Exploring Poetry

and Poetic Devices

Copyright 2015

J. Runde

Teacher Instructions
This FALLing into Poetry resource has your students working with
poetic devices and different forms of poetry. Each device and
type of poetry has a definition and original example (all examples
and poetry included in this resource are written by me). This
resource will have your students creating a poetry booklet full of
their own poetry and examples, as well as a Fall leaf poetry craft
that makes a beautiful classroom display of learning.
Poetic devices include: alliteration, metaphor, onomatopoeia,
personification, rhyme, repetition, rhyme scheme, and simile. Poetry
forms include: acrostic poem, cinquain, diamante, free verse, haiku,
limerick, and quatrain. Student examples for the devices are
included within the half page. Student examples for the forms of
poetry are written on larger leaves perfect for the display at
the end. If you do not wish to create the display of leaves on a
branch (the branch is also included at the end of this resource),
students could include the larger leaf in their poetry booklets.
Each device and form is on a half sheet of paper. Students will
cut the papers in half and staple together to form their booklet.
A success criteria page, as well as a rubric are included in this
resource. They are also on half pages so they can be easily
included into the booklet, if you wish.
Copyright 2015

J. Runde

Cut all pages in half

along the horizontal
dotted line. Staple or
clip left side to form a
booklet. If making the
leaf craft above, do
not include the larger
half-page leaves in the
booklet (for the forms
of poetry.
For the poetic devices
(alliteration simile),
have students rewrite
their own example of
each device on the
leaf beside and color.
Copyright 2015

J. Runde

For the types of

poetry, have students
write their own poems
on the space on each
page. Then rewrite
poems on the larger
half-page. If
assembling into the
falling leaf craft for
display, tape or glue
finished leaves to
branch. If including
leaves in the booklet,
just place after the
corresponding type of
poetry.

Copyright 2015

J. Runde

Name:

Date:

For the poetic devices (alliteration simile), cut the pages in half. Complete the
poem activity for each device. All of your examples should have a Fall theme
weather, leaves, Halloween, harvest, Thanksgiving, etc. You will write your
own example of the poetic device on the page AND the leaf outline. Use reds,
yellows, and oranges on your leaf so that it resembles an Autumn leaf. Write
in pencil on the leaf first, before you trace over in pen or thin marker.

For the types of poetry (acrostic quatrain), cut the pages in half. Complete
the activity (write the poem) in the space provided on the top half. Again, all
poems should have a Fall theme. Rewrite the poem on the leaf below it. Use
reds, yellows, and oranges on your leaf so that it resembles an Autumn Leaf.
*** Be sure to check your spelling and punctuation before you write your
poem on the leaf. You will either include the leaf pages within your poetry
book, or cut out and attach the leaves to the branch you have been given
follow the instructions your teacher gives.
All pages (including the cover page above) will get stapled together along the
left edge to create your poetry booklet. Be sure to complete the success
criteria, as well.
Copyright 2015

J. Runde

Alliteration

Alliteration
Definition: Alliteration is the
repetition of the initial
sounds of words.
Example: The lovely leaves
lingered lazily on the trees
in the still air.
Write Your Own:

Metaphor

Metaphor
Definition: A metaphor is
the comparison of two or
more seemingly unlike things.
Example: The Autumn sun
was a blazing fireball on
the horizon.
Write Your Own:

Personification Onomatopoeia

Onomatopoeia
Definition: Onomatopoeia is
a word that imitates the
sound it represents.
Example: The birds tweeted
and chirped on the bare
branch.
Write Your Own:

Personification
Definition: Personification is
giving human qualities or
characteristics to animals or
objects.
Example: The jack-olanterns crooked smile
beckoned us towards the
door.
Write Your Own:

Repetition

Repetition
Definition: Repetition is
repeating the same words
or phrases in a stanza or
poem.
Example: How crisp and
cool is the air tonight, How
crisp and cool and eerily
calm.
Write Your Own:

Rhyme

Rhyme
Definition: Rhyme is using
words that contain similar
sounds at the end of lines
of poetry.
Example: The family sat by
the table near,
Sharing blessings and love
year after year.
Write Your Own:

Rhyme Scheme

Rhyme Scheme
Definition: Rhyme scheme is a
repeated pattern of rhymed
words at the end of certain
lines of poetry. It is described
with letters example: ABCB
Example: The table was set,
The turkey was steaming,
Thankful for all that they had,
Their faces were beaming.
Write Your Own:

Simile

Simile
Definition: A simile is a
comparison of two seemingly
unlike things, using like or
as.
Example: The crimson leaf
stood out like a flame in the
night.
Write Your Own:

Acrostic Poem

Acrostic Poem
Definition: An acrostic poem
is a poem where the first
letter of each line forms a
name, word, or phrase.
Example:

A chill in the air,

Under layers of clothing,
Time is moving more quickly,
Urging the leaves to fall,
Misty nights and crisp mornings,
Nothing can rival its beauty.

Write Your Own:

Cinquain

Cinquain
Definition: A cinquain is a 5 line
poem with a certain word count
and topic for each line.
Line
Line
title)
Line
Line
Line

1 1 word (title)
2 2 words (describe the

3 3 words (tell the action)

4 4 words (express feelings)
5 1 word (related to title)

Example:

Leaves
Dropping down
Creating a blanket
Hiding summers carefree days
Falling

Write Your Own:

Diamante

Diamante
Definition: A diamante is a 7 line
poem, shaped like a diamond, where
the subject at the top is completely
different from the bottom.
Line 1 1 noun (A)
Line 2 2 adjectives (A)
Line 3 3 verbs ending in ing (A)
Line 4 2 nouns for A, 2 nouns for
B
Line 5 3 verbs ending in ing (B)
Line 6 2 adjectives (B)
Line 7 1 noun (B)
Example:
Rain
Wet, gloomy
Pounding, soaking, storming
Cold, clouds, sky, heat
Shining, glowing, smiling
Bright, happy
Sun

Write Your Own:

Free Verse

Free Verse
Definition: Free verse
poetry follows no rules for
rhythm or rhyme, but the
lines are poetry, rather than
prose.
Example:
Pumpkins
Sending tendrils over the dirt,
Curling around,
Bright orange orbs,
Bringing magic to the garden.

Write Your Own:

Haiku

Haiku
Definition: A haiku is a
traditional Japanese poem
consisting of 3 lines. It is
often about nature.
Line 1 5 syllables
Line 2 7 syllables
Line 3 5 syllables
Example:

In the dark of night,

Leaves change their coat of
color,
Disguising themselves.

Write Your Own:

Limerick

Limerick
Definition: A limerick is a fiveline humorous poem with a strict
rhythm and rhyme scheme. The
rhyme scheme is AABBA. Lines 1,
2, and 5 have 7 to 10 syllables
per line and rhyme with each
other. Lines 3 and 4 have 5 7
syllables and rhyme with each
other.
Example:
There once was a worried turkey,
Whose future seemed quite murky,
When Thanksgiving came,
You could hear him exclaim,
Thank goodness they ate beef
jerky!

Write Your Own:

Quatrain

Quatrain
Definition: A quatrain is a
poem or stanza that has 4
lines. In a traditional
quatrain, lines 2 and 4
rhyme and have the same
number of syllables.
Example:
The wind blew the leaves
around,
A swirling tornado of color,
Making the branches bare,
Leaving the world a little
duller.

Write Your Own:

Success Criteria

Success Criteria:
I followed the instructions for each poetic device and
type of poetry.
I read all of the examples before I tried my own.
I counted my syllables and double-checked my rhyme
schemes.
I checked my spelling to ensure I had correct spelling.
I used correct punctuation commas at the end of lines;
periods at the end of stanzas.
I used words that made it easy to visualize images.
I used high vocabulary and vivid verbs.
I presented my poetry neatly.
I showed visual appeal in the overall final project
poetry booklet and leaves.

Assessment

Poetry Booklet Rubric:

Criteria
Content

Creativity

Presentation

Conventions

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Level 4

Limited completion
of booklet and/or
accuracy of
content.

Some accuracy
of content.
Booklet was
complete.

Considerable
accuracy of
content. Booklet
was complete.

Clear, concise,
and thorough
accuracy of
content. Booklet
was complete.

Limited effort in
word choice and
creativity with
theme.

Some effort in
word choice and
creativity with
theme.

Considerable
effort in word
choice and
creativity with
theme.

A high degree
of effort in
word choice and
creativity with
theme.

Limited overall
visual appeal
and neatness.

Some overall
visual appeal
and neatness.

Considerable
overall visual
appeal and
neatness.

A high degree
of overall visual
appeal and
neatness.

Limited accuracy
in grammar,
spelling, and
punctuation.

Some accuracy
in grammar,
spelling, and
punctuation.

Considerable
accuracy in
grammar,
spelling, and
punctuation.

Thorough
accuracy in
grammar,
spelling, and
punctuation.

Thank-you so much for downloading one of

my resources. I sincerely hope you and
your students ENJOY!
Be sure to follow me at my TPT store, my blog, or
my facebook page for more classroom ideas and
resources.
www.rundesroom.com
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2015 J. Runde: Rundes Room. All rights reserved.
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Rundes Room: jenrunde@yahoo.com

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Credits:

Copyright (c) 2015 J. Runde