poetry assignment 8th grade

11 Poetry Lesson Plans For Middle School

Teach your students what a poem is as well as all the important information necessary while  teaching poetry, like: vocabulary, sound devices, types of poetry, figurative language, how to analyze a poem, and how to find rhyme scheme.

In this resource, you will receive a packet of graphic organizers/guided notes along with a Powerpoint lesson that teaches the following terminology:

poem, speaker, line, stanza, quatrain, couplet, cinquain, tercet, refrain, symbol, theme, mood

tone, imagery, juxtaposition, oxymoron, pun, paradox, allusion, proverb, foot, iamb, iambic pentameter, enjambment, anaphora, metonymy

FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE

simile, metaphor, personification, idiom, hyperbole, irony

SOUND DEVICES

rhyme, rhyme scheme, slant rhyme, rhythm, meter, alliteration, consonance, assonance, onomatopoeia, repetition

TYPES OF POETRY

narrative, lyrical, haiku, ballad, sonnet, limerick, free verse, acrostic, concrete, blank verse, blues poem, elegy, ode, prose, villanelle

HOW TO ANALYZE A POEM

HOW TO DETERMINE RHYME SCHEME

Students LOVE reading and analyzing  Kobe Bryant’s “Dear Basketball” Poem.  In this activity, they will complete a  Poem Analysis & Compare/Contrast Paired Text Activity.  The paired text students will look at is Michael Jordan’s 2003 Retirement Letter, also titled  “Dear Basketball.”

In 2015, Bryant announced his retirement through “Player’s Tribune” in a poem titled “Dear Basketball.” In the poem, Bryant shares his love for the sport with the world. Bryant later earned an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film for “Dear Basketball” in 2018.

Included in this lesson:

• Anticipation Guide
• “Dear Basketball” poem by Kobe Bryant, analysis and answer key
• Paired Text Excerpt of Michael Jordan’s letter: questions and answer key
• After Reading Poem — Creative Writing Activity

This lesson is a  poem analysis of “Nothing Gold Can Stay” by Robert Frost . This is a perfect side activity for the novel  The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton!

This activity also works  on its own  if you are looking just to teach about the poem itself. Your students don’t have to be reading  The Outsiders.

In Chapter 5 of The Outsiders, Ponyboy recites the poem “Nothing Gold Can Stay.” This poem plays a major role in the novel as it represents the universal message to stay gold and stay pure. Have your students analyze the poem and build their comprehension; it will make analyzing the theme of the book much easier later on! The poem analysis will touch on important literary elements such as: rhyme scheme, tone, theme, metaphor, alliteration, allusion, imagery, and personification.

To enhance their learning and make the lesson more engaging, students will also study a poem with a similar theme. Students will listen to the Bob Dylan song, answer the questions, analyze the lyrics, and then compare and contrast the themes present in both texts.

In this Poem Analysis and TDA Essay (Text Dependent Analysis),  students will first read and answer questions for  the poem “Out Out—” by Robert Frost.  Students will then write a TDA based on themes and figurative language in the poem.

In this lesson plan:

• Full Poem “Out Out—” by Robert Frost (1916)
• Poem Analysis Questions that concentrate on poetic devices (alliteration, allusion, theme, mood, tone, dialogue, connotation, rhyme scheme, juxtaposition) with ANSWER KEY
• TDA Text Dependent Analysis Prompt and worksheets for writing
• TDA Prewriting, planning, brainstorm Graphic Organizer for Students
• TDA Rubric and Grading guidelines based on: content, focus, organization, style, and conventions

Students will  write their own original poems  with this lesson and activity created for middle school students (6th, 7th, 8th, or 9th grade).

Make  writing poetry  fun for students by giving them choice! Students will first learn about five different types of poems. Then, they will choose 3 of the 5 poems they’d like to write. Students will write their rough drafts in a packet, and then finalize their work on blank pieces of paper which result in beautiful wall art for your room.

In this ELA resource, you will receive:

• Powerpoint presentation that includes examples and definitions of the following 5 types of poems:  Haiku, Acrostic, Concrete, Limerick, and Free Verse
• Student packet that includes: directions, requirements, and examples of all 5 poems
• An example final draft of a limerick with colored illustration

Teach your students all about  Blackout Poetry with this fun lesson and activity!

In this resource, you will receive:

• Teacher Guide
• Powerpoint lesson on Blackout Poetry with step by step directions for students to create their own blackout poems in a variety of ways
• 10 Examples of blackout poems
• 40 Pages of printable texts your students can use to make their own poetry
• Editable word document Rubric and Prompt for students

This  Poetry Packet  includes 5 Poems your students will read and analyze. The poems included are suggested for a  Middle School Poetry Unit : 7th, 8th or 9th Grade ELA.

This packet is a wonderful tool because you can have students complete the analyses of the poems in a variety of ways: whole-class, independently and/or collaboratively.

The poems included in this packet are:

• “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost
• “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud” by William Wordsworth
• “We Wear The Mask” by Paul Laurence Dunbar
• “We Never Know How High We Are” by Emily Dickinson
• “The Gardener” by Robert Louis Stevenson

In this packet, students will work on poetry skills such as: rhyme scheme, rhyme, allusion, imagery, assonance, consonance, alliteration, hyperbole, theme, tone, mood, author’s purpose, personification, and connotation.

Your students are going to love this  Poetry Digital Escape Room!  Students will read and analyze the poem  “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” by Robert Frost.

They will solve puzzles in this peaceful scene of snowy woods, glistening mountaintops, and a beautiful, serene frozen lake. In this  360°  digital escape room, students will try to escape the woods before the sun goes down! This activity is designed to work for a laptop, tablet, or smart phone.

This game requires reading comprehension strategies, knowledge of poetic devices, and critical thinking skills. Watch the preview video and see exactly what’s inside the digital escape room!

Included in this download are teacher instructions, student instructions (digital), the master lock graphic organizer, answer keys, the full text of the poem, and a reflection sheet (optional).

PLEASE READ: While using this resource, you must have a wi-fi connection and the ability to access the following sites: Google Forms and Kuula.co. Please check that these websites are not blocked by your district’s filter before purchasing. Your students do not need to have a Google account.

Assign your students  a one pager poetry analysis project  and have your students share their understanding of ANY POEM by imaginatively blending their written ideas with colorful images from the text. You can pick one poem for your whole class to use or have all your students pick their own individual poems! Students’ artwork make for unique and creative analyses of the literature and also make great bulletin boards!

Included in this purchase is:

• Student directions for the one pager project
• Rubric for the one pager project
• Example one pager (based on the poem “Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night” by Dylan Thomas)
• 10 BLANK TEMPLATES (printable — optional)
• EDITABLE word document so teachers can modify instructions or rubric

Students are encouraged to include several of these literary devices, poetic devices (sound devices), and figurative language elements into their final projects: metaphor, simile, personification, hyperbole, imagery, pun, oxymoron, paradox, idiom, allusion, symbolism , assonance, consonance, alliteration, anaphora, rhyme, rhyme scheme, repetition, onomatopoeia, cacophony, mood, tone, and theme.

This resource includes a  Poetry Assessment for upper middle school  students (7th, 8th, or 9th grade ELA). You will receive a printable PDF copy as well as an  EDITABLE  word document in case you would like to make modifications. A detailed answer key is also included!

The format of this test includes:

• 8 fill-in-the-blank questions with a word bank
• 6 matching questions with poem types
• 5 matching questions with sound devices
• 5 matching questions with figurative language
• A poetry analysis of two poems: “There Will Come Soft Rains” by Sara Teasdale and “Nature” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
• Students will answer 5 multiple choice questions regarding each poem
• 1 constructed response where students will compare the themes of each poem in a fully developed paragraph

(35 questions in total)

The Poetry Test covers the following terms:

narrative poem

lyrical poem

acrostic poem

alliteration

onomatopoeia

personification

Have your students create a collaborative poster and learn about  Robert Frost  in a fun and engaging way!

Your students will create an author biography by researching Robert Frost and establishing his profile on a poster.

Students will learn about Frost and his body of work as an influential author.

Additionally, they will learn the importance of collaboration and effective communication. This project is perfect for  National Poetry Month.

Project Steps:

1) To construct the author study poster, your students will work in groups to conduct research on Robert Frost.

2) Students will then transfer their findings to boxes on the poster.

3) Next, they will work together to color or paint the pieces of the poster.

4) Lastly, students will tape together the final product.

The poster is made up of six pieces of paper, which can be printed on regular copy paper or card stock.

Once taped together, the final product will be  28″ x 15″  and can last a lifetime if you laminate it!

This resource includes the following:

• Step by Step Student Directions (PDF & editable word document)
• Author Study Project Rubric (PDF & editable word document)
• Author Study Graphic Organizer for Students (PDF & editable word document)
• 6 Blank Coloring Pages that come together as one beautiful poster (PDFs)
• Robert Frost Author Study Answer Key
• Example of Final Project: Completed Text & Fully Colored Body

Check out more from my LITERARY LEGENDS Collection:

• Emily Dickinson
• Langston Hughes
• George Orwell
• William Shakespeare
• Walt Whitman

This resource is a  FULL POETRY UNIT for ELA grades: 7th, 8th, or 9th!  You will get a collection of different lessons, activities, and projects, plus a TDA essay, digital escape room, and final test! I’ve also included an example schedule for teachers to follow day-by-day!

Included in this  middle school poetry unit bundle:

• Introduction to Poetry Lesson & Guided Notes
• Kobe Bryant “Dear Basketball” Poem & Paired Text Michael Jordan Letter
• “Nothing Gold Can Stay” by Robert Frost Poem Analysis and Paired Song
• “Out Out” by Robert Frost Poem Analysis and TDA Essay
• Writing Poetry/Writing Workshop: Haiku, Concrete, Acrostic, Limerick, Free Verse
• Blackout Poetry Lesson and Project
• Poetry Packet — 5 Poems to Analyze
• Poetry Digital Escape Room — Robert Frost Poem Analysis & Comprehension Game “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening”
• Poetry One-Pager Project and Poem Analysis for ANY POEM
• Editable Poetry Test/Assessment for 7th, 8th, or 9th Grade Poetry
• Robert Frost Author Study: Collaborative Poster Project
• Teacher guide with day by day schedule for 3 weeks of Poetry

This bundle is so diverse and your students will get to analyze at least 12 different poems!

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Interactive Poetry Activities Your Students Will Love

Do you want to make poetry so fun and engaging that your students will ask for more? Here are some simple activities to get you started.

1. Blackout Poetry

There are so many reasons blackout poetry is great: kids love it, it's creative, and it forces you to clean the falling-apart books from your classroom library without the guilt of tossing them in the trash.

What is blackout poetry? It's simple. Rip out the pages of old books. Give the students some basic instructions, then watch the creativity flow!

Sample Instructions:

Blackout Poetry Examples:

2. Poet VS Poet

College basketball's March Madness is the perfect time to pit poet against poet for some exciting classroom debates, but any time of year teachers can create a similar feel by putting poets head to head and comparing their power.

Kids love competition. Creating competition with poetry naturally adds excitement and connects a sometimes intimidating genre with something familiar.

How do you implement a poet vs poet match up in your classroom? You could use an already created tool ( see Poet Vs Poet here ) or create your own match ups. For example, after a simple lesson on figurative language, ask your students to read the poetry of two different poets and rate their use of metaphors, similes, personification, and imagery. As a class, debate the poet's ratings using text based evidence.

If you are at all familiar with the basketball brackets of March Madness, poetry brackets work the same way (and you can find and download blank brackets by doing a simple Google search). I like to start with a sweet sixteen of poets, then narrow down to an elite eight, a final four, a championship, and a winner. Poets advance by having classes vote on the better poet in each match up. The reward of listening to kids debate poet's skills like the poets are athletes is worth any time it takes setting up this activity.

3. Found Poems

Found poems give language to students who may struggle to find the right words. Found poetry is easily accessible, hands on, and fun. Easy to set up, all you need to do to implement found poetry in your classroom is gather together stacks of old magazines, scissors, glue, and colorful paper.

First, instruct students to find powerful words in the pages of magazines, cut them out, and make piles on their desk. You could also assign cutting out powerful words from old magazines for homework and save yourself the time and mess in your classroom.

Next, students arrange and rearrange the words on their desk into meaningful poetry. This is a great opportunity to reinforce the power of form, shape, and line breaks in poetry and encourage students to be thoughtful in their choices. Talk to your students about choosing the best words, eliminating unnecessary words, and playing around with word choice.

Finally, instruct students to glue their poem into place on a colorful piece of paper and decorate your room with the beauty and power of poetry.

4. Poetry Escape Room

A poetry escape room is the most engaging and fun way to introduce or review poetry with your students. Escape rooms by nature are hands on and engaging. Combine the fun of an escape room with poetry and your kids will be hooked. (Check out the poetry escape room I did with my students here.)

Escape rooms, or breakout rooms, are a new trend similar to scavenger hunts. In a poetry escape room, students put together clues based on poems, poets, figurative language, poetry form, rhyme scheme, or any other poetic element. Then, students work to unlock the clues using their poetry knowledge.

Poets are experts at hiding meaning within the lines of their poetry, so use that to create clues that ask students to interpret, make inferences, and analyze. Escape rooms are a great method of turning tasks that can be intimidating to kids and making them into interactive challenges that students are motivated to engage in.

To create a poetry escape room, first choose the poetic elements or reading skills you want to target, a specific poem you want students to read and reread several times in different ways, or a theme or poet to design your escape room around.

Next, gather the materials and tasks that you would normally share with students in a traditional format, but think of creative ways to turn the tasks into clues. For example, if you want students to identify the figurative language in a poem, create task cards that students have to place in the order that those poetic elements appear in the poem. Hide small letters on the task cards so when students place the cards in order, the next clue appears. See the example below:

Get creative and hide clues within poems with bold words, put clues on task cards that students have to place in a certain order based on analysis, or choose clues based on symbolism or inferences that students can find only when they do a close read of the poem.

Although escape rooms require a lot of preparation and thought, the end result is worth the time. Students will be more engaged, thoughtful, and active in reading poetry than you could ever imagine. Escape rooms are a great way to review poetic elements or kick off a new study of poetry when you really want to catch students' attention and get them motivated.

Check out my step by step guide to creating your own escape room here .

5. Poetry Mash Up

Create a poetry mash up by writing poetry forms on slips of paper and placing them in one jar, types of figurative language and placing them in a second jar, and sound elements and placing them in a third jar. Pass the jars around the classroom and have students choose from each one, writing a poem based on what they chose.

For example, a student might choose haiku (poetry form), imagery (figurative language), and onomatopoeia (sound element). That student would then be challenged to write a haiku with imagery and an onomatopoeia. There are endless combinations and kids will have a blast writing, sharing, and seeing what poems are created in your poetry mash up.

Play over and over and model your poetry writing with students as well. Have fun laughing at the ridiculous and enjoy the surprise when students create some really amazing pieces with different combinations of poetic elements.

Making poetry fun and hands on is not only possible, but with a little creativity, it's really easy to implement at any level. Help your students to find the joy in creating magic with only a few words in different shapes and forms. Take the intimidation factor out of poetry by connecting poetry to fun challenges, familiar activities, and hand on learning.

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Free Printable Poetry Worksheets for 8th Grade

Poetry: Discover the beauty of language with our free printable Reading & Writing Poetry worksheets, tailored for Grade 8 students. Enhance your teaching experience and inspire young minds to explore the world of verse.

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Explore printable Poetry worksheets for 8th Grade

Poetry worksheets for Grade 8 are essential tools for teachers looking to engage their students in the world of reading and writing. These worksheets provide a variety of activities that not only help students understand the structure and elements of poetry but also encourage them to develop their creative writing skills. By incorporating fiction writing exercises, teachers can inspire their students to explore different styles and themes, ultimately fostering a love for literature. Grade 8 poetry worksheets also offer opportunities for students to analyze and interpret various poems, allowing them to delve deeper into the meaning and emotions conveyed by the poet. With a focus on reading and writing, these worksheets are designed to enhance students' critical thinking skills and overall language arts proficiency.

Quizizz is an excellent platform for teachers to supplement their poetry worksheets for Grade 8, offering a wide range of interactive activities and assessments. With Quizizz, teachers can create custom quizzes that align with their lesson plans, ensuring that students are engaged and challenged throughout their reading and writing journey. In addition to quizzes, the platform also provides resources such as flashcards, polls, and collaborative challenges, allowing teachers to diversify their teaching methods and cater to different learning styles. By incorporating Quizizz into their curriculum, teachers can effectively monitor their students' progress in reading and writing, as well as fiction writing, and provide targeted feedback to help them excel in their Grade 8 language arts studies.

Bell Ringers

4 poetry activities for middle school students.

Each year when I begin to talk about poetry activities with my middle school students, I am met with a lot of groans. To be honest, I get it! Poetry is probably the hardest genre to teach and to learn. It involves critical thinking and inferencing, skills that many students struggle with.

After several years of trial and error, I have found my favorite poetry activities for middle school. These activities will challenge your students and expose them to a wide variety of poetic forms! Here are my go-to poetry activities.

#1: BLACKOUT POETRY

If you haven’t done blackout poetry before, you are missing out on one of the most fun poetry activities there is! Blackout poetry gives students the opportunity to create their own poem without it feeling so intimidating.

Give each student a page torn out from a book (I always choose a book that’s falling apart or is collecting dust in a corner). Have students find a few powerful words that stand out and underline them. Then, they should find other words that can be added on to create a sentence or phrase. Lastly, they will blackout or color everything on the page except for their chosen words.

I highly recommend showing students an example before they begin. If you search for blackout poetry online, you can find tons of examples. Take a look at these with students, so they understand what to do.

#2: POETRY BOOKLET

Poetry comes with lots of new vocabulary, which is why I always recommend this booklet as a great poetry activity for middle school. By having all of the poetry terms and concepts in one place, students have an organized reference guide to help throughout their poetry unit.

This booklet is a great companion to your poetry lessons. This booklet contains a mood and tone word list, figurative language guide, literary device guide, poetry types, and poetry terms. If you are teaching mood and tone, for instance, use the mood and tone word list in the booklet as you practice. By the way, using popular songs is a great way to practice mood and tone! And your students will love it.

#3: VERSE NOVEL LITERATURE CIRCLES

I love doing literature circles with verse novels. My students’ favorite is probably The Crossover! I found these verse novel literature circles to be so effective that I created a middle school poetry and verse resource around them! This unit will challenge your students’ understanding and have them making deep connections with various texts.

This unit can be used with any verse novel or poems, but I provide plenty of recommendations for sixth through eighth grade. The unit contains four weeks of lessons that cover concepts from the author’s purpose, point of view, structure, figurative language, poetry writing, and more. 

Best part? I give you all the resources you need to easily implement this poetry unit. There are examples for all reading responses, ready-made slides, graphic organizers, literature circle forms, mentor sentences, and the poetry booklet is included!

#4: BOOK TASTING WITH VERSE NOVELS

This poetry activity is a spin on a classic book tasting. If you haven’t heard of a book tasting before, think of it like speed dating – but with books! Students get a chance to preview and read parts of a book. The goal is to introduce students to a diverse range of books and get them excited about reading them.

By doing a book tasting with verse novels, you can introduce your students to a new genre type that many students may not have read independently before. You can get students excited about reading a new genre independently (because we know independent reading is excellent for growth in reading skills).

A book tasting can be as elaborate or as simple as you want! Essentially, you want to put students into groups. Give each group a few books to preview and look at. Have them write down what interests them about the book and if they would be interested in reading it. You can conduct this in your classroom or the school library. Personally, I love to create a “Starbooks” experience with my students! This adds a little bit of extra fun.

Not sure what books to pull for the verse novel book tasting? Here are my free poetry and verse book recommendation lists.

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Bring poems into the classroom with these lesson plans, which are especially suited to introducing students to poetry and helping them become engaged and thoughtful readers.

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Poems about poetry, committed to memory, guerilla poetry, songs my teacher taught me, how i teach poetry in the schools, brain spelunking, word karaoke, praise song for the day, smell this story, taste this poem, incredible bridges: “praise song for the day” by elizabeth alexander, teach this poem: “theme for english b” by langston hughes, teach this poem: “ars poetica” by archibald macleish, teach this poem: “because you asked about the line between prose and poetry” by howard nemerov, teach this poem: “poetry” by marianne moore, teach this poem: “the young poets of winnipeg” by naomi shihab nye, teach this poem: “there is no frigate like a book (1263)” by emily dickinson, newsletter sign up.

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40 Inspiring Poetry Games and Activities for Kids and Teens

They are poets, and they know it!

Tired of hearing groans when you announce it’s time for some poetry? Poems can be hard for kids to connect with, so it helps to have some clever poetry games and poetry activities up your sleeve. Try these with our favorite poems for sharing with elementary students and middle and high school students !

Our Favorite Poetry Games and Activities

1. Watch poetry videos

Let YouTube do some of the work for you with this roundup of poetry videos for elementary students. Watch authors read their own poems, learn about poetry terms, and more.

Learn more: Poetry Videos for Elementary School

2. Climb a hill with Amanda Gorman

Young poet Amanda Gorman took the world by storm when she read her poem “The Hill We Climb” at President Biden’s inauguration. Kids can really relate to her and her words, so try this roundup of poetry activities to introduce her in your classroom.

Learn more: Celebrate Poetry Month With Amanda Gorman

3. Take inspiration from nature

Nature has always provided inspiration for poets, and it can help your students find their own way to a love of poetry. Find out how poet David Harrison uses nature to help kids tap into their poetic sides.

Learn more: Science and Poetry

4. Read a novel in verse

Help kids find more meaning in poetry by reading novels told in verse. When they have a story to follow, they’re more likely to be engaged and open to learning about the poetic elements. Here are some of our favorite novels in verse for students of all ages.

Learn more: Best Novels in Verse

5. Stack up book spine poetry

Pull some books off the shelves and stack them so their titles create a poem. Kids can take a pic, write the titles down as they are, or use their stack as inspiration for a more fleshed-out masterpiece.

Learn more: How To Create Book Spine Poetry

6. Build a Humpty Dumpty wall

For most of us, nursery rhymes were the first poems we read, and they’re the perfect place to start with poetry games. Write words on building blocks ( try this set of Giant Cardboard Blocks from Amazon ), then stack them up to build a wall. Kids will get a kick out of these poetry activities by knocking the wall down and then building it up again!

Learn more: Nursery Rhyme Wall

7. Plant a poe-tree

“ I think that I shall never see / a poem as lovely as a poe-tree!” Hang a paper tree, then fill it with leaves covered with poetry from your students.

Learn more: Plant a Poe-Tree

8. Try paper bag poetry

Introduce poetry to little ones with a paper bag filled with several items of different sizes, shapes, textures, etc. Kids reach into the bag without looking and describe what they feel in a few words. These words make their first poem. This is one of the great poetry activities for younger students.

Learn more: Paper Bag Poetry

9. Explore a Poem of the Week

We love the idea of using a pocket chart with sentence strips to post a poem broken down by lines or phrases. Do a different activity each day throughout the week to help students make a connection.

Learn more: Poem of the Week

10. Go on a poetry speed date

This is a cool way to introduce older readers to a poetry unit. Gather up all the poetry books you can find, and invite students to bring their favorites too. Students spend the class period “speed dating” the books—they simply browse and skim, looking for poems and authors that catch their eye. Encourage them to make notes of their favorites for further reading.

Learn more: Poetry Speed Dating

11. Have a poetry book tasting

Here’s a cool spin on the speed-dating idea—a book tasting! Set up your room to look like a restaurant, play classical music in the background, and then invite students to sit down and try a variety of poetry books.

Learn more: Ideas on how to hold a book tasting

12. Pair up songs and poems

One of the easiest ways for many students to connect with poetry is by linking it with song lyrics. Visit the link below to find 15 fantastic song and poem pairings. Then, challenge your students to make their own pairings and explain the reasoning.

Learn more: Poem and Song Pairings

13. Read poetry in different ways

Poetry is all about the reader’s (or listener’s) experience. Experiment with that idea by having kids read poems out loud in a variety of ways. How does it change the experience when you read a sad poem in a silly voice or a funny poem in a scared voice?

Learn more: Poetry Voices

14. Spin to generate discussion

A poetry discussion can be hard going for kids at first. Use this free printable spinner to give them conversation starters or to help them choose a topic for further exploration.

Learn more: Poetry Spinner

15. Create colorful paint chip poetry

This is easily one of the most popular poetry games, and for good reason. Colors are so easy to relate to and evoke lots of feelings and memories. Paint chip poetry works for every age group, too, and makes for a neat classroom display.

Learn more: Paint Chip Poetry

16. Expand on paint chip poetry

Feeling a little guilty about furtively stuffing paint chips in your pocket at the store? These printable paint chip poetry games are here to help. They include multiple ways to use paint chips for poetic inspiration too!

Learn more: Paint Chip Poetry Without the Guilt

17. Have a “Hey Diddle, Diddle” puppet show

Nursery rhyme poems were just made to be acted out! Create stick puppets for “Hey Diddle, Diddle” using the instructions at the link, then expand to your other favorite rhymes to assemble a whole puppet show.

Learn more: Hey Diddle, Diddle Nursery Rhyme Craft

18. Compose acrostics

Acrostics are simple enough for beginning poets, but even Edgar Allan Poe used this style to create beautiful works. Writing one is almost like putting together a puzzle!

Learn more: Acrostic Poems

19. Match DIY rhyming dominoes

Rhyming poetry games are a lot of fun, and this one starts with some DIY dominoes made from sentence strips . This is a clever way to help kids find rhymes for writing their own poems.

Learn more: Rhyming Dominoes and Speedracer Game

20. Scoop up some ice cream poetry

Jack Prelutsky’s “ Bleezer’s Ice Cream ” is a kids’ poetry classic, and it’s sure to spark your students’ imaginations. Have them write and illustrate their own ice cream poems, with a focus on alliteration and other literary devices.

Learn more:  Awesome Alliteration Activity

21. Give haiku a hand

Haiku poems with their standard 5-7-5 syllable structure are fun to write. And let’s face it, most of us count the syllables on our fingers when we do! So this haiku helping hand is a perfect tool for kids. Have kids trace their own hand and write a haiku on it too.

Learn more: Haiku Poetry

22. Fetch a doggie haiku

Once you start with haiku, there’s just so much you can do! Elementary kids will love hearing the story of Doug, a dog looking for his forever home, in Dogku by Andrew Clements . As you might guess, the tale is told entirely in haiku. After you read the book, have kids create and illustrate their own “Dogku” poems.

Learn more: Doggie Haiku Poems

23. Roll the haiku dice

These are so cool! Haikubes are perfect for all sorts of poetry games. Roll the cubes and create a haiku, or draw a handful from a bag and use them to make your poem. You can use these for other poetry activities too.

Buy it: Haikubes at Amazon

24. Craft 3D tunnel haiku books

Haiku are fun to write, but a 3D tunnel haiku book is next-level awesome. This project looks harder than it is; all you really need are index cards, basic school supplies, and a lot of creativity.

Learn more: Haiku Tunnel Books

25. Be a copycat

We’re normally opposed to copying in the classroom, but for this activity, it’s A-OK! Kids write poems that mimic one they’ve been reading in class. This helps open their minds to the creativity they need to write their own unique verses later on down the line.

Learn more: Copycat Poem

26. Draw a concrete poem

Concrete poems are art and poetry rolled into one. Kids write a poem on any subject they like, then craft it into a shape reflecting their topic. Tip: Use a light board to allow kids to trace shapes if they find drawing a bit too challenging.

Learn more: Concrete Poems

27. Play Poetry Bingo

Is there anything bingo can’t do? Turns out it even works for poetry games! Get free printable sheets to use for this Poetry Bingo game that reviews literary devices and vocabulary terms.

Learn more: Poetry Bingo

28. Keep a poem in your pocket

There are lots of poem-in-your-pocket activities out there, but we love this one for its sheer creativity! During independent reading time, kids explore and find their favorite poem to share with classmates. After they share, they tuck them in a pocket on this spectacular hallway bulletin board for others to find and read. (Turn this into an online activity by using an online bulletin board program like Padlet .)

Learn more: Sharing Poems in Our Pockets

29. Design your own poetry dice

Learn about clauses when you make a set of dice to use for poetry games. Grab this set of Dry-Erase Blocks from Amazon and write dependent clauses on one and independent clauses on the other. Roll the dice and enjoy the verses you create!

Learn more: Poetry Dice

30. Learn limericks with a rhyming word bank

Kids love limericks —and really, who doesn’t? Their biggest challenge is usually coming up with the rhymes they need. This cool poetry activity creates a bank of rhyming words students can pull from as they craft their own lovable limericks to share.

Learn more: Silly Limericks for Kids

31. Color in blackout poetry

Blackout poems are a unique way of looking at the written word. This activity is easily differentiated for students from elementary through high school, and the results are often stunning.

Learn more: What Is Blackout Poetry (Plus Inspiring Examples and Ideas)

32. Post some pushpin poetry

Remember when poetry magnets were all the rage? You can still buy them ( find them on Amazon ), but you can also just create your own from paper scraps and pushpins. This is a low-cost way to open the door to so many poetry games and activities.

Learn more: Pushpin Poetry

33. Make magnetic poetry online

Speaking of poetry magnets, did you know you can play with them online? Really! This clever site gives you new words every time, so there are always fresh new ideas to explore.

Learn more: Magnetic Poetry Online

34. Say it with sticky notes

We love using sticky notes in the classroom , and they’re fantastic for poetry games. Have kids write a selection of words of their choice and stick them to the wall or whiteboard. Then let each student select words to use for their own verses.

Learn more: L iterary Analysis

35. Prove that opposites attract

Even polar opposites can share similarities. For this poetry activity, students choose two opposite subjects, like the ocean and desert shown here. The middle line of the poem highlights the one similarity between the pair and acts as a transition (in this case: sand). Illustrations help tell the story.

Learn more: Diamante Poetry

36. Find poetry everywhere

Found poetry is likely to become one of your students’ favorite poetry games. Give them a stack of magazines, newspapers, or books to look through, along with a pair of scissors. Have them cut out words and phrases they like, and then arrange them into a brand-new poetic masterpiece!

Learn more: How To Write Found Poetry

37. Start with simple cinquains

Cinquains are five-line poems with a specific structure. There are a variety of styles, but this poetry activity walks kids through the creation of a simple cinquain on any topic they like. This is a neat way to work on “-ing” words (known as gerunds ). Bonus: This free printable Character Cinquains worksheet can be used with any book or story.

Learn more: Poetry Unit

38. Learn metaphors and similes

Similes and metaphors are two of the most common literary devices found in poems. Help kids learn to tell the difference with this free printable game.

Learn more: Activities for Teaching Poetry

39. Take inspiration from metaphor dice

The right metaphor is the gateway to a unique and meaningful poem. Roll these dice to find a metaphor that will inspire and challenge your young poets.

Buy it: Metaphor Dice at Amazon

40. Host a poetry slam

Round off your poetry unit with a poetry slam ! These events are a combination of recitations and poetry games, like freestyle rhyme battles. This is the ultimate event for poetry lovers of any age. Hold it in person, or stream it on Zoom so anyone can easily attend!

Learn more: How To Host a Poetry Slam and Slam Poetry Examples

Don’t miss our FREE printable poetry worksheet bundle !

What are your favorite poetry activities come share your ideas on the we are teachers helpline group on facebook ., looking for more poetry to use in the classroom check out our list of the best poetry books for kids in grades pre-k through 12 ..

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What Is Blackout Poetry? (Plus Examples and Ideas)

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30 Poems About Eighth Grade

Written by Dan

Last updated December 18, 2023

Poetry can take us on an imaginative journey, allowing us to explore different moments in time and space. What better way for a young student to experience this than by writing and reading poems about their own lives?

This collection of eighth-grade poems celebrates the joys, triumphs, and struggles of growing up in middle school. Whether it’s friendships and heartbreaks or successes and failures, these poems express the rollercoaster ride of adolescence.

For eighth-grade students looking for something special to engage with in their classrooms, these poems can be an inspiring source of valuable lessons. Alternatively, those outside of school age can look back fondly at their own experiences as they read these timeless verses.

So let’s put aside our worries and explore the captivating world of poetry together!

Related : For more, check out our article on  Poems About Starting Ninth Grade  here.

Table of Contents

Five Free Verse Poems About Eighth Grade

The last first day.

The halls look the same,

but something’s different, I can feel it.

I hear the familiar chatter of friends,

but something’s missing, I can tell.

The rush to get to class on time,

the anxious patterns of first-day outfits,

the excited jitters of the unknown –

they’re all the same, yet they’re not.

This is the last first day of eighth grade,

the beginning of an end, the end of a beginning.

It’s bittersweet, but it’s time to start.

The mirror shows a stranger, not me.

I don’t recognize the curves, the bumps,

the foreign appendages that sprouted overnight.

My body is a puzzle I still can’t solve.

Acne and odors and a newfound love

for privacy, secrets, and locking doors.

The hormones rage inside like a storm,

and there’s no point in fighting their course.

Puberty, the universal middle school curse –

we endure it together, but alone,

praying we’ll come out whole on the other side

of this unexpected, awkward growth spurt.

The Social Ladder

Whispers and rumors, status and looks,

popularity reigns supreme in eighth grade.

We cluster in groups, divide and conquer,

marking our territory with every move.

The queen bees and the wanna-bes,

the jocks and the geeks and the in-betweens.

Everyone wants to be noticed, hoped to be liked,

but at what cost, we’re sometimes too blind to see.

The social ladder is unforgiving, a trial by fire,

and once you climb, there’s no guarantee you’ll stay.

Eighth grade is a lesson in power and empathy,

a never-ending cycle of who’s up and who’s down the next day.

The Endless Homework

Piles of textbooks, stacks of worksheets,

endless homework that never seems to end.

The teachers pile on more, ignoring our pleas,

igniting stress and chaos, like a ticking time bomb.

We scramble to finish, despite the exhaustion,

longing for a break, for a moment to breathe.

But the workload never ceases, mocking our tears,

reminding us of the never-ending grind of school.

Eighth grade homework, a rigor like no other,

grooming us for high school, but also, misery.

A necessary evil we must endure and conquer,

if we are to succeed and unlock the doors of opportunity.

The Goodbye

The end of eighth grade looms ahead,

a mix of anticipation, bittersweet regret.

We’ll leave behind the people and the place,

the memories, the laughter, and the tears.

The goodbyes are hard, the thought of leaving,

the comfort of familiarity, the known.

We’ll scatter and move on to different paths,

our destinies unknown, the future, unshown.

But even as we say our farewells,

I know we’ll remember the moments that mattered,

the inside jokes, the crazy adventures,

the friends that made this journey, unforgettable.

Eighth grade, the end of an era, the beginning of a new,

let’s celebrate this milestone, and the people we’ve become.

Forever etched in our hearts, our memories,

the laughter, the tears, but most of all, the fun.

Five Haiku Poems About Eighth Grade

Graduation day.

Caps tossed in the air

Memories held deep in our hearts

Eighth grade’s done, onward.

Mornings in the room

A space to work, laugh, and grow

Together we bond.

Winter Formal

Dancing under lights

Spirits high and hearts all aglow

New memories made.

The Last Day

Lockers clear and clean

Echoing halls filled with goodbyes

Eighth grade ends here.

The Bell Rings

The bell rings us in

Another day of learning starts

Growing all the time.

Five Limerick Poems About Eighth Grade

First day jitters.

On that first day of eighth grade,

I walked in with nerves like a razor blade,

The teacher was nice,

Asking no sacrifice,

A kind welcome from him had been made.

Passing Notes

In the back row we sat, side by side,

While the history teacher did chide,

On the subject at hand,

That’s when we had planned,

To pass notes scribbled with secrets inside.

Homework Blues

Homework, homework, always the same,

Each night a brand new list, what a shame,

How I wish it would stop,

That to-do list on top,

But I do it, for grades and for fame.

Field Trips

Eighth grade trips are Superb,

A day out of class, no book or a verb,

Museums of every can,

Science, history, and art, fan.

The best time, no doubt, my friends say with a twirl.

Finally, the big day has arrived,

All our efforts seem to have thrived,

Cap on my head, gown on my back,

Looking forward to the new track,

Our eighth-grade diploma, real proof we had strived.

Five Tanka Poems About Eighth Grade

In homeroom we sit

Friends by our side, books in hand

A familiar sight

The day stretching out before us

Growing and learning in sync

The Big Dance

Hear the beat, the sound

Music fills the crowded air

A sea of faces

Bodies swaying in rhythm

Dancing our way through eighth grade

The End is Near

Days grow shorter now

The end of the year draws near

Nostalgia sets in

Memories flashing like film

Eighth grade, almost over

A New Beginning

Eighth grade, check complete

Now off to the wide unknown

High school, a new start

Unfamiliar halls and faces

New opportunities too

Caps thrown to the sky

The culmination of years

Achievement in hand

Eighth grade now just a dream

Ready for life to unfold

Five Sonnet Poems About Eighth Grade

The first day.

The first day of eighth grade dawns too soon

Our childish summer, now a fading dream

The halls familiar, yet not quite the same

We’ll seek our fortunes, under the high noon.

Excitement and dread in equal measure

On teachers and friends, we’ll leave our mark

The past behind us, a future so stark

The eighth-grade journey, a thrill to treasure.

As books open, and pencils start to scratch

Our young minds, filled with promise and hope

A path laid, with guidance from those on watch

We’ll aim for excellence, refusal to mope.

So here we go, new chapter in our book

Onward, eighth grade, our best shall we look.

Inside Homeroom

The morning dawns, and inside homeroom

Excited murmurs, a classroom so bright

Friends by our side, no worry or fright

Our shelter, where we’ll learn and make room.

Laughter and jokes, discussions abound

Homeroom, the start of all our days

Sharing our dreams, swapping news and ways

Hearts and minds, to each other we’re bound.

A break from lessons, a time to reflect

Inside Homeroom, our world comes alive

A place that our memories shall select

As we grow and learn, through each hour we thrive.

Inside Homeroom, a second home indeed,

One where we’re safe, and our fears recede.

Eighth Grade Dance

The big dance of eighth grade, here we come

Eagerly we prepare our suits and gowns

The evening comes, the lights dimmed down

Love and laughter, under the moon and some.

Promises and secrets whispered at night

Music fills the air, and our hearts too

With joyful moments, our dreams take flight

Our friendships built and forever true.

On the dance floor, in each other’s arms

We sway and spin, as if locked on time

The outside world, with all its harms

On this night, we leave behind.

Eighth-grade dance, forever we’ll recall

An evening of magic, one and for all.

The Last Bell

The last bell’s toll, we know it’s almost time

A bittersweet goodbye, and the end of an era

A shared childhood, now a fading chimera

A world where everything had a rhyme.

In these halls, we laughed and sometimes cried

And here we learned, lessons that forever stay

The friends we made, with and beside

Paths we took, on life’s unpredictable highway.

How we long for days we’ll never get back

But we know, they had to come to an end

And we’ll keep memories, in the heart and the rack

Our time in eighth-grade, a forever friend.

The last bell’s toll, with tears and a smile

A final goodbye, with love and a pile.

The day has come, the day we’ve all craved

We don our caps and gowns, minds all aglow

Eighth grade is through, we’re all set to go

Our futures forever, in our minds engraved.

Our parents’ eyes filled with proud tears

A sense of accomplishment, and eagerness too

Our dreams, our goals, our paths anew

We’ll head to high school, free from all our fears.

A little sad, to leave our old grounds behind

A chapter in life, now a fading past

But how we’ll treasure, what we’ll come to find

Our memories, a forever cast.

Goodbye, eighth grade, we’ll bid you adieu

And all that you meant, forever young and true.

Five Ode Poems About Eighth Grade

Ode to homeroom.

Oh, Homeroom, our sanctuary and light

A place where we share all our dreams and plight

A room where discussions and laughter are rife

A safe space where troubles take flight.

Inside your walls, we make memories so dear

Whether studying or gossiping, we have nothing to fear

Homeroom, our joyful respite from the fray

A place where we’ll hold, eighth grade memories that stay.

Ode to Friendship

Friends we make, through thick and thin

Companions who stick with us, win or sin

The ones who’d always lend a listening ear

The ones who erased all our fear.

In eighth grade, we’re all about growing up

Living our best, striving for success all round the clock

With friends by our side, each step’s revitalized

For in eighth grade, our bonds, ever magnified.

Ode to Graduation Day

Graduation day, a celebration indeed

Of our achievements, of all that we had achieved

Our caps we toss, signaling the dawn of a new era

Our goals, our futures, forever clearer.

We’ll remember eighth grade, with gratitude and love

Our teachers, our friends, each one like a dove

For helping us through the triumphs and the strife

And raising the banner of eighth-grade life.

Ode to Teachers

Our teachers, who gave so much of their grace

Guiding us through our eighth grade race

Lectures, assignments, endless homework every day

Preparing us well for the future’s gateway.

Through thick and thin, they’ve stayed by our side

Teaching us how to face the world with stride

For eighth grade was not just classroom learning

It was also life skills, a discerning.

Ode to the Journey

How can we forget the journey we faced?

Our eighth-grade passions, goals, and hard-earned taste

The ups and downs, the highs and lows we scaled

Our path through eighth grade, a story never failed.

The lessons we learned, the friendships we sowed

The moments of joy, the struggles that slowed

In eighth grade, a season so rich in memory

Our journey, forever etched, in our own inquiry.

Eighth grade, a chapter so dear to our hearts

A journey of growth, of pushing past our parts

A time to explore, to discover our passion

A journey we’ll always recall, with treasured satisfaction.

Five Villanelle Poems About Eighth Grade

The lockers.

The lockers, tall like towers, line the halls

Each one assigned to tether books and coat

But, jammed with paper scraps, their purpose stalls

The numbers and the dents adorning all

Bear wint’ry coats and hang like winter’s coat

Avail to open with a jerk and haul

The books and looseleaf with a trembling note

And often come the moments when one falls

Afoul. And with a rhythmic beat it bloats

The snow boots stomp and hurry through the stalls

As nervous laughter starts (a novice’s gloat)

And as the bell rings in another small

Horde, the last footsteps linger and then it’s note

But, jammed with paper scraps, their purpose stalls.

The Cafeteria

In the cafeteria, one sits and waits

A cardboard tray with lunch, a plastic fork

The distant sound of peers, the crowded gates

The floor, stained red from melted sundaes’ fates

A place for some to laugh and some to cork

New tables marked for concerts by the plates

All in a row for everyone to gawk

Some bring their lunches in their plastic crates

Others come for pizza, drinks the store

Some take a seat with their own classroom traits

The smart, the funny, the shy, sassy and more

And though the food sometimes is up for bait

The space is always humming near the cork

The distant sound of peers, the crowded gates.

The bell rings loudly, and there’s no escape

It’s time to head to class, to sit and learn

For lots of students, this is their worst fate

Some clasp their papers, others just berate

As doors fly open, freedom for those yearn

The hallways fill with feet, this called the tape

Avoiding pushy waves that jostle and burn

Classes in concert halls or small rooms grape

A puzzling sense of time that’s soon adjourned

The teachers ready with tests, class debates

Pencils, and paper, for grades to discern

And though some sink, and others elevate

The bell’s the music calling first and stern

For lots of students, this is their worst fate.

There’s a special night we wait for all year

The one that’s glitzy, flashy, all in cheer

Where suits and dresses, matching ties, appear

There’s food, there’s music, converse near

The crown to wear for those who persevere

Some months before, the planning and the fear

The ways to ask, the friends around to hear

The Pre-Prom parties, limos there to steer

Snap a picture, march into a new atmosphere

The napkins labeled, the tables to revere

A calm before the students disappear

And though the night is bound to disappear

The memories, we hope, remain forever dear

Where suits and dresses, matching ties, appear.

The Memories

In the eighth grade we wearied and we learned

went through a time of growth, and sometimes burned

But looking back, the memories discerned

Adventures, sports, and games we churned

Friendships growing deep, our courage turned

The moments that we cried and sometimes yearned

The laughter shared till all our sides had turned

The end-of-year, we hoped we’d earned

But knowing soon our paths would all be turned

The lockers, lunchroom, teachers we spurned

The halls we walked, the poems we’d turned

Though high school will bring a brand new yearn

These eighth grade moments, we’ll forever spurn

But looking back, the memories discerned.

The collection of eighth-grade poems celebrates the vibrant and tumultuous journey of growing up in middle school. These poems capture the essence of adolescence, with all its joys, triumphs, and struggles.

For students, they offer an exciting opportunity to explore creative writing and express themselves in new ways.

For others, they evoke memories of their own past experiences. Poetry has the unique power to transport and inspire; this collection does just that. So let’s continue to appreciate these timeless verses and explore the captivating world of poetry together!

Q: Why is poetry relevant for eighth-grade students?

A: Poetry is an excellent tool for eighth-grade students to explore their emotions, gain self-awareness, and develop their creativity. It is a versatile medium in which they can express themselves authentically and without fear of judgement. Poetry can also help students to develop critical thinking skills, expand their vocabulary, and improve their writing abilities.

Q: Can poetry be used to teach other subjects?

A: Yes! Poetry can be used to teach many subjects, including history, science, and social studies. It can effectively help students understand complex topics, inspire them to learn more, and encourage critical thinking.

Q: How can teachers support students who are struggling with writing poetry?

A: Teachers can provide students with a variety of prompts and exercises to help overcome writer’s block and inspire creativity. They can also offer feedback and create a supportive environment where students feel comfortable sharing their work. Additionally, teachers can encourage students to read the works of published poets and participate in poetry readings to help generate ideas and build confidence.

Q: How does poetry benefit mental health?

A: Writing or reading poetry can be highly therapeutic for mental health. It can help people to process and understand their emotions, reduce stress and anxiety, and improve overall well-being. For eighth-grade students, poetry can serve as a healthy outlet for emotional expression during a time when they may be dealing with new and complex feelings.

Q: Do eighth-grade students need to have prior knowledge of poetry to write their own poems?

A: No, prior knowledge of poetry is not necessary for students to write their own poems. While understanding poetry structure and devices can be helpful, the most important aspect of poetry is self-expression. Encouraging personal thoughts, emotions, and experiences can lead to authentic and impactful poems.

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About The Author

I'm Dan Higgins, one of the faces behind The Teaching Couple. With 15 years in the education sector and a decade as a teacher, I've witnessed the highs and lows of school life. Over the years, my passion for supporting fellow teachers and making school more bearable has grown. The Teaching Couple is my platform to share strategies, tips, and insights from my journey. Together, we can shape a better school experience for all.

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Find Poetry resources | TPT

Learn more about poetry resources.

Poetry encourages students to engage with language, explore their thoughts and feelings, and connect with the broader human experience. If you’re a teacher or parent looking for printable and digital poetry resources, look no further. TPT has an extensive collection of resources, created by other teachers, that are designed to help with any need across grade levels.

If you want to make poets out of younger students in elementary grades, then acrostic poems or fill in the blank poems are the perfect place to start. (In fact, many poetry resources on TPT include templates so your students can easily get started producing their own poetry, whether it’s a haiku, or limerick.) For older students in middle and high school, you can find an array of resources to teach them about everything from iambic pentameter, figurative language, to famous poets from history. With plenty of TPT resources at your fingertips, you can sharpen your students’ poetry skills in no time.

Fun and engaging poetry activities to try

Teaching students about poetry can be an engaging and creative experience. Here are a few ideas for poetry activities that you can find on TPT to help you introduce and explore the world of poetry with your students:

Poetic Device Scavenger Hunt

Distribute some poems and have students identify and highlight poetic devices like similes, metaphors, alliteration, onomatopoeia, and imagery. Discuss what these are and the overall impact on the reader's experience.

Poetry Analysis Jigsaw

Divide students into small groups, assigning each group a different poem. Have each group analyze the assigned poem's themes, tone, and literary devices, and present their findings to the class.

Poetry Slam or Performance

Organize a poetry slam where students can perform poems they’ve written themselves or those written by famous poets. This will help build confidence and strengthen their public speaking skills.

Writing Poetry from Different Perspectives

Ask students to write a poem from the perspective of an inanimate object or an animal to foster empathy and encourage creative, out-of-the-box thinking.

Creating Found Poetry

Provide magazines, newspapers, or online articles. Have students cut out interesting words and phrases, and use them to create their own unique poems.

These (and other!) activities can help deepen your students’ appreciation for poetry and enhance their creative writing skills.

Frequently asked questions about teaching poetry

What types of poetry resources are available on tpt.

There are many different types of poetry resources sold by Sellers on TPT. Some popular poetry lessons include learning how to write haikus, acrostic poems, limericks, and free verse.

How do I find poetry resources on TPT?

Educators can save time preparing poetry lessons with resources created by experienced teachers. Simply start a search for poetry resources on the TPT marketplace, and filter by grade level, price, and/or resource type to find materials that've been proven to work in classrooms like yours. No matter what you’re teaching, there are plenty of poetry lessons and activities sold by Sellers on TPT that are tailored to meet your students' skill levels.

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