Autumn Acrostics : "Fall" Into Writing Poetry!

1.  TEACHER:  Have students call out some words that relate to anything about fall  / autumn.   Write them on the board or large pad.  

2. TEACHER:  Demonstrate with the word FALL, or LEAF.  ( Demonstrating with a short word will get the process going quicker, so the students can begin writing their own poems sooner.  Write the word VERTICALLY on the left edge of writing pad. 

3,  We call this  vertical word the "topic word" , and all of those letters are capitalized.

F

A

L

L

3.Next step:  Create a sentence utilizing the top line, and the first word must start with F.

4.   After that sentence, follow with a word that begins with the letter A.   Hopefully, it connects with the thought of the first sentence expressed on the line  starting with the  "F' .

5. Continue down through all letters.   Hopefully the last line might make an "ending statement" that sums up a feeling or special consideration about the topic word..

HERE'S AN EXAMPLE THAT I HAVE WRITTEN, FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEMONSTATION: 

Fluttering down softly and quietly,

A gentle wind bids them to drop.

Lonely at first, perhaps...but then reuniting on the ground-

Leaves have left their first home.

                                              K. Bradley,  Sept. 20, 2022

6.  The possibilities are endless.   20 people could write 20 different acrostic poems, using the word FALL. Make a list of words relating to AUTUMN that could be the "topic word" for an acrostic poem.  Here's a starting list:

pumpkin        chilly          campfire             dark         orange        yellow         brown           football      halloween        witch   

moon       acorn          winds          migrate ( birds flying south)         hibernate        turkey         hunting        hiking      apples 

7. Each student will write an acrostic poem: 

-Write your topic word on scrap paper/ CAPITAL LETTERS, vertically down LEFT SIDE of  the page. 

- Work out your acrostic poem...erase, scratch out, etc. until you get something you like...it can take a while!  

-Try not to repeat any nouns or verbs... use a variety.   Of course, articles such as "a, an, the" etc.  are ok to repeat.  

-REMEMBER:  the first letters of each line should be CAPITALIZED, and it helps if they are larger than the rest of the words in the line.  

-When you feel satisfied with your poem,  use a clean paper to copy your completed poem neatly.   

-Write your name and date in small letters at the bottom of  your paper, on the right side (not the left side).    

Here is an excerpt from a book I wrote about acrostic poetry:  

A writing form I saw my young students enjoying

Came to be an important part of my own life .

Rolling out of my heart, my own thoughts surprise me - 

Onto the page they creep, prompted by a single letter.

So simplistic, yet turning a key to unlock my feelings,

Turning writing time into relaxation or revelation.

In my quiet chair, with small notebook and pen,

Comes my respite, as I slowly ponder my next word.

                                                                          Kathy S Bradley /  from the book                                                                                                                                                    HEALING IN SPIRIT : Poems to Comfort and Encourage the Heart

Help the younger grades to generate their list of "topic words" , if necessary.    Discussion is valuable during this time, to remember special memories, family  foods, and traditions of the season.    Try to be "welcoming" and value each student's contribution to the discussion and/or  "topic word list".

Especially beware of students showing disrespect/ laughing inappropriately at another student's memories or special family traditions...and handle this immediately.   This can & should be discussed at length, as it's an important part of the RESPECT we need to show each other, as we ALL come from unique family backgrounds.

1. Write  4  acrostic poems about AUTUMN.   

2.After you finish working on your poems, and get them in their final form, copy them onto separate pages neatly.

3.Write an acrostic poem about your pet. If you don't have a pet, write about a friend, neighbor, or relative's pet.  USE THE PET'S NAME to be the acrostic line going vertically down the page.    

4. Choose 3 poems that you would like to illustrate  on a separate piece of paper, using markers, crayons, colored pencils, or by cutting out paper and making a collage.  

5.  Put  these 3 poems, (and the artwork about the poems ) in a folder made of 2 pieces of colored construction paper.  

6. Put a title on the outside of your acrostic poetry book, and put each poem in, facing the artwork you've made to go with it.