Did you know that April is National Poetry Month? Since 1996, poetry lovers of all ages have taken part in this month-long, national celebration of everything from haikus to sonnets. This April, get inspired and try these fun wordplay activities with your children in honor of National Poetry Month!
- Learn more about National Poetry Month and get activity ideas and tips on how to participate. If you want an extra challenge, join in on Poet.org’s NaPoWriMo pledge. Write a poem each day for a month, publishing your work to the Poet.org discussion forum and asking friends to sponsor you for each day you play. Poets who raise the most money will win great prizes.
- Start a personalized poetry journal. Record ideas and favorite words, and start jotting down poems as you find inspiration. Try cutting out pictures from a magazine, pasting them in your poetry journal and writing poems about what you see in the photos.
- Can’t find the right words? Get a kick-start with Magnetic Poetry. Order a set of themed word magnets, arrange the magnets on your refrigerator and start composing poems. You can even play online with a just-for-kids virtual Magnetic Poetry kit. If you change your mind, you can always rearrange the words until you are satisfied.
- Read poetry together. Borrow a stack of poetry books from the library and take turns reading out loud. Robert Louis Stevenson, Shel Silverstein, Jack Prelutsky and Gwendolyn Brooks are always favorites, and the Random House Book of Poetry for Children is an excellent place to start.
Do you have a favorite poet or poem? Share your picks in the comments section.
