Couplets Couplets are two lines of verse that may or may not rhyme. Examples (1) Here is the long snake on the ground, Wriggling on the stones around. (2) Three grey geese in a green field grazing Grey were the geese and green was the grazing (3) Rain, rain, go to Spain, Never show your face again. Read a lot of examples and then provide a list of rhyming words or brainstorm a list with the class as a starting point using a theme. Possible themes include a food, a sport, or a wild animal. Guide the students to compile a beginning sentence, followed by a list of rhyming words for the last word in the starter sentence. From a list about food or eating, the first line might be: Greedily he stuffed his mouth with meat Rhyming words for the last word in the first line might include feet, seat, beat, neat, heat, sheet, bleat. Then students compile a rhyming sentence, for example: Greedily he stuffed his mouth with meat Became so fat he couldn t see his feet. Pairs of younger students using the following simple formula can write rhyming couplets Examples With a friend I can slide. With a friend I can ride. With a friend I can look. With a friend I can cook. With a friend I can draw. With a friend I can saw. Or try this formula for a three line-rhyming poem This is a raccoon. This is a moon. This is a raccoon on the moon. This is a pig. This is a wig. This is a pig in a wig.
Worksheet: Write Couplets Name Couplets are two lines of verse that may or may not rhyme. Here is a well-known example that does rhyme: Rain, rain, go away, Come again another day. Use these starters to write your own couplets (1) One dark night I heard a loud knock lock. (2) follow hollow. (3) mountain fountain. Try some more of your own. (4) (5)
Worksheet: Write couplets (2) Name This is a poem made up of couplets. The first line starts with I like... and the second line begins with But I don t like... Read the example and then try your own. Your poem can be about just one thing, like the poem below, or it can be about many likes and dislikes. Remember, couplets may or may not rhyme. Draw a picture to illustrate your poem. My cat I like it when my cat jumps on the bed to say good morning, But I don t like it when she digs in her claws and scratches me. I like it when my cat purrs contentedly on my lap, But I don t like it when she sings on the fence at midnight. I like it when my cat plays with her toys, But I don t like it when she plays with a live mouse. Your turn I like But I don t like I like But I don t like I like But I don t like I like But I don t like
Worksheet: Write Couplets to tell a story Name Sets of couplets can tell a story. Here s an anonymous example from the USA Wake up, Jacob Wake up, Jacob, day s a breakin, Peas in the pot and hot cake s bakin. Bacon s in the pan and coffee s in the pot, Come on round and get it while it s hot. Early in the morning, almost day, If you don t come soon, gonna throw it all away. Try writing about breakfast time in your house, using Wake up, Jacob as a model for the writing Wake Up, Illustrate your poem here
Triplets Triplets are three lines of poetry that can be made to rhyme in different patterns, for example, abb; aaa; or aba. The poet must also keep the rhythm of the words. Demonstrate by tapping the rhythm of the examples below. a Brush your hair! b lt s out of place. b How can you see when it s in your face? a Autumn leaves fall to the ground b Brown, yellow, orange. a Land below without a sound. There are many examples of triplets in nursery rhymes. Here are two. a Jack be nimble b Jack be quick b Jack jump over the candlestick a Rain, rain, go away a Come again another day a Little Tommie wants to play.
Quatrains Quatrains are similar to triplets, but they have four lines that can rhyme in different patterns. Display the examples below and say them aloud while tapping the rhythm. a Connie, Connie in the tub, a She forgot to use the plug. b Oh, my heavens! Oh, my soui! a There goes Connie down the hole! a Giving me a washing machine b Was very nice of you, c But every time l take a bath b It beats me black and blue. a A doctor fell in a deep well, b And broke his collarbone. c The moral: Doctor, mind the sick, b And leave the well alone. Introduce this form by providing familiar couplets for the students and having them write the next two lines. Alternatively they can innovate on a familiar verse such as a nursery rhyme, changing the last two lines. Ding, Dong, Dell, Pussy's in the well. If you don t believe it, Go and have a smell. Roses are red Violets are blue An almond's a nut And you are too. Do you love me? Or do you not? You told me once but I forgot.