Write Your Own

Worksheet Description

This worksheet serves as a guide for writing limericks, a type of humorous verse that follows a strict meter and rhyme scheme. It begins with an explanation of what constitutes a limerick: a five-line poem with an AABBA rhyme scheme, where the first, second, and fifth lines typically have eight syllables with a stress pattern of unstressed-stressed, and the third and fourth lines have five syllables with a stress pattern of unstressed-unstressed-stressed. To illustrate, the worksheet includes a classic example of a limerick by Edward Lear.

The directions for the worksheet are clearly laid out in three steps, directing the student first to think of a topic, then to brainstorm ideas and rhyming words on the back of the page, and finally, to write their own limerick. This step-by-step approach simplifies the process, making it accessible for students of various ages and skill levels. The structured prompts encourage students to engage with the creative process, from the initial conception of an idea to the execution of a complete poem. Writing their own limerick allows students to practice and apply their understanding of the form, as well as to experiment with language and rhythm in a playful and engaging way.