Memorize a Poem for Poetry Month
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Since it’s National Poetry Month, memorize a poem — and have your kids memorize one, too. It’s so rich to have amazing words, powerful thoughts, and metaphorical ideas hanging around our brains.
The Academy of American Poets created National Poetry Month in 1996 to celebrate and promote the achievement of American poets.
We can participate by memorizing a poem!
Memorize a Poem in April
Kids love funny poems, don’t they?
One of my all time favorite funny poems as a child was Shel Silverstein’s Sarah Cynthia Sylviva Stout – probably because I memorized it for school. Another childhood favorite that wasn’t funny, just sentimental, was Robert Louis Stevenson’s The Swing.
As a teen, Emily Dickinson and e.e. cummings resonated with me. (What teen doesn’t think “I am nobody” isn’t describing her own life?)
Currently, I adore Naomi Shihab Nye and Mary Oliver.
I’ve created a list of poems that your kids can memorize — from silly to serious. See what interests you and your kids. (Remember that poems are meant to be read out loud.)
“I have always believed that poems beg to be read aloud, even if the reader is in a world all her own.” – J. Patrick Lewis
For more get kids excited about poetry ideas visit: Daily Poetry for Kids.
Poems Kids Can Memorize
Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost
The Dentist and the Crocodile by Roald Dahl
On a Flimmering Floom You Shall Ride by Carl Sandburg
Catch a Little Rhyme by Eve Merriam
Sick by Shel Silverstein
The Jabberwocky by Lewis Carrol
The Swing by Robert Louis Stevenson
Homework! Oh, Homework! by Jack Prelutsky
O Captain! My Captain! by Walt Whitman
This is Just to Say by William Carlos Williams
Hope by Emily Dickinson
Wild Geese by Mary Oliver
Famous by Naomi Shihab Nye
Many of the poems I love are not available for free online. Look in these books of for more wonderful poetry selections:
Here’s a Little Poem A Very First Book of Poetry edited by Jane Yolen and Andrew Fusek Peters, illustrated by Polly Dunbar
These 60+ poems are top-notch making this a must-own book for young children.
Poetry Speaks to Children (Book & CD) edited by Elise Paschen and Dominique Raccah, Illustrated by Judy Love and Paula Zinngrabe Wendland
What a fantastic selection of poems for kids; the cd makes it even better!
Firefly July edited by Paul B. Janeczko, illustrated by Melissa Sweet
GORGEOUS illustrations and compelling poems — these poems are beautiful and SHORT.
–> more poems and poetry books for kids
How to Memorize a Poem
Start by reading the first line or stanza. Try to say it again without looking. Practice until you get it memorized. Then, go on to the next line or stanza.
Record a Poem
If you want to share your poem with the world – you can.
Record your favorite poem on Sound Cloud. Send it to your friends and family.
Let me know how memorizing a poem goes!
Follow Melissa Taylor @ImaginationSoup’s board Poetry on Pinterest.
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The Owl and the Pussycat by Edward Lear and Wynkin, Blynkin and Nod by Eugene W. Field are 2 my 6 year old has memorized and enjoys. We had been reading them for years so memorizing wasn’t a stretch.
When I was in elementary school (grade 5 or 6, maybe..) I memorized “The Cremation of Sam McGee” by Robert Service. A bit creepy, but a great poem! 🙂
I would love to hear the back story on how you picked that one! (and the reactions you got!!)
I learned Sam McGee at a similar age. I think it was required reading in the Canadian curriculum back when we were kids.
you Canadians aren’t easily daunted by tough issues!
Strange choice, huh? 😉
In elementary school we took a class field trip to a camp for a couple of days & nights. I remember that we had a group hike one evening, and one of the counsellors recited the poem, in the middle of the dark woods. We were sufficiently spooked (in a good way) that a bunch of us memorized the poem, and one friend recited it the next year during our Oral Language Festival. She sat in a rocking chair next to a fake fire to perform – it was great! We had also read the poem in school as well, as part of a Canadian poetry unit. We were all at the age where we were starting to read Christopher Pike books, so our parents didn’t think the poem was nearly as creepy as those! 😉
wow – that’s a great memory!
This is so fun! We’ll definitely do this!
cool – hope it’s super fun!