Poetry Year 8

Teacher Notes:
In this task we are going to look at:

Part 1: Language Features

A. Similes, metaphors and personification
B. Alliteration and assonance
C. Onomatopoeia

Part 2: Produce an anthology of representative poems

A. String poems, Cinquains and Limericks
B. Sense poems and Haiku

Part 3: Extension
A. Collect 5 poems by published poets
B. Analyse each poem and explain why you like them. Comment on the Language
Features.

Suggested delivery:
Explanation – Demonstration – Imitation

For each poem type:

1. Explanation -Show an example (such as those following). Explain what the
type is called and point out the features of the type.
2. Demonstration-With student assistance, construct a second example on the
whiteboard.
3. Imitation-Set the class the task of each creating their own version of the type.
For some it will be as simple as changing the subject or theme. For example,
‘Storm’ could become ‘Sport’ (See the example ‘Raindrops falling…etc.) and
the poem becomes:
Footballs kicking – crunching, crashing; what a great game

For each poem type you may need only a matter of minutes for EDI. The same will
apply for ‘Hints and Tips’.

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 Poetry Year 8

Part 1: Language Features

A
Simile
To compare one thing with another. We use the words ‘like’ or ‘as’.

As cold as ice
As quiet as a mouse
As sly as a fox
He ate like a pig
She sank like a stone
They ran like the wind.

Metaphor
To compare two things by saying that one thing is the other. We do not use the words
‘like’ or ‘as’
The morning was a blanket of warmth wrapped
around me.

Personification
To describe non-human things in a human way.
The tree waved its arms in the wild wind.
The thunder growled angrily and the lightning
flashed sharply as the kitten hid under the bed.

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B
Alliteration and assonance
Using the same sound at the beginning of words.
‘Five friendly fish.’
Using the same vowel sounds in words which follow each other or are close together.
‘double trouble twins in bubbles’

C
Onomatopoeia
When the sound of the word indicates its meaning.
For example:
Blast
Zoom
Splash
Pitter-patter
Whoosh
Crash

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Part 2: Some types of poems

A
String poem
A ‘string poem’ describes a keyword. It follows the pattern below.
Line 1:Kittens, kittens, kittens
(The keyword is repeated three times)
Line 2:Fluffy, white, spotty kittens
(Visual description)
Line 3:Teeny, tiny, little kittens
(Describes the size)
Line 4:Playing, rolling, sleeping kittens
(Describes what it does/they do)
Line 5:Cuddly, cosy, friendly kittens
(Describes something interesting)
Line 6:Kittens, kittens, kittens
(The keyword is repeated three times)

Cinquain
A ‘cinquain’ is a five-line poem which usually describes something.
Line 1:Rain
(noun; one word or two syllables)
Line 2:Cool, refreshing
(adjectives; two words or four syllables)
Line 3:Filling up my senses
(What it does; three words or six syllables)
Line 4: Cooling down the thirsty, dry land
(Feeling or mood; four words or eight syllables)
Line 5:Invigorating
(Complete line 1 or another adjective to describe line 1; one word or two syllables
Line 1; one word or two syllables)

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Limerick
A ‘limerick’ is a nonsense poem. The sillier the better. It is made up of five lines.
Lines 1,2 and 5 rhyme while lines 3 and 4 rhyme.

Line 1: There was an old woman from Spain

Line 2: Who loved to get caught in the rain
Line 3: She was often wet
Line 4: But she didn’t fret
Line 5: Until she was washed down the drain

C
Sense poem
A ‘sense poem’ uses our five senses to describe something. Each line uses a different
sense.

Ice-cream
Ice-cream looks like a smooth rainbow
Ice-cream feels like ice cold snow
Ice-cream sounds like slippery goo
Yummy; it tastes delicious too!

Haiku
A ‘Haiku’ is a Japanese poem about nature or the seasons. Each poem is made up of
three lines. The poem should have 17 syllables altogether.
Night
Line 1: Full moon is shining;
(5 syllables)
Line 2: Alone in the night I stand
(7 syllables)
Line 3: To spy the warm moon.
(5 syllables)

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Part 3: Extension
Collection of Favourite Poems

As an extension to the Poetry Assignment all students will choose 5

published poems that they like.

For each poem students will:

- Write out the complete poem (except if it is extremely long)

- What the poem is about?

- What is the theme or message that the poet is trying to

express?

- Explain the style of the writing (for example humorous,

formal, slang, simple, complex, descriptive)

- Does the poem convey any emotions?

- Explain why you chose this poem.

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