I don’t know about you, but I love looking at the moon! And I am not the only one. My kiddos love seeing the moon in all of its variant glory. My 3-year-old likes to find the moon. Where will it be tonight? How big is it? What colors do we see in and around the moon? My kindergartener likes to simply watch the moon and ask questions about the moon. There are some questions I can answer and some I cannot without a little bit of research. I guess that’s why I had to write a poem about the moon!
Every day our view of the moon changes. Sometimes, the moon is bright, big, and bold; it fills the sky, and everyone takes notice.
Other times, the moon is a sliver, like a tiny piece of a silver pie.
And my most favorite moon is unexpected. It is blood red and shows up when you least expect it. You might be driving along, and you look up into the night sky. Or you might be out on a walk alone. And suddenly, you see a moon that transcends your nightmares. You just know that the myth of the bloody moon has affected all of humanity.
I hope you enjoy this poem about the moon and activities that get your kids thinking and analyzing poetry about the moon!
Need help with Test Prep? Check out this FREE Pack of 3 Test Prep Activities to help students achieve success on standardized tests!
Want some other fun poetry options for your classroom? Click to read!
A Poem About The Moon
I Saw the Moon One Time
by Kristin Menke
I saw the moon one time
Haloed in misty white
It shone right above me
Happy in the night
I saw the moon one time
Dripping in bloody red
The eerie scarlet frightened me
Before I went off to bed
I saw the moon one time
Slivered in a tiny piece
Smiling in the darkness
Like a tiny book crease
I saw the moon one time
A giant before morn
It crawled lower and lower
Like a hermit quite forlorn
I saw the moon one time
Covered in heavy fog
It drifted away into the night
As a river with a log
I thought I saw the moon one time
When stepping out the door
Until I looked up into the black
And saw the moon no more
Want some fun ideas for National Poetry Month? Click to read!
5 Activities for a Poem about the Moon
#1 CHARACTERIZATION:
You can introduce this poem by focusing on characterization. Check out this FREE Character Traits Activity! It helps students to identify internal and external traits by connecting them to their own personal traits!
Then, you can read aloud the poem “I Saw the Moon One Time” by Kristin Menke. I always start with a read-aloud when it comes to poetry. Most students, heck most people, love to be read aloud to. And this poem requires it 🙂
After the second or third reading or during these readings, you can encourage students to analyze the external and/or internal traits of the moon!
Fill in a chart with 1 phrase/quote (textual evidence) from the poem that characterizes the moon. Then, explain the meaning of the quote and how it connects to a characteristic/trait of the moon.
When students connect to the evidence, they will see how the moon has many traits, just like people!
If you need differentiated options, CLICK HERE!
#2 VISUALIZATION:
Visualization is so important in helping students to understand poetry. Being able to visualize by reading a detailed description is vital to understanding the most important parts of any text; however, visualization is even more necessary when it comes to poetry. Yes, we listen to songs, which I would argue is a form of poetry. Unfortunately, without the melody and rhythm, it can be difficult to grasp a poem’s meaning in this day and age.
Instead, we can help our students by assigning a visualization activity. I mean, who doesn’t like to draw or color once in a while?
Activity: Reread the poem “I Saw the Moon One Time” by Kristin Menke. Use textual evidence from ONE stanza in the poem to create an image/visual of the moon.
Click HERE for a DONE FOR YOU Poetry Pack!
#3 WRITING ACTIVITY:
After your students read the poem “I Saw the Moon One Time,” you can help your students with writing about character traits! If they have already examined the poem in “The Moon’s Traits,” then, it will make the writing process for this poem about the moon that MUCH easier.
Writing Prompt: What are 2 important traits of the moon? Use 2 pieces of textual evidence to support your ideas.
Make sure to include a step-by-step process if your students need help with developing their ideas. Additionally, teaching with a rubric for this poem about the moon will help your students in the writing process!
#4 READING QUESTIONS:
One of my personal missions is to use literature in every part of the language arts classroom. I am not a big fan of standardized tests, but they come up every year, and our students have to prepare for them.
Instead of using random reading passages, why not use AWESOME literature (like this poem about the moon) and incorporate reading comprehension questions that mirror standardized tests to get students thinking about what they have read?
EXAMPLE READING QUESTIONS FOR A POEM ABOUT THE MOON-
- Why does the speaker repeat the line “I saw the moon one time” in the poem? (Words & Phrases)
- What is the central idea of the poem? Use evidence to support your ideas. (Central Idea)
- How is the poem organized? (Structure)
- What is the order of events in the poem? (Structure)
- What is the theme of the poem? (Theme)
#5 QUICK QUIZ:
After your students have taken the time to answer the reading questions, a quick quiz for this poem about the moon is just the ticket! When students answer the questions before looking at possible answers, they will be more prepared for taking the quiz!
      
WHY READ A POEM ABOUT THE MOON?
Well, why not? Students love to read poetry that connects to them in some way. And let’s be real, we are all amazed at the moon. The wonder and awe of God’s creation cannot be matched! We can help our students see this by reading a poem about the moon!!
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