Onomatopoeia is the use of sound words Onomatopoeia is the use of sound words. Words that sound like the things they describe. Poets often use onomatopoeia.

I Like Noise The whoop of a boy, the thud of a hoof, The rattle of rain on a galvanized roof, The hubbub of traffic, the roar of a train, The throb of machinery numbing the brain, The switching of wires in an overhead tram, The rush of the wind, a door on the slam, The boom of the thunder, the crash of the waves, The din of a river that races and raves, The crack of a rifle, the clank of a pail, The strident tattoo of a swift slapping sail. From any old sound that the silence destroys Arises a gamut of soul-stirring joys. I like noise. Jessie Pope

Match Them Up! Thwack Buff Purr Crunch Pop Plop Boom Someone falling into a swimming pool. A bomb going off. Someone hitting a tennis ball. A punch. A happy cat. Someone walking on dry leaves. A champagne cork shooting out. Thwack Buff Purr Crunch Pop Plop Boom

The Washing Machine By Jeffrey Davies It goes fwunkety, then Slunkety, As the washing machine goes around. The water spluncheses, and it sluncheses, as the washing machine goes around. As you pick it out it splocheses, and it flocheses, as the washing goes around. But at the end it schlopperies, and then flopperies, as the washing stops going around. It goes fwunkety, then Slunkety, As the washing machine goes around. The water spluncheses, and it sluncheses, as the washing machine goes around. As you pick it out it splocheses, and it flocheses, as the washing goes around. But at the end it schlopperies, and then flopperies, as the washing stops going around. By Jeffrey Davies

Let's try some of our own! A vacuum-cleaner sucking up the dirt A fisherman throwing out his rod Someone trying to start a car which has a flat battery Chalk on a blackboard Squeezing mud through your fingers A fire burning briskly A cat drinking milk Someone eating potato chips Cats fighting Dry leaves being blown along the ground by the wind A rocket taking off A piece of very ripe fruit hitting a wall A can of shaken-up soft-drink being opened A dentist drilling into your tooth A noisy lawnmower

Creating Our Own Poems Remember: Why did you choose these words! Two Choices: 1. Write a poem about all the different noises that you like; 'The ripping noise of wrapping paper opening on Christmas morning...' 2. Describe one thing and all the noises that it makes; My Car: 'The engine whistles and it purrs, it hums and it burrs...' Remember: Why did you choose these words!