Limericks for Kids

Edward Lear

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. 



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!

Limericks for Kids

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:


Limericks for Teachers


Share Your Student's Limericks for Kids and
We'll Publish Them Online


Are you an educator teaching poetry to your students? Our editors are always looking for new poems to add to our collection. Submit your student-written Limericks for Kids to our editors by emailing them to us here.

 



Search Here for Poetry



Click here if you love us! Follow Me on Pinterest