BJU Press Blog

homeschool writing

A Sensory Poem Writing Activity (Printable)

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sensory poem activity
April is National Poetry Month. Here in South Carolina, it’s also one of the most beautiful months of the year—the temperature is nearly perfect (no stifling heat and humidity yet!), the mosquito population is under control, and the worst of allergy season is behind us. Do my kids and I want to sit inside and write poetry? Not really.

Thankfully, writing and studying poetry doesn’t have to be an indoor activity. In fact, the great outdoors is the perfect place to practice writing a sensory poem.

A simple definition

A sensory poem describes a scene, an object, or an idea with vivid words that appeal to the five senses. It tells how the subject looks, feels, smells, tastes, and sounds.

A workable plan

• Plan an outing

Take advantage of a beautiful April day and head outside. Even if spring hasn’t quite sprung where you live yet, you and your children will probably benefit from some time out of the house. Head to a local park, walk around the block, or plan an outing to somewhere you haven’t yet explored. Be sure to block out enough time so that you and your children won’t feel rushed.

Before you go, take time to explain to your children the purpose of the outing. Explain what a sensory poem is and share some examples.

• Observe something special

While you are out, look for things that spark your child’s interest such as an unusual plant, an insect, or a special vista. The things that excite your child will make good subjects for his or her sensory poem. Use our sensory poem planning printable to help focus your child’s observation skills. You will also want to take pictures (or even a short video) of the subject for later use.

• Draft a sensory poem

After your child has finished planning his or her poem, it’s time to write. Sensory poems don’t have to stick to a certain meter; they don’t even have to rhyme. Encourage your child to refer to the completed planning sheet and describe how the subject sounded, smelled, looked, and felt. You might want to challenge an older child to try including some sound devices such as assonance, consonance, or onomatopoeia in the poem. Be sure to have your child illustrate the final copy of the poem with a drawing or a photograph.

Find out more about sensory poems in our English 3 Worktext.

3 Reasons Why You Should Teach Your Child Writing Skills

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homeschool writing skills
Last week I met a homeschool mom who asked me what I thought about the importance of writing skills. Her son is getting to the end of his homeschool years, and he’s not sure if he’s going to go to college. She and her husband think that he may be well-suited for a career in engineering or technology. Does he need a course in writing skills?

You may have wondered the same thing. In this age of texting, podcasts, video chats, and instant messaging, is it still important to teach composition skills? I believe that it is. Here are three important ways our children will benefit from learning how to write well.

Writing Skills Allow Us to Reflect the Image of God

Because we were created in the image of God, we can exhibit (although imperfectly) some of the characteristics of God. God is the perfect communicator, and He chose to communicate to mankind through written communication. He gave us the Bible. When we write well—when we can organize and express ideas in a way that communicates a message to our audience—we are reflecting God’s image.

Writing Skills Develop Needed Thinking Skills

Good writing is not something that just happens. It is not a special talent that some people have and others don’t. It is a skill that is developed over time by using a process.

I’m glad that BJU Press curriculum doesn’t wait until the upper grades to develop the skill of writing; it introduces the writing process in first grade and continues to develop it through all twelve grades. Recently my first-grade daughter completed her very first composition project. She had to choose an animal, research where it lives and what it eats, and create a poster communicating that information. My third-grade daughter has completed several writing projects already—a paper describing a process and a personal letter in English, essays for heritage studies and science, and a few short projects for spelling. Both girls are gaining skills in brainstorming, organizing, and communicating ideas.

As my daughters’ writing skills develop, they will learn how to express complex, abstract ideas in writing. They will learn how to use logic to skillfully craft arguments. They will learn how to think, and most importantly, they will learn how to answer the questions of those who are seeking after salvation (1 Peter 3:15).

Writing Skills Develop Needed Social Skills

Sometimes when we think of writing, we think about the stereotypical author, holed up in a secluded place for weeks or months, feverishly cranking out the manuscript for his or her next big project. We often forget that the goal of writing is interpersonal communication. It is a social skill.

Good writing meets the needs of the reader. My third-grader’s first big writing assignment this year was a process paper. She had to write out the instructions for how to play a game. She chose to write about kickball. To be successful, she had to think about her potential audience. She had to imagine that her reader had no idea how to play kickball. She had to think about what her reader needed to play the game, and she had to organize her ideas in a way that her reader could understand.

Your child may never become a novelist, a journalist, a blogger, or a copywriter. But no matter what career your child chooses, he or she will benefit from composition skills. Find out how BJU Press curriculum can help you develop those skills through its English Writing & Grammar programs.