Limericks for Kids
Limericks for kids are
fun poems
that have five lines. Lines one, two and five have three
strong downbeats, and the end of each line rhymes with the others.
Lines three and four
have two strong downbeats and rhyme with each other. This interesting
pattern is what makes
limericks so unique.
The limerick form was made popular by English poet/artist Edward Lear in his Book of Nonsense (1845) and in a subsequently published work in 1872.
Limericks are a great exercise for children and help them gain the confidence to write their own poetry.
The limerick form was made popular by English poet/artist Edward Lear in his Book of Nonsense (1845) and in a subsequently published work in 1872.
Limericks are a great exercise for children and help them gain the confidence to write their own poetry.
Example of a Limerick Poem
Use your knowledge of limericks to write a poem similar to the
following
model. Have your students clap to the downbeats so they learn the
limerick
structure!
Exercise for Your Students
Have your students write their own limericks! This may be
challenging since it is likely a new concept for them. A
good technique which students can use independently is to tap their
pencils on the paper when reading through their limerick lines.
This ensures that they have the appropriate amount of
downbeats in each line.
The following model can be given to the students to write their limericks:
The following model can be given to the students to write their limericks:
