The Week of the Young Child, a celebration sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children, is observed in April. April is also National Poetry Month. This is a great time to start some poetry activities with young children if you haven’t started them already!
Teaching poetry to young children is one of my favorite activities. Even when I was the director of my school and not teaching full-time, I still taught poetry and music twice a week at group time and creative writing during individual work time.
There are so many fun activities that can be used to introduce young children to poetry and rhythm. Today, I’ll share some Montessori-inspired poetry activities that can be used for a poetry unit or as individual poetry activities. There are many types of songs, rhymes, and fingerplays for young children that are wonderful for group activities, too.
Montessori-Inspired Preschool Poetry Activities
Oh, Precious Words from My Montessori Journey
Springtime Poetry Basket (Photo from Counting Coconuts)
Poetry Basket Posts from Counting Coconuts (photo from April Poetry Basket)
The Little Turtle Poetry Basket (Photo from Chasing Cheerios)
Our Summer Poetry Basket from Chasing Cheerios
Poetry: ‘Springtime’ from To the Lesson!
Poem of the Week (Photo from Our Montessori Home)
Poem of the Week from Our Montessori Home
Lady Poetry Basket (Photo from Discovery Days and Montessori Moments)
Ladybug Poetry Basket from Discovery Days and Montessori Moments
Bear Poetry Basket (Photo by Julie from The Adventures of Bear)
Bear Poetry Basket, Cloud Poetry Basket, and Ladybug Poetry Basket from The Adventures of Bear
Poetic Play from The Little List
Poetry and Rhyming Words from Rockabye Butterfly
Poetry Lives from Countryside Montessori School
Poetry for Kids Kit (available for purchase) from Montessori for Everyone
Montessori Services Poetry Materials (available for purchase)
Montessori Elementary Poetry Activities
April: National Poetry Month! (or How to Eat a Poem) from It’s Elementary!
World Poetry Day from Contemplating Montessori
Poetry Posts from The Very Montessori Blog
A Closer Look from MariaMontessori.com
Montessori Language Arts: Summer and Poetry from North American Montessori Center
Poetry Reading List from Middleburg Montessori School
When Poetry Meets Grammar from Keystone Montessori School
Montessori Students Explore Poetry and Life as a Poet (Children’s Meeting House Montessori School in Loveland) in Loveland Magazine
Animal Poetry (Original poetry based on the animals of Africa by elementary Montessori students who worked with a performance artist) from Montessori Magnet School
Montessori Coffee House from Maria Montessori School
Poetry Café for Valentines’ Day from Country Village Montessori School
Center Montessori Poetry Café: Brennan and R.J.
Poetry Posts and How to Memorize a Poem for elementary and up from Montessori Muddle
Poetry Pinterest Board
I have a Kids’ Poetry Pinterest board with activities of all types and for many different levels.
Have fun! I’d love to hear about your poetry activities! 
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I'm Deb Chitwood. My header photo models are my children, Christina, at 1 1/2, my son, Will, at 3, and Christina again at 16. Christina is now 22, and Will is 27. Please see the 
Hey Deb, What a detailed list. I’m looking forward to enjoying all these poetry ideas!
Deborah recently posted..Plexi-painting in preschool
Thanks, Deborah! I LOVE poetry baskets for individual work in addition to all the fun rhythmic activities that can be done at circle time. I’m glad you found some activities you can use!
Deb recently posted..Montessori Monday – Control of Error
Deb, I am always amazed at the amount of information you provide in your posts! Thank you so much taking the time to do this. Also, thank you for the link to my poetry post as well.
Sasha recently posted..Nature Shelf Corner
Thanks for your kind comment, Sasha! I always love linking to your amazing posts!
Deb recently posted..Montessori Monday – Control of Error
Wow — thank you for so many poetry resources!!!
Thanks so much, Mary! I had lots of fun searching for them!
Deb recently posted..Montessori Monday – Control of Error
Love this. We recently added poetry to our weekly routine and my kids enjoy it so much. I love the idea of Poem of the Week. Thanks for linking up to Kids Co-Op.
Thanks so much, Julie! And I love that you added poetry to your weekly routine!
Deb recently posted..Montessori-Inspired Rainbow Activities and Rainbow Blog Hop
[...] could put together a fun Montessori-inspired poetry basket to go along with one or more of the Ogden Nash [...]
I absolutely loved these poetry ideas! I am following your Pinterest board for more inspiration! I am trying lately to make small poems and emergent reader stories for kindergarten in Greek and I apprecciate all the inspiration I can find!
[...] Living Montessori Now shares some Montessori Inspired activities to learn about poetry. [...]