As teachers and parents, we understand the importance of exposing children to a variety of creative and exciting learning experiences. One such experience is introducing them to poetry. A well-curated collection of poems can inspire their imagination, creativity, and appreciation for language. So, here are 35 wonderful 3rd grade poems that will spark your students’ interest in poetry and help create a fun, engaging, and thought-provoking classroom.
1. “A Light in the Attic” by Shel Silverstein
2. “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost
3. “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” by Robert Frost
4. “Jabberwocky” by Lewis Carroll
5. “Casey at the Bat” by Ernest Thayer
6. “The Owl and the Pussycat” by Edward Lear
7. “A Dream Within a Dream” by Edgar Allan Poe
8. “Cats Sleep Anywhere” by Eleanor Farjeon
9. “A Grasshopper’s Ball” by Clara Doty Bates
10. “Pangur Bán”, Anonymous (Old Irish)
11. “Paul Revere’s Ride” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
12. “The Pasture” by Robert Frost
13. “If You Forget Me” by Pablo Neruda
14. “The Village Blacksmith” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
15. “Trees” by Joyce Kilmer
16. “Messy Room” by Shel Silverstein
17. “Wind on the Hill” by A.A Milne
18. “The Brook,” Alfred, Lord Tennyson
19. “Reality Beginner’s Mind Orientation,” Reginald Shepherd
20.” Sweetest Love, I Do Not Go,” John Donne
21.” The Secret,” Denise Levertov
22.” Before My First Confession,” Frank O’Connor
23.” Afterimage,” Audre Lorde
24.” In Memoria Aeterna,” Anna de Brancovan,Countess Martinengo-Cesaresco
25.” The Roses of Säaronerdale,” Ivan Turgenev
26.” Laughing Song,” William Blake
27.” The Erl-King,” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
28.” The Poem I Couldn’t Write,” Sharon Olds
29.” Grandmother’s Nose Garden,” David McCord
30.” Song of the Builders,” Mary Oliver
31. “Falling Leaves” by Li Bai
32. “Weathers” by Thomas Hardy
33. “Peacock & Nightingale” by Aleksey Pleshcheyev
34. “The Cataract of Lodore” by Robert Southey
35. “If You Can Dream It, You Can Do It” by Walt Disney
Introducing young students to a variety of 3rd grade poems not only fosters a love for poetry but also enhances their linguistic skills, creativity, and cognitive capability. These 35 wonderful poems, spanning different styles, themes, and literary periods, will surely captivate and inspire your students as they develop a deep appreciation for the beauty of language and verse.