Reciting Poetry

English · Speaking & Listening · ages 6-10

Name ______________________ Date ____________

Reciting a poem means saying it from memory, not reading it.
Circle one: True False
What does it mean to recite a poem?
- Read it out loud from the page
- Say it from memory with expression
- Copy it neatly into a notebook
Which of these helps your class understand your presentation better?
- Speaking very quietly
- Adding a drawing that matches your words
- Talking as fast as you can
Which sentence is best for a class presentation?
- The dog. Ran. Fast.
- The dog ran fast across the yard.
- dog ran fast
You are reciting a poem about a bright, sunny day. How should your voice sound?
- Bright and cheerful
- Slow and sad
- Silent
Lily is presenting about ocean animals. What should she add to help explain her ideas?
- A drawing of a fish
- More background noise
- A longer pause between every word
Zara practiced her poem from memory, but people in the back of the class could not hear her. What should she do next time?
- Read faster
- Skip the last line
- Speak louder and clearer so everyone can hear
Omar recites his poem in a flat, quiet voice the whole time, even during the exciting parts. What is he missing?
- Complete sentences
- Expression that matches the mood
- A visual display

Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

True · That is exactly what reciting means: the words come from memory.
Say it from memory with expression · Reciting means the words come from your memory, not from reading the page.
Adding a drawing that matches your words · A drawing or visual display gives your class something to look at while you speak, which helps them follow along.
The dog ran fast across the yard. · A complete sentence has a clear subject and action, so your class can follow your idea easily.
Bright and cheerful · Your voice should match the mood of the poem, so a happy poem sounds cheerful.
A drawing of a fish · A picture that matches her topic gives her class something visual to connect to her words.
Speak louder and clearer so everyone can hear · A presentation needs an audible voice, so everyone in the room can hear it, not just the front rows.
Expression that matches the mood · Reciting well means changing your voice to match the feeling of each part, not staying the same the whole time.