Writing poetry throughout the school year can be beneficial for many reasons, plus it can be a fun way to encourage your students to write. Read on to find 5 fun Thanksgiving poem ideas for your elementary students.
I love incorporating poetry into the classroom. Whether it is incorporating poetry writing into content areas such as history and science or writing poetry to celebrate holidays and seasons, poetry writing has several benefits for our students.
Benefits of Writing Poetry
Writing poetry is beneficial for many reasons. First, it can enhance creativity. Poetry encourages students to think differently and to use language in creative ways. Writing poetry improves language skills and helps students develop vocabulary, grammar, and syntax. Finally, when students write seasonal poetry such as Thanksgiving-themed poems, this allows students to connect learning with real-life experiences.
As an added benefit, most students find writing poetry fun and less challenging than writing prose, especially when we provide them with poetry templates. Poetry requires very little prep or materials. All your students need is paper and pencil to begin. That is why these 5 fun Thanksgiving poem ideas are perfect for your classroom this year.
5 Fun Thanksgiving Poem Ideas
Thanksgiving Acrostic Poems
Acrostic poems are one of the easiest poems to use in your classroom. Writing Thanksgiving poems can be a simple and fun activity for your students.
- Description: An acrostic poem uses the letters of a word (like “THANKFUL” or “GRATITUDE”) as the starting letter of each line. Students use each letter to begin a phrase or sentence related to the topic or the poem. I prefer to encourage older students to write sentences or phrases rather than only one word for each line. This requires students to think deeply and use their creativity.
- Instructions: Provide students with a template (optional) or simply tell students to write the word “THANKFUL” down their paper, placing one letter on each line. You may also want students to skip lines for more writing room. Ask students to write sentences or phrases related to things that they are thankful for.
- Classroom Tip: Allow students to illustrate their poems when finished and display them on a classroom bulletin board.
5 Senses Thanksgiving Poem Ideas
- Description: Students will write poems to describe Thanksgiving experiences focusing on sensory details using sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste.
- Instruct: Ask students to think about a Thanksgiving memory or the holiday itself and brainstorm sensory words. Instruct students to begin each line of the poem with, “I smell…” “I see…” “I taste..” and to use each of the five senses. Students may place the senses in any order they wish. Guide them as they write poems about Thanksgiving that immerse readers in those sensations.
- Classroom Tip: Use these Thanksgiving poem ideas along with or to reinforce descriptive writing.
I Am Thankful Poems
- Description: Poetry templates can help even reluctant writers move past their writer’s block. Students will use the following template to write their I Am Thankful Poems adding to each line people and things they are thankful for.
- I am thankful for…
- For…
- For…
- I am thankful for…
- For…
- For…
- I am thankful…
- Example:
- I am thankful for mornings
- For mom’s hugs and warm cinnamon rolls
- For the warm sun streaming through my window
- I am thankful for autumn days
- For golden leaves that crunch underfoot
- For cozy sweaters that wrap me like a hug
- I am thankful for so many things.
Gratitude Cinquain
- Description: Introduce students to the format of a cinquain poem (5 lines with 2 syllables, 4 syllables, 6 syllables, 8 syllables, 2 syllables). The topic should focus on something that students are thankful for.
- Instructions: Guide students through the brainstorming process in choosing something or someone as the topic of their poems. Then help them structure their poems correctly. This 5 line poem is usually written with each line centered and shaped like a diamond or a Christmas tree.
- Classroom tip: After poems are written, assemble the poems into a classroom Thanksgiving poetry booklet.
Thanksgiving Poetry Quilts
- Descriptions: One of my favorite Thanksgiving poem ideas is to allow students to write Thanksgiving poems on quilt templates.
- My Thanksgiving Poetry Templates: This Thanksgiving Poetry resource contains 20 pre-designed templates to make it easy to engage your students in Thanksgiving poetry writing activities. Poetry templates include cinquain, acrostic, haiku, tanka, and limerick, just to name a few. These Thanksgiving poem ideas and templates are easy to use, just print and go.
- Classroom tip: Once students have finished their quilt pieces, hang them together on a bulletin board for a classroom Thanksgiving quilt display that everyone will love.
Incorporating poetry writing into your lesson plans this November is a great way to engage students creatively and meaningfully. Writing Thanksgiving poetry will get your students excited about writing. For Christmas poetry writing ideas be sure to check out this post, and don’t forget to check out my Thanksgiving Poetry Quilts.
Just look at what teachers have said about Thanksgiving Poetry Quilts:
“I loved using this resource to introduce different poetry styles to my students! It got my students to think about the words they chose to use in their poems, making it very intentional and purposeful. I also used this resource to touch upon SEL, especially during November since it’s perfect to show their gratitude.” John W.
