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Acrostic Poems: All About Me and My Favorite Things
1st Grade/2nd Grade
Standards: L.1.1/1.5 L.2.1/L.2.5 C/T K-2.1/2/4/6
OBJECTIVES:

Students will
find words that begin with the letters in their own names, using a variety of sources including word banks
and online dictionaries. Or use their favorite things to list.

revise poems as needed, for meaning and conventions.

share their poems with classmates.

complete a reflective self-assessment.
RESOURCES NEEDED:
 Chromebook
 Acrostic poem template (www.readwritethink.org)
 2nd grade- create a word art using the words they have in their bank WordArt
Tagul
SESSION ONE: INTRODUCTION AND MODELING WITH TEACHER NAME
1.
Prepare for the session by loading the Little Explorers Picture Dictionary on computers. Or have the
link available to the students (via Weebly)
2.
Display the letter/word matrix and blank chart paper side-by-side on a flat surface.
3.
Read and show some acrostic poems to students, using the examples that you have chosen from the
Resources section or the booklist.
4.
Gather students and explain that they will help you write a poem using the letters in your name, and
you need them to help you think of some words.
5.
On chart paper, write your own first name vertically down the left side, so that each letter can be
the first letter of the first word of one line. Be sure to do this in front of the students (rather than
in advance), so that the starting format can be modeled for the students.
6.
Have students read the letters aloud, starting at the top.
7.
Then write your name and the verb "is" on the top line, using the first letter. For instance, I would
write, "Renee is."
8.
Ask students to suggest some words which begin with the next letter and which can describe you.
9.
Write all appropriate suggestions on the letter/word matrix and explain that the chart is going to be
a word bank the whole class can use.
10. If no one can come up with an appropriate word, refer to the online dictionary for some ideas. Show
students how to find lists of words by clicking on a letter.
11. Choose at least one word from the online dictionary and have a student add it to the matrix.
12. When you have a few possible words, choose one and complete a phrase or sentence, writing it down
and having students read it with you.
13. Continue the process with all the letters of your name. My example:
Renee is
Energetic,
Never bored,
Extremely helpful
Extra kind.
14. When the poem is complete, have students read it aloud together and then talk about it. Does it
make sense? Do you get a picture of the person by reading the poem? Did we use complete sentences
or just words and phrases? Is there anything we should change?
15. If changes are suggested, talk about them and change some words if desired.
16. Leave the poem displayed on the wall.
SESSION TWO: STUDENTS WRITE THEIR OWN NAME ACROSTIC POEMS
1.
Before starting, review the large chart paper matrix.
2.
Have students suggest more words for the matrix, and especially for any blank spaces. Try to have at
least two words in each space.
3.
Have students begin by writing their names in capital letters down the left side of a sheet of paper,
then to begin their poem by completing their name and adding "is" to the top line.
4.
Invite them to help each other find words they need that begin with the letters of their names, and
to use those words in phrases.
5.
Have adult helpers assist students as needed, if they are available.
6.
As students work, invite them to add any particularly interesting words to the matrix for others to
use, too. Keep in mind that they will be doing another acrostic poem about something they like, so
including some of these images in their name poems would be particularly good.
7.
Use the Acrostic Poem interactive to publish your poems. The Acrostic Poem Tool allows students
to type in a word, create an Acrostic Poem, and then print out their writing.
8.
As students finish their poems, have them informally share with each other. Working with pairs or
small groups of students, invite them to give each other suggestions. Encourage students to rewrite
their poems on clean paper if they have done a lot of erasing. When all students are finished, have
volunteers read their poems aloud to the group.
SESSION THREE: STUDENTS WRITE A SECOND ACROSTIC POEM (2ND GRADE)
1.
Gather students and explain that they are going to write another acrostic poem, this time about
something that is important to them. Their favorite things.
2.
Ask students to tell about some things that are important to them. Suggestions might be a pet, a
favorite person, a favorite food, and so forth.
3.
Quickly review the process with students and give directions by choosing something that is a favorite
of yours and writing that word down the left side of the chart paper.
4.
Have students choose what they will write about before they get a sheet of paper to begin.
5.
Ask them to write the word down the left side of the paper and show it to you before they begin
writing their poem. At this point, you can check the spelling.
6.
Go to Tagul.com and sign in: Students will need to ‘sign up’ simply by clicking logging in with
Google Chrome account. It will take them directly to site.
7.
8.
Students will type their words into the text box. Allow students to play with lettering, shape of
poem, colors, etc.
When finished, click ‘Visualize’; if they are happy with the poem, then have them click ‘Print’ and
choose ‘Save to Google Drive’. Students will then share document with you so that you can print.
EXTENSIONS

Have students create holiday acrostic poems.

Have students pair off and write acrostic poems about each other.

If students have older classroom "buddies," have them write an acrostic about their buddies.
STUDENT ASSESSMENT/REFLECTIONS
Monitor student progress during the lesson and as students work independently through anecdotal
notetaking and kidwatching. Students can complete the questions on the Acrostic Poetry Reflection
Checklist in writing or during a class discussion using one enlarged copy where student reflections are
gathered.