Show children an example of a poem. For young children, poems with one stanza are the best to begin with. Rhyming couplets and acrostic poems (poems with a word written vertically and a word describing that word going horizontally, beginning with each letter in the original word) are also usually fairly easy for children to follow. Rhyming couplets are poems in "traditional form," meaning that they are written with two rhyming lines followed by two rhyming lines.
Give children a theme to write about. This could be a pretty day, their pets, their parents or families or an activity they did in school. For very young children just learning about poetry, acrostic poems about classmates, friends, siblings or pets are also a good choice.
Ask the children to write their poems on a piece of scrap paper. Answer any questions the children have about the process. Emphasize that there is no right or wrong when writing poetry and that it is all about creative expression.
Instruct the children to recopy their poetry onto a piece of smaller paper, which will be framed. Children can use lined paper, if necessary. Older children should make use of cardstock or other such thick paper to make the end product look more refined.
Ask the children to decorate their poems with drawings, stickers and anything else they would like.
Have the students frame their poem. This can be done by placing Popsicle sticks on the sides, top and bottom of the picture. Taking a piece of colored cardboard and cutting out the middle of it to the size of the paper is also another option. Make sure the poem is glued well to the frame so it does not fall off.
Let the children decorate the picture frame with three dimensional elements, stickers or anything else they would like.