Why it Matters and How to Explore It
Poetry is like a playground for words, and when we think about the sounds words make, it’s like adding a super cool sound system to that playground! Paying attention to the sounds in poetry can make it even more fun and exciting. It’s not just about what the words mean, but also about how they feel to say and hear. Sound is what makes poetry dance and sing.
Why Sound Matters in Children’s Poetry
Think about your favorite song. Is it just the words you like, or the way the music makes you feel? Poetry is similar! Good poetry uses different sounds to create feelings and images in your head. It can be playful, serious, or even a little bit silly. Sound helps to paint the picture the poet is trying to create, adding layers of meaning and emotion that you might not get from just reading the words silently.
When kids are first learning to read, sound is super important. Poems that use rhyme, rhythm, and repetition can help them recognize words and understand how they fit together. It makes learning more engaging. Rhyming words are easier to remember, and a catchy rhythm can help kids follow along and even predict what comes next. It can also help them improve their pronunciation.
Fun Ways to Explore Sound in Poetry
Let’s look at some fun ways to get kids thinking (and listening!) about the sounds of poetry. First, think about rhyme. Rhyme is when words end with the same sounds, usually at the end of lines. “Cat” rhymes with “hat,” and “blue” rhymes with “shoe.” You can play rhyming games with kids, like asking them to come up with as many words as they can that rhyme with a given word. Or, you can read a rhyming poem aloud and have them point out the rhyming words.
Another way to explore sound is through alliteration. Alliteration is like the opposite of rhyme, when you use words that start with the same sound. For example, “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.” The repeated “p” sound is alliteration. Alliteration can make poetry sound really interesting and playful, and kids love to try to create their own alliterative phrases.
Onomatopoeia is a fancy word for words that sound like the thing they describe. “Buzz,” “meow,” “splash,” and “woof” are all examples of onomatopoeia. These words can make poems more vivid and engaging, bringing the sounds of the world to life on the page. Encourage kids to listen for onomatopoeia in poems and to come up with their own examples. What does rain sound like? A dripping faucet? A car driving by?
Rhythm is the beat of the poem. Think about how music has a rhythm that makes you want to tap your feet or dance. Poetry has a rhythm too, which is created by the pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables. Reading poems aloud with a strong rhythm can be really fun for kids. Poems with a good rhythm are often easier to remember, too! One book I highly recommend is Hip Hop Speaks to Children, an anthology of “poems with a beat” selected by Nikki Giovanni.
Examples of Poems that Play with Sound
Many children’s poets make great use of sound. Take a look at poems by Shel Silverstein, Jack Prelutsky, and Kenn Nesbitt (that’s me!). These poets are masters of rhyme, rhythm, and alliteration, and their poems are sure to get kids laughing and thinking. Look for poems that use a lot of onomatopoeia or have a strong, catchy rhythm.
For example, here’s the beginning of my poem “The Noisy Boys from Boise,” which contains a ton of onomatopoeia:
The Noisy Boys from Boise
are the noisiest of boys.
They’re boisterous annoyances.
They’re great at making noise.They wake up every morning
with a, “COCK-A-DOODLE-DOO!”
And then they start to BARK! and HONK!
and OINK! and CLUCK! and MOO!
Writing Your Own Sound-Filled Poems
The best way for kids to understand the importance of sound in poetry is to try writing their own poems. Encourage them to experiment with rhyme, alliteration, onomatopoeia, and rhythm. Don’t worry about making the poems perfect. The goal is to have fun and explore the sounds of language.
Start by brainstorming a list of words that sound interesting. Then, try to string those words together to create a poem. You can even use a simple template, like a haiku or a limerick, to get started. The most important thing is to let your imagination run wild and have fun with it!
Sound is an essential element of poetry, especially for children. By exploring the sounds of language, kids can develop a deeper appreciation for poetry and improve their reading and writing skills. So, go ahead and turn up the volume on poetry and let the sounds of words fill your world!
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