FREE Reading Literature Lesson #3: Write a Five Senses Poem from a Character's POV (Gr 4-8)

An excellent way to get students to really immerse themselves into a character's point of view is to have them write a "Five Senses Poem" from the point of view of that character.

Free Frame by WonderBug Graphics at Teachers Pay Teachers

Follow These Easy Steps:

1. Either student selects a character or teacher selects character for student. Student will write a five-line poem for each of the five senses as experienced by the character.

2. Brainstorm individually or as a class to come up with ideas. For example, after reading The Diary of Anne Frank, 8th grade students in a class came up with these ideas:

       see: soldiers, cat, clocktower, children suffering, airplanes in sky, birds, smoke, Mummy

       hear: quarrels, bombs, gunshots, radio, screams, whispers, silence, quiet voices, burglars

       smell: strawberries, dust, rats, beans, gun-smoke, cigarette smoke

       touch: Peter's hand, hair, cat, shoes, diary, pencil, window

       taste: strawberries, beans, vegetables, potatoes, coffee
3. Select a nice digital frame such as the one above, find your own border/frame to print, make your own frame, or use my free template below to write a wonderful five senses poem. I suggest having students write rough drafts first that they can show their teachers for some quick editing before doing the final drafts.

8th grade student sample Five Senses Poem

Free Template With Words

Free Template Without Words

WANT MORE ENGAGING READING FOR YOUR STUDENTS? WANT TO HAVE THEM PRACTICE ALL 10 READING INFORMATIONAL TEXT STANDARDS SKILLS? STUDENTS KEEP REPORTING HOW MUCH THEY LOVE THE TEXTS!!! TRY BOTH VOLUMES: