Poetry: How to write a limerick

Clear stages to encourage students at KS3 and KS4 to create their own limericks - humorous poetry.

For those students for whom poetry is a 'chore' to be endured!

1. How to Write a Limerick There was a young man from Lahore, Who had quite a stinky back door, With a huff and a puff, He did a big guff, And crapped all over the floor. Source – www.netmums.com - 2010

2. Pick a boy’s or girl’s name that has one syllable – examples Bill , Tim, Dick, Sue, Jill .   There once was a young girl (or young boy) named ____ So the first line is:   ’There once was a young girl named Jill .’ How to Write a Limerick adapted from source - www.gigglepoetry.com - Bruce Lansky Poemhowtowritealimerick.ppt/poetry/ englishabc ldrt – englishabc - 2015

3. Make a list of words that rhyme with the last word in the first line— example Jill . One list of rhyming words might be: hill, drill, pill , skill, bill , will , and ill . Write the second line using one of the rhyming words. How to Write a Limerick adapted from source - www.gigglepoetry.com - Bruce Lansky Poemhowtowritealimerick.ppt/poetry/ englishabc ldrt – englishabc - 2015 Here’s an example:  ‘Who freaked at the sight of a drill .’   (Note that the last words in the first two lines rhyme and that both the first and second lines contain 3 DUMS or beats.)

4. Think of an interesting story. What could happen to someone scared of a drill? What about ‘going to the dentist?’ Here’s a suggestion – Add the third and fourth lines.  ‘ She brushed every day.’ ‘ So, her dentist would say ,’ (Note that “day” and “say,” the last words, both rhyme. Note that there are 2 DUMS or beats in each line.) How to Write a Limerick adapted from source - www.gigglepoetry.com - Bruce Lansky ldrt – englishabc - 2015

5. Return to the list of earlier rhyming words - hill, drill, pill, skill, bill, will, and ill . Find one that can end the poem. Here’s an example:  Here’s the poem we just wrote: There once was a young girl named Jill.  Who was scared by the sight of a drill.  She brushed every day  So her dentist would say,  “Your teeth are so perfect; no bill.” Now try writing one yourself ! How to Write a Limerick Poemhowtowritealimerick.ppt/poetry/ englishabc adapted from source - www.gigglepoetry.com - Bruce Lansky ldrt – englishabc - 2015 ”Your teeth are quite perfect. No bill .”