We've Gone Bananas Over Poetry!
When it comes to poetry in our first grade class, we don't monkey around! I receive so many inquiries about the type of assignments we have for poetry homework that I've decided to create a page just for that!
Every week we add at least one poem to our poetry collection. Each child has a three-ring poetry binder and on the days when they have poetry homework, they take home the entire binder. On the back of each poem there is a homework assignment designed to go along with the poem.
In most cases, I create the assignment and then copy it on the back of the poem. The assignment always relates in some way to the poem, and often reflects what we're studying in language arts or math. In the beginning of the year, the assignments are simple. For example, when we do a poem called "Dogs" the assignment is for them to read and illustrate phrases such as "two red dogs" or "eight white dogs." This reinforces the color and number words that we work on in September.
As the year goes on, the assignments differ. Often the assignment is an interview. For the poem "Gobble, Gobble" they must list their favorite Thanksgiving foods and then list their family members' favorites as well. After reading the pioneer game "Uncle John" they record their parents' answers to questions such as "What games did you like to play when you were my age?" and "What indoor games/outdoor games did you play?"
Sometimes the assignment reinforces a math concept we're working on. After reading a Sinterklass poem, they have to read and answer several word problems, such as "Sinterklaas filled 7 pairs of shoes with treats. How many shoes were there altogether?"
Often the children will have to find and list certain things in the poem. For example, they may have to find three double-letter words, 2 contractions and 1 magic e word. In some cases, they have to find words in the poem that rhyme with other words that are listed. After reading a Peter Rabbit poem, they have to read and illustrate sets of homonyms, such as tale/tail, hair/hare and mail/male.
Some poems lend themselves to writing assignments. After reading a frog poem during our Frog and Toad unit, the children must write a letter to Toad as in the story by Arnold Lobel. Sometimes the homework assignment is to answer questions on a certain topic that we've studied in school. For example, after reading the poem "Mr. Owl," they have to fill in sentences such as "Owls sleep during the day and wake at _______."
As you can see, the assignments vary with the time of year, abilities of the students and topics being studied. I create most of the assignments myself, so I am able to tailor it to what our class is working on. I hope this has given you some details about poetry in our first grade room!
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Interested in purchasing a set of poems and corresponding homework assignments? Visit the link below!
Poems for Sale!
Back to the Poetry Page!
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