A list poem is one of the easiest kinds of poems to write because it doesn't require a set rhythm or rhyme. But that doesn't mean you should write anything down helter- skelter.
Consider the inclusion of the following elements to make a list poem a poem instead of just a list:
• The writer is telling you something--pointing something out--saying, "Look at this," or, "Think about this."
• There's a beginning and end to it, like in a story.
• In other words, the poem needs to make sense and have some kind of flow to it.
List poems provide an easy and successful structure to get children feeling more comfortable with poetry. They are to be found in the poetry of many cultures and have been employed successfully by many contemporary poets.
Poetry is full of surprises. List also need to be full of surprises. Without the occasional surprise your list poems will have all the appeal of a supermarket shopping list on a day when you don't want to go shopping!
Here are some ideas that will assist you to be even more successful with this widely used poetic form.
• You need a variety of items and when considering what to include.
• Be specific!
• Use colorful names for people, animals and objects.
• Use varied syntax (sentence structure)
• Try leaving the title until the poem is completed
• Be prepared to rearrange the items in your list to obtain the best possible effect.
• A big list is more effective than a short one.
• These poems need to be read with feeling.
• Think colorful
• Think variety of line length
• Be willing to change or rearrange your list items to add zest to your list.
If children can suggest their own topics for list poems that is even better.
After looking at a number of list poems and noting the features, I generally introduce a shared writing activity. This enables all students to contribute and feel successful. I act as scribe and they contribute their ideas. A variation of this is to get each student to contribute one idea on a strip of paper and then display their strip on the board. With the assistance of the class you then refine the line arrangement, until the group is satisfied with the poem. Following this I rewrite the poem on a large sheet and invite the students to illustrate around it.
As a follow up we may recite the poem with each contributor reading out their particular line. We may learn the poem to present as a choral reading activity to other classes. The next lesson would allow students to write their own list poems, or for the less confident, maybe a partner or small group writing activity might be offered.
Here are some possible topics. Once you start thinking about ideas for list poems you will quickly realize that there are so many possibilities.
Things That Make Me Smile
What I’m Afraid Of
Animals That Should Be Invented
My Favorite Things In New York (or any other place, you may think of)
Rock Groups I’d Like to Start
Where I Would Travel If I Had A Time Machine
Things I Wish People Would Say To Me
Things To Do Whilst Waiting For A Bus
What You Can Do To Overcome Boredom
Things You Might See On A Visit To The Zoo
Things That Might Be Found Under My Bed.
Things to Think About on a Rainy Day
Weird things my dog does
Things That Make Me Smile
Scary Moments
Things That Drive Me Bananas
My Favorite Things About (Name a place)
Things I Want To Remove From the World
Things I Wish People Would Say To Me
Things You Might Find Under My Bed
Animals I Might See At The Zoo
A List of Lost Things
Things Not To Do On A Holiday
Ways To Make Your Parents Happy
Uses For Used Chewing Gum
Things That Annoy Me
Things I Can’t Do And Why
What Cats Do
Things That Are Quiet
My Mistakes
Things That Come In Handy
Things That Are Gross
My Achievements
Irritating Sounds
Embarrassing Moments
What To Do If You Are Alone
Things To Do On A Long Trip
How To Make The Perfect Pizza
How To Make A Rainbow
How To Be A Hamster
Things That Puzzle Me
Make Believe Places
Memories I’d Forgotten
What To Do If You Meet A Monster
What Teachers Do At Home
List Poem Examples
SCAREDY CAT MEMORIES
I used to be afraid of the dentist’s drill,
Creaky floorboards
And snakes at the end of my bed
Electricity
Knives and guns
Embarrassing Haircuts
Menacing monsters lurking in the shadows
Vicious dogs in the night
Nightmares
People with missing teeth
And big kids who harass you just for being- little
Bee stings
Getting lost in a mall
Sharks
Drowning in quicksand
Snakes
Baldness
My Nana’s outdoor toilet
And crazy roosters
But now I’m afraid of ignorance.
Alan j Wright
My Noisy Brother
My brother's such a noisy kid,
when he eats soup he slurps.
When he drinks milk he gargles.
And after meals he burps.
He cracks his knuckles when he's bored.
He whistles when he walks.
He snaps his fingers when he sings.
And when he's mad he squawks.
At night my brother snores so loud
it sounds just like a riot.
Even when he sleeps
My brother isn't quiet.
Bruce Lansky
Consider the inclusion of the following elements to make a list poem a poem instead of just a list:
• The writer is telling you something--pointing something out--saying, "Look at this," or, "Think about this."
• There's a beginning and end to it, like in a story.
• In other words, the poem needs to make sense and have some kind of flow to it.
List poems provide an easy and successful structure to get children feeling more comfortable with poetry. They are to be found in the poetry of many cultures and have been employed successfully by many contemporary poets.
Poetry is full of surprises. List also need to be full of surprises. Without the occasional surprise your list poems will have all the appeal of a supermarket shopping list on a day when you don't want to go shopping!
Here are some ideas that will assist you to be even more successful with this widely used poetic form.
• You need a variety of items and when considering what to include.
• Be specific!
• Use colorful names for people, animals and objects.
• Use varied syntax (sentence structure)
• Try leaving the title until the poem is completed
• Be prepared to rearrange the items in your list to obtain the best possible effect.
• A big list is more effective than a short one.
• These poems need to be read with feeling.
• Think colorful
• Think variety of line length
• Be willing to change or rearrange your list items to add zest to your list.
If children can suggest their own topics for list poems that is even better.
After looking at a number of list poems and noting the features, I generally introduce a shared writing activity. This enables all students to contribute and feel successful. I act as scribe and they contribute their ideas. A variation of this is to get each student to contribute one idea on a strip of paper and then display their strip on the board. With the assistance of the class you then refine the line arrangement, until the group is satisfied with the poem. Following this I rewrite the poem on a large sheet and invite the students to illustrate around it.
As a follow up we may recite the poem with each contributor reading out their particular line. We may learn the poem to present as a choral reading activity to other classes. The next lesson would allow students to write their own list poems, or for the less confident, maybe a partner or small group writing activity might be offered.
Here are some possible topics. Once you start thinking about ideas for list poems you will quickly realize that there are so many possibilities.
Things That Make Me Smile
What I’m Afraid Of
Animals That Should Be Invented
My Favorite Things In New York (or any other place, you may think of)
Rock Groups I’d Like to Start
Where I Would Travel If I Had A Time Machine
Things I Wish People Would Say To Me
Things To Do Whilst Waiting For A Bus
What You Can Do To Overcome Boredom
Things You Might See On A Visit To The Zoo
Things That Might Be Found Under My Bed.
Things to Think About on a Rainy Day
Weird things my dog does
Things That Make Me Smile
Scary Moments
Things That Drive Me Bananas
My Favorite Things About (Name a place)
Things I Want To Remove From the World
Things I Wish People Would Say To Me
Things You Might Find Under My Bed
Animals I Might See At The Zoo
A List of Lost Things
Things Not To Do On A Holiday
Ways To Make Your Parents Happy
Uses For Used Chewing Gum
Things That Annoy Me
Things I Can’t Do And Why
What Cats Do
Things That Are Quiet
My Mistakes
Things That Come In Handy
Things That Are Gross
My Achievements
Irritating Sounds
Embarrassing Moments
What To Do If You Are Alone
Things To Do On A Long Trip
How To Make The Perfect Pizza
How To Make A Rainbow
How To Be A Hamster
Things That Puzzle Me
Make Believe Places
Memories I’d Forgotten
What To Do If You Meet A Monster
What Teachers Do At Home
List Poem Examples
SCAREDY CAT MEMORIES
I used to be afraid of the dentist’s drill,
Creaky floorboards
And snakes at the end of my bed
Electricity
Knives and guns
Embarrassing Haircuts
Menacing monsters lurking in the shadows
Vicious dogs in the night
Nightmares
People with missing teeth
And big kids who harass you just for being- little
Bee stings
Getting lost in a mall
Sharks
Drowning in quicksand
Snakes
Baldness
My Nana’s outdoor toilet
And crazy roosters
But now I’m afraid of ignorance.
Alan j Wright
My Noisy Brother
My brother's such a noisy kid,
when he eats soup he slurps.
When he drinks milk he gargles.
And after meals he burps.
He cracks his knuckles when he's bored.
He whistles when he walks.
He snaps his fingers when he sings.
And when he's mad he squawks.
At night my brother snores so loud
it sounds just like a riot.
Even when he sleeps
My brother isn't quiet.
Bruce Lansky
I adore Douglas Florian's work. Thank you for reminding me of some of my favorites and for sharing some very good advice for young poets.
ReplyDeleteKimberly I just noticed your comment. I am glad you found my post of value to you. We share an admiration for Douglas Florian's work it seems.
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