Poetry Writing Challenge (Week 1) - Similes and Acrostics

Welcome to Poetry Writing Challenge for kids. National Poetry Month (April) is a great time to introduce the basics of writing poetry to your kids, and this program is easily adaptable for all ages and skill levels.

This poetry writing challenge is an excellent next step after you complete our challenge was all about getting you to start reading poetry on a regular basis, but completing that challenge is not a prerequisite.

How the Poetry Writing Challenge works

Just as with our poetry reading challenge, the rules are very flexible. Use the weekly prompts and suggestions, but don't hesitate to stray from the path. You can use our guidelines as a jumping off point to explore further, or stick to the basics.

The writing challenge includes four weeks of prompts. Each week includes two exercises to encourage your children (and you!) to think about how to compose a poem. The first exercise will introduce a literary concept, the other will get your kids writing a poem. You can choose to do one or both exercises.

SURPRISE! You or your kids do not actually have to write anything down. Want to make it an oral exercise? That's fine. If your kids don't want want pick up a pencil, don't let the physical act of writing get in the way.

Poetry Writing Exercise #1

Write a simile. (I've always thought that similes were easier than metaphors, so we'll start here.)

What is a simile? A simile is a phrase that makes a comparison between two objects or actions using a specific connecting word, such as like, as, so, etc.

O my Luve's like a red, red rose, 

- Robert Burns

Does it dry up
like a raisin in the sun?

- Langston Hughes

Extension activities:

• Illustrate your simile!
• See how many similes you can invent for a single object.

Poetry Writing Exercise #2

Write an acrostic poem. An acrostic poem is one of the easiest types of poems for kids. An acrostic poem uses the letters in a word to begin the first word in each line. For example, the letters of the following acrostic spell out "POEM"

Poems

Only

Entertain

Monkeys on

Saturdays

Many kids love to write an acrostic poem using their names.

Extension activities:

• Illustrate the acrostic.
• Create a collage by cutting out the first letter of each line from a magazine.

Up Next: Poetry Writing Challenge - Week 2!

Want Your Kids to Love Being Unplugged?

Subscribe to our newsletter and as a thank you, receive 10 waiting games kids can play anytime anywhere.

Your email will *never* be shared or sold to a 3rd party. Click here to view our privacy policy.