Appropriate grades or age groups:
Preschool and Younger
Elementary School

Estimated time to complete activity or implement technique:
5 - 10 MINUTES

Materials needed (if applicable):
Just your computer - perhaps some paper for printing.

Activity set-up/instructions or description of technique:
Reading a short poem before bedtime is not only fun but a wonderful way for children to learn about words. It is a natural progression from nursery rhymes. You need good poems which have a rhyme and rhythm and lots of fun stories. Read them once, explain any new words, and read them again, giving children the chance to guess the rhyming word. Also persuade children to talk about the content. Here is a good website of 120 new poems they will like: http://www.whiteheadm.co.uk/html/josies_poetry.htm Poems for Everyone, Especially for Children.