Words That Sing
Aligned to RL.2.4 — Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts.
What this lesson teaches
Some words make a beat or repeat sounds. These words give a poem or song rhythm and help you feel its meaning.
Worked examples
Example 1
In a poem, 'The rain went drip, drip, drop' has a beat, and the word 'drip' sounds like real rain falling.
Example 2
'The bees buzzed and the leaves hushed' — buzzed and hushed both sound like the thing they name.
Example 3
Repeating a sound on purpose gives a line rhythm: 'Six slick seals slid slowly.' Poets do that so the line sticks in your head.
Practice questions
- Find two words in a poem that repeat the same sound.
- Clap the beat as you read a line of a poem out loud.
- Pick a word that sounds like what it means and tell why the poet chose it.
Watch the lesson
Every lesson comes with a video taught in English and Spanish — the same video the QR code in the printed workbook opens.
▶ Watch this lessonEn español
Palabras que cantan
Algunas palabras hacen un ritmo o repiten sonidos. Esas palabras le dan ritmo a un poema o canción y ayudan a sentir su significado.
Ejemplo 1: En un poema, 'La lluvia hace tic, tic, toc' tiene un ritmo, y la palabra 'tic' suena como la lluvia al caer.
Ejemplo 2: 'Las abejas zumbaban y las hojas susurraban' — zumbaban y susurraban suenan como aquello que nombran.
Ejemplo 3: Repetir un sonido a propósito le da ritmo a un verso: 'Tres tristes tigres.' Los poetas lo hacen para que el verso se te quede.
More Reading: Literature lessons
Teach this lesson today
An AI tutor that guides with questions instead of just giving answers — all K–12 core subjects, every child in the family.
Start free — no card required