not your phone.

Explore United States history through the art of haiku with the History in A Haiku Activity! This comprehensive kit is designed to enrich and engage students in their understanding of U.S. History while honing their creative writing skills. With carefully curated historical prompts, research resources, and a structured writing process, this activity offers a dynamic way to learn about various U.S. historical topics and craft expressive haikus.

Key Features:

• 30 Fascinating Historical Prompts: Choose from a diverse range of 30 U.S. historical topics that span different cultures, regions, and time periods.
• Grading Rubric: A comprehensive grading rubric guides students in meeting the criteria for historical accuracy, creative expression, language use, and more.
• Step-by-Step Guide: A detailed lesson plan and instructions make it easy to implement the activity effectively in your classroom.
• Extensions and Variations: Discover ways to extend the activity with group collaboration, multimedia integration, and exciting variations to cater to diverse learning preferences.
• Bonus Challenge: Encourage creativity with a bonus challenge that offers students the opportunity to earn extra credit by incorporating unique historical references.
• Grading Scale: A clear grading scale ensures students understand the evaluation process and helps you provide constructive feedback.
• Teacher Instructions: Detailed teacher instructions and suggestions for variations provide you with a flexible framework to adapt the activity to your classroom's needs.

Benefits:

• Enhance Historical Understanding: Foster a deeper understanding of world history by researching and connecting with different cultures and periods.
• Develop Creative Writing Skills: Cultivate creativity and descriptive language skills as students craft haikus that convey historical messages and imagery.
• Engaging and Interactive: The activity actively involves students in research, critical thinking, and artistic expression, making history come alive.
• Tailored Learning: Choose prompts that align with your curriculum or pique students' interests, creating a personalized learning experience.
• Meaningful Assessment: Assess historical understanding, language skills, and creativity through a well-defined grading rubric.

Immerse your students in the past, inspire their creativity, cultivate a deeper appreciation for history and language, and bring history to life in your classroom!