Summer-Themed Poetry

Writing poetry is a great way to kick off the year with literacy. A focus on summer memories and experiences provides students with a topic they should know well so they can focus on writing form and learning new tools.

Wixie includes summer-themed templates (with instructions) for these poetry forms.

Acrostic

Acrostic poems are one of the easiest forms with write with no syllable or rhyming requirements. Simply have students share their experiences over the summer with each sentence in the poem starting with a letter in the word summer. Then add illustrations.

Summer Acrostic Template

Haiku

Traditional haiku contain a kigo, or season word, to indicate the time of year in which the poem is set. Have students use Wixie to rite, illustrate, and publish a haiku with kigo indicating summer.

Summer Haiku Template

5 Senses

A 5 senses poem about summer is not only a creative way to share summer memories, but helps students build desriptive writing skills by asking them to focus on a single sense as they portray their experiences.

Summer 5 Senses Template

Cinquain

A cinquain is a five line poem with rules for each line. The subject is the first line of the poem and a synonym of the subject is the last line of the poem. Some cinquains have a syllable requirement, but this Wixie template simply asks students to include adjectives (line 2), -ing action words (line 3), and feelings word (line 4), making them easier to write.

Summer Cinquain Template

Magnet

If you need a quick bell-ringer or project that only requires click and drag, try the summer magnet poetry activity that tasks students to share a summer vacation memory using sight words and emojis.

Summer Magnet Poetry Activity

Blackout Poetry with A Midsummer Night's Dream

If your students need more of a challenge, have them read a passage from the fairy in Shakespeare's famous summer-themed play. They start by circling words that catch their eye and then eventually paint over, or block out, all other words to create a summer-themed poem.

A Midsummer Night's Dream Blackout Poetry Template

If you are ready to give students choice as to the poetry form they want to use to share summer memories, share the URL to this summer poetry choice board.