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Pyramid Poem
Description:
Students use parts of speech to
create phrases and build a pyramid poem about a topic.
Materials
Student directions (page 115)
Pyramid Poem pattern (page 116)
Dictionary and thesaurus
Procedures for Teaching
1. Display the format for writing pyramid
poems and review parts of speech as
indicated.
Line 1: noun
Line 2: adjective noun
Line 3: adjective noun verb
Line 4: adjective noun verb adverb
Line 5: adjective noun verb adverb prepositional phrase
2. Demonstrate the process for thinking about
and creating a pyramid poem. Show how
lines 2 through 5 build on the previous line.
(See sample, right.) Use a visual display
and think aloud as you construct the poem.
Show students how to use resources, such as
dictionaries and thesauruses, to
find descriptive or interesting words.
Sample
Clouds
Puffy clouds
Puffy clouds float
Puffy clouds float sleepily
Puffy clouds float sleepily across the horizon
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3. Create several pyramid poems as a class. Start with familiar topics and
concepts, such as animals or things in school. Guide students in using
prompts or word banks, as needed.
4. Allow students to create individual or group pyramid poems about
content area topics or other topics of interest. Encourage students to create
illustrations to go with the poems and share with the class.
5. For independent practice at the center, have students create pyramid poems
on their own or with a partner.
Suggestions for Differentiated Learning
Provide More Support
Provide More Challenge
Provide a word bank of topics
that are familiar and appealing to
students.
Have students write several
pyramid poems about one topic,
focusing on specific subtopics.
Use an organizer to brainstorm
words for each part of speech.
Encourage students to use
resources to access more
descriptive vocabulary.
Provide a partially completed
pyramid poem and have
students finish it.
Have students write an alliterative
pyramid poem with words that
start with the same letter or
sound. (See examples, below.)
Sample
Flowers
Fragrant flowers
urish
Fragrant flowers flo
urish fantastically
Fragrant flowers flo
the field
fantastically across
ish
ur
flo
s
er
w
flo
Fragrant
Lightning
Sample
Luminescent lightning
Luminescent lightning lingers
Luminescent lightning lingers lazily
Luminescent lightning lingers lazily across the lake
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Pyramid Poem
What
You NEED
What to Do
1. Select your topic. Read some books and articles
related to your topic.
Books (or other
texts)
2. Review what you know about the different types
of words you will use to write your pyramid
poem, including nouns, adjectives, verbs, and
prepositions.
Pyramid Poem
pattern
Dictionary and
thesaurus
3. Think about some words related to your topic.
Follow the format on the Pyramid Poem pattern to
write your poem. Use the sample (below) as
a guide.
4.Use the thesaurus and
dictionary for help with
choosing and spelling words.
5. Illustrate your poem.
Pencil or pen
Sample
Clouds
Puffy clouds
Puffy clouds float
Puffy clouds float sleepily
Puffy clouds float sleepily across the horizon
Hint!
Hint!
Look at the words in “Clouds” to help choose words for your poem.
Noun: names a person, place, thing,
or idea (clouds)
Adjective: a word that describes
a noun (puffy)
Verb: an action (float)
Adverb: a word that tells how (sleepily)
Prepositional Phrase: a group of
words that tells where something is or
where something is happening (across
the lake)
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Fresh Takes on Centers: Writing © Mary Beth Allen, Scholastic Teaching Resources
Pyramid
Poem
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adjective noun verb adverb
adjective noun verb
adjective noun
noun
Date
adjective noun verb adverb prepositional phrase
Name