Tuesday, June 27, 2017

Limericks to Improve Writing Skills


As I visit students throughout the school year I like to take photos and collect the various ways teachers are using my books to improve the writing skills of their students. It always amazes me how each school does something unique. At the end of the school year I like to share many of the writing activities so others can use them as well. 

Limericks
Writing limericks can be a challenge. I know because I wrote hundreds of limericks and the publisher chose the best ones to include in each of my joke books. 
Students modeled limericks in my joke books and wrote and illustrated their own limericks using the following simple format: 

A limerick is a funny, rhyming poem that is five lines long. Lines 1, 2, and 5 rhyme. Lines 3 and 4 are usually shorter and rhyme with each other.
It's easy to write a limerick of your own. First, brainstorm some rhyming words. Write them down on a piece of paper. Example: France, dance, pants, ants, true, knew, too, blue. Next, number lines on a piece of paper from 1 to 5. Write lines 1 and 2 so that the last word in line 2 rhymes with the last word in line 1.
Example:
1. There once was a man from France.
2. His friends thought he liked to dance.

Then write lines 3 and 4 so that the last word in line 4 rhymes with the last word in line 3.
Example:
3. But that was not true
4. And what no one knew

Finally, write line 5 so the last word rhymes with lines 1 and 2.
Example:
5. Was he really had ants in his pants.

Includes step-by-step instructions on how to write your own knock-knock jokes.
Includes instructions on how to make your own funny valentine using the jokes and limericks from the book.

Includes simple instructions on how to write your own limericks.

If you've used limericks with your students feel free to share your lessons here. I'd be happy to add them to my list.









Linda Bozzo has published more than 50 nonfiction books for the school and library markets. For more information about Linda and her books, you can visit her website.

Copyright 2017 Linda Bozzo