Acrostic Poetry: Spell It Out

Lesson Plan - Get It!

Audio:

What Is an Acrostic Poem?

An acrostic poem:

uses one word as the main idea

writes that word down the page

starts each line with a letter from that word

adds words or sentences that describe the topic

Each line can be short or long. It does not have to rhyme. That makes it easy and fun to write.

You can write about:

your name

an animal

a place

something you like

even a season

How to Make an Acrostic Poem

Follow these simple steps.

1. Pick a word.

Choose one word. Try your name, a pet, or something fun like SUMMER.

2. Write it down.

Write one letter on each line, going down the page.

• S
• U
• M
• M
• E
• R

3. Think of ideas.

Think of words that match your topic. These words should connect to each letter.

4. Write your lines.

Add a word, phrase, or sentence next to each letter. Here is an example.

• Sunny days
• Under blue skies
• Making memories
• Melting ice cream
• Everyone plays
• Running outside

Nice work! That is an acrostic poem.

Helpful Tips

Each line should match your topic.

You can use one word or a full sentence.

You can be silly or serious.

There is no “wrong” poem if it makes sense.

Sometimes writers make a list of ideas first. This is called brainstorming. It helps you think of lots of words before you start writing.

Try a Fun Idea

You can write poems about the seasons!

There are four seasons.

Spring has flowers and rain.

Summer is warm and sunny.

Fall has colorful leaves.

Winter can be cold and snowy.

You might pick one season and turn it into a poem.

For example, the word FALL could look like this.

• Falling leaves
• Apples to pick
• Light breeze
• Leaves crunch

Now you know how to build your own acrostic poem step by step.

Get Ready to Try!

You just learned how to:

Choose a word.

Write it down the page.

Add ideas to each letter.

Now it is your turn to practice and create your own poem!