Poetry has the power to turn an ordinary lesson into an exciting adventure! If you’re looking for poems for 3rd graders that inspire curiosity, build language skills, and spark creativity, you’ve come to the right place. From whimsical rhymes to thoughtful free verse, these 10 classic poems are classroom favorites—perfect for read-aloud, discussions, and creative activities! Engaging teaching tips are also included to make poetry come alive in your classroom. Scroll down for more!
10 Inspiring Poems for 3rd Graders
These poems blend humor, nature, and life lessons to captivate young readers while teaching literary basics like rhyme and imagery.
1. “The Eagle” by Alfred, Lord Tennyson
This powerful yet short poem paints a vivid picture of an eagle soaring high in the sky. It introduces students to the beauty of nature, strong imagery, and the use of descriptive words to create emotion:
“He clasps the crag with crooked hands;
Close to the sun in lonely lands,
Ring’d with the azure world, he stands.”
Teaching Tip: Ask students to close their eyes and visualize the eagle. Then, have them draw what they imagined. Discuss the descriptive words Tennyson uses and encourage students to describe their own favorite animals using rich language.
Download this printable for The Eagle poem to help students visualize poetry!
2. “Trees” by Joyce Kilmer
A timeless poem that expresses deep admiration for nature, “Trees” reminds readers of the beauty and importance of the natural world:
“I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.”
Teaching Tip: Take students outside to observe trees in different seasons. Ask them to describe what they see, hear, and feel. Then, have them write a short poem about a tree using sensory details.
Use this Tree poem worksheet to guide your students!
3. “Every Time I Climb a Tree” by David McCord
This delightful poem captures the pure thrill of childhood adventure through the simple yet exhilarating act of climbing a tree. It highlights the scraped knees, small tumbles, and endless curiosity that come with exploring the outdoors, making it a relatable and nostalgic piece for young readers.
“Every time I climb a tree
Every time I climb a tree
I scrape a leg or skin a knee.”
Teaching Tip: Encourage students to reflect on their own outdoor adventures. Have them write a short personal narrative about a time they explored nature—perhaps climbing a tree, playing in the rain, or running through a field. Ask them to use sensory details, describing what they saw, felt, heard, and even smelled to bring their experiences to life.
Download this printable worksheet for Every Time I Climb a Tree poem.
4. “The Swing” by Robert Louis Stevenson
This timeless poem beautifully captures the simple joy of swinging high into the air, where the world looks smaller, the sky seems closer, and for a moment, anything feels possible. With its musical rhythm and vivid imagery, it’s a poem that perfectly mirrors the carefree spirit of childhood.
“How do you like to go up in a swing,
Up in the air so blue?”
Teaching Tip: Transform poetry into movement! Have students pretend to swing while reading the poem aloud, swaying back and forth to its rhythm. Afterward, ask them to write about another favorite playground activity, using descriptive words to recreate the fun and excitement.
Download this worksheet for The Swing poem and bring it to your classrooms now!
5. “My Shadow” by Robert Louis Stevenson
This playful and imaginative poem personifies a child’s shadow, turning an ordinary everyday phenomenon into something magical. The poet captures the wonder and curiosity children have as they notice how their shadows move, shrink, and grow, almost like a silent companion following them everywhere:
“I have a little shadow that goes in and out with me,
And what can be the use of him is more than I can see.”
Teaching Tip: Take students outside on a sunny day and have them observe their shadows. Ask them to notice how their movements affect the shape and direction of their shadows. Then, let them create “shadow art” by tracing their silhouettes on paper or the sidewalk with chalk. This activity combines science, poetry, and creativity in a fun and interactive way!
Download the My Shadow poem worksheet!
6. “Sick” by Shel Silverstein
This humorous and exaggerated poem tells the tale of Peggy Ann McKay, a child who comes up with endless excuses to avoid school—only to suddenly recover when she realizes it’s Saturday! Silverstein’s playful tone and witty storytelling make this a great poem for introducing students to irony and hyperbole in poetry.
“I cannot go to school today,”
Said little Peggy Ann McKay.
Teaching Tip: Challenge students to come up with their own creative excuses for skipping school! Have them write their own short, exaggerated poems filled with wild and imaginative reasons why they “just can’t make it today.” This activity helps reinforce humor in poetry while sparking creativity.
Download the Sick poem worksheet for your classroom to read!
7. “Who Has Seen the Wind?” by Christina Rossetti
This short yet profound poem encourages children to think about the unseen forces in our world. The wind, though invisible, can be felt and seen through its effects on trees and leaves. This poem beautifully introduces the concept of indirect observation—an important skill in both poetry and science:
“Who has seen the wind?
Neither you nor I:
But when the leaves hang trembling,
The wind is passing by.”
Teaching Tip: Ask students to brainstorm other things in life that we cannot see but can still feel—such as love, emotions, or even gravity. Then, have them write about one of these invisible forces, using descriptive words to explain how they “see” its impact on the world.
Access the printable worksheet for the Who Has Seen the Wind poem here!
8. “Dreams” – Langston Hughes
This beautifully simple yet powerful poem reminds readers of the importance of holding onto their dreams. Hughes compares a life without dreams to a “broken-winged bird,” emphasizing how dreams give us purpose, hope, and direction. The message is uplifting and deeply inspiring for young minds:
“Hold fast to dreams
For if dreams die,
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.”
Teaching Tip: Encourage students to think about their biggest dreams and aspirations. Have them write about what they hope to achieve in the future and create a “dream vision board” with drawings or magazine cutouts representing their goals. This activity fosters self-reflection and goal-setting in a creative and meaningful way.
Download the Dream Poem worksheet now!
9. “If I Were in Charge of the World” – Judith Viorst
This playful and imaginative poem invites children into a world where they make the rules. The young speaker dreams of canceling things they don’t like—such as oatmeal and Monday mornings—making it a relatable and humorous piece that encourages creativity and self-expression:
“If I were in charge of the world,
I’d cancel oatmeal, Monday mornings, and also
Standing in line.”
Teaching Tip: Give students the opportunity to take charge! Ask them to write their own version of this poem, listing all the things they would change if they ruled the world. Encourage them to be as creative, silly, or imaginative as they’d like.
Download the worksheet for If I Were in Charge of the World poem now!
10. “The Rainbow” – Christina Rossetti
This beautifully descriptive poem captures the wonder of nature, comparing the natural beauty of rainbows to the impressive creations of humankind. With its gentle rhythm and vivid imagery, it helps young readers appreciate the world around them:
“Boats sail on the rivers,
And ships sail on the seas;
But clouds that sail across the sky
Are prettier than these.”
Teaching Tip: Encourage students to visualize the imagery in the poem by drawing their own version of the rainbow and the elements mentioned. Then, have a discussion about what natural wonders they find most beautiful and why. Finally, challenge them to write their own short poem comparing something in nature to a man-made creation.
Download the printable worksheet for The Rainbow poem now!
FAQs
1. What is a free verse poem for 3rd grade?
A free verse poem does not follow a set rhyme scheme or meter. For 3rd graders, a great example is “Fog” by Carl Sandburg, which uses simple yet evocative language.
2. How do you find the theme of a poem for 3rd grade?
To determine a poem’s theme, look at repeated ideas, keywords, and emotions. Ask: What is the main message? How does the poem make you feel?
Final Thoughts
Poems for 3rd graders are a gateway to creativity, literacy, and self-expression. By incorporating engaging discussions and activities, teachers can make poetry an exciting part of the curriculum. Encourage students to explore these poems, express their thoughts, and even create their own original poetry!
