This post details how to teach students color, shapeĀ poetry writing.Ā We combined writing about a particular color and creating shape poetry with it. This post outlines the steps used to prepare, plan, write, and create a color and shapeĀ poetry display.
How-To Teach Color Shape Poetry Writing
Introduction to Colour Shape Poetry
If you have been following my previous posts HERE and HERE, then you understand my passion for teaching children poetry. Children love to learn and read poems, and exposure helps them strengthen their reading, writing, and listening skills. Read this post to find outĀ more about why teaching poetryĀ to children is beneficial and how to introduce poetry in yourĀ classroom.
To startĀ our lesson on colorĀ poetry, I start by explaining itĀ using these poetry styles posters. ColorĀ poetry is poetry written about a particular, perhaps favorite color. It includes what the color means to you and what it reminds you of. It is written where the first word of each line is that color. Each line connects that color to our senses (i.e., what it tastes, smells, feels, looks, sounds, and makes us feel like). There are different variations of color poetry out there, but for this lesson, we used a template and format that works for primary children.
Planning Colour Shape Poetry
WeĀ start every poetry lesson by reading a book thatĀ connects to our senses. Some of my favorite go-to choices for books on colors are Bear Sees Colors, A Color of His Own, and Duck & Goose Colours (affiliate links). These books each give examples of things that are different colors. This exercise helps us thinkĀ and imagine more.
To prepare for color shapeĀ poetry writing, separate studentsĀ into small groups (4 or 5 in one), and give them a specific color. Their task isĀ to brainstorm together a variety of things (food, items, animals, clothing, etc.) in their particular color and write them on the back of their planning sheet. Visit with each group to guide them and encourage ideas. Working together and sharing helps them think of more.
Writing ColourĀ Shape Poetry
Once each group has plenty of ideas, we meet as a class to share and discuss the format for writing our color poems. We complete an example as a class using a different color that is not being used by a group already. We work together to create sentences to fit the color poetry frame. This activity is constructive as a guide for those less confident writers.
Students get a blank templateĀ to write their colorĀ poems. They are encouraged to use the words and ideas we thoughtĀ of as a class and in small groups.Ā This template and a planning sheet areĀ available for free at the end of the post.
At this point, students are relatively confident and independent in writing their color poetry drafts. For a lot of writing with young children, usually, one draft is enough, but with poetry writing, I like to have a polished, edited piece to add toĀ a display.
Creating Colour ShapeĀ Poetry
Shape poetry is poetry written in a shape that relates to what the poem is about or its topic. We connectĀ our color poems by creating a shape poetry display with them. StudentsĀ take one idea or thing from theirĀ color poems and drawĀ its shape. Ā For example,Ā shapes for the color red could be a strawberry, a rose, a heart, etc.
With a large white piece of poster board, students draw that shape large to cover the page and leave enough room to copy their poemsĀ inside. They use a ruler to draw the appropriate number of lines to fit the poem. If it is an odd shape (like a snake, for example), students can write the poem without using lines for a more freestyle form.
StudentsĀ copy their edited poems in the spaces of their colorĀ shape.Ā After re-writing their poems, they trace their writing with skinny markers and use pencil crayons or crayons to color them in.
Hang the color shapeĀ poetry writingĀ up to createĀ a uniqueĀ display or bulletin board that will grabĀ any reader passing by.
Poetry Writing Resources
Try the Colour & Shape Poetry Writing Templates
You can grab your own FREE color shape poetry templates today by clicking the image below. Color and shapeĀ poetry writing and 11 other styles are included in the poetry writing unit available HERE. It includes posters, poetic terms, planning and creating sheets, many templates, and student poetry notebooks and covers.
Integrate the following resources easily into the primary classroom and any language arts curriculum. Each offers a wealth of engaging poems and activities to build a ton of skills and a love of poetry!
Watch the video to see the poetry writing unit in action!
More Ideas for Poetry Writing Lessons
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Love this idea! Teaching poetry is something that I love because it gives so much freedom to the students! These templates provide just enough support for students to create some wonderful color shape poems! Thank you for sharing!
You’re so welcome, Jackie!
Elyse, I love your blog so much. I get so many great ideas from you and appreciate so much that you share your creations! I plan on starting a poetry unit with my firsties in the next couple weeks thanks to inspiration I’ve gathered from your blog! Thanks again!
Thanks so much, Jenn! It is my pleasure š I hope you enjoy teaching poetry!