Writing a limerick is fun Just scribble five lines and you’re done You’ll feel energetic When waxing poetic Under a warm Irish sun

 5 lines long  Lines 1, 2, and 5 rhyme with each other.  Lines 3 and 4 rhyme with each other.  Limericks have a distinct rhythm (more on that in a minute)  They are suppose to be silly! THE LIMERICK

LIMERICK RHYTHM There once was a cat named Sam He liked green peas and ham He bit a man Was thrown in a can And now he’s all covered in jam. Lines 1, 2, and 5 have 3 empathized syllables or “beats.” Lines 3 and 4 have 2 emphasized syllables or “beats.” Clap the rhythm as you read this limerick. TIP: To help with rhythm, shoot for 7-9 syllables in lines 1, 2, and 5. And 3-5 syllables in lines 3 and 4.

TRY SOME MORE LIMERICKS My aunt has a big, red nose So red, some think it’s a rose She dyed it blue To make it new Instead she got purple toes I know this one squirrel from France He is fond of blue and plaid pants He got a new hat To match his orange cat And now he’s ready to dance. There once was a sailor from Maine His foot gave him lots of pain He went to the doc The doc was Spoc Watch out, he might suck out your brain.

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT  Practice writing a few limericks.  Pick your best one.  Draw an illustration to go with your limerick.  Vote on the best one in class!

 Here are some starters for you to try… GET GOING! There once was a man from Spain…. There once was a sticky old frog…. There once was a goat named Beep… I once had a ten-foot snake…. My teacher wears long blue wigs…. My dog likes to eat green snails….