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Limerick Writing: Free Printable Worksheet for Year 5
- ForYear 5
- StageKey Stage 2
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Limerick Writing is a free printable English worksheet for Year 5 (ages 9 to 10). Children learn the AABBA rhyme pattern and write a funny five line poem of their own. It needs only a pencil, and page 2 gives the grown up notes, help ideas, a stretch task and answers.
It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages, give page 1 to your child and keep page 2 for yourself. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
Children read the example limerick aloud and clap the beat before they write. Then they write a funny five line poem of their own, using lines on the sheet. They aim for the AABBA rhyme pattern, choose rhyming words with care and listen for the rhythm so the poem bounces when it is read out. They finish by performing their limerick, ideally in a silly voice.
How to build a limerick
Start with a silly character
Pick a person, animal or object and give them a problem. A hungry giraffe or a clumsy knight gives you plenty to work with.
Choose the rhyme words first
Write a short list of words that sound alike, such as bog, log and frog. Then you already have the line endings ready.
Clap the beat
Say each line and clap as you go. Lines usually sound best when the beat is steady, so add or remove small words until it flows.
Save the funniest part for last
The final line is where the joke or surprise usually lands. Read the whole poem aloud and check that it finishes with a smile.
What is a limerick?
A limerick is a short, funny poem with five lines. The letters AABBA describe its rhyme pattern. Lines marked with the same letter end in rhyming sounds. Limericks usually have a strong, bouncy beat, and the first, second and last lines tend to be longer than the others. Many are nonsense, and most are meant to make people laugh.
Edward Lear made limericks popular in the 1800s with his book of nonsense verse. Some people link the name to the city of Limerick in Ireland, but nobody is certain why. Writing one is a good way to practise rhyme, rhythm and word choice, because the form is small enough for a child to finish and polish in one sitting.
Limerick facts for children
- A limerick has five lines.
- Limericks are meant to be funny, and many of them are complete nonsense.
- Edward Lear wrote and helped make popular many nonsense limericks in the 1800s.
- Rhyming depends on how words sound, not how they are spelled.
- Limericks are fun to read aloud because the beat makes them bounce.
Skills and curriculum link
- Rhyme
- Rhythm
- Poetry writing
- Word choice
- Reading aloud
- Humour and tone
This sheet supports the area below. It is matched to the published England framework. Please check it against your own school plan.
| Framework | Subject or area | Strand | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Curriculum (England) | English | Writing: composition | Year 5 |
What children will be able to do
- I can spot the rhyme pattern in a limerick.
- I can write five lines that follow the pattern.
- I can read my limerick aloud with a good beat.
Ideas to help you support your child
- Rhyme is about soundWords rhyme when their endings sound the same, even if the spelling differs. Encourage your child to say words aloud rather than judge them by how they look.
- Beat comes from stressed soundsSome syllables in a line are stronger than others. Clapping the strong ones helps children hear whether a line fits.
- Silly ideas are welcomeFunny poems let children play with words. A ridiculous idea is often easier to rhyme than a serious one.
- Drafts are normalPoets change words as they go. Rubbing out a word and trying another is part of the job, not a mistake.
Key words
- LimerickA funny five line poem with a bouncy beat and a set rhyme pattern.
- RhymeWords rhyme when their endings sound the same, like log and frog.
- RhythmThe pattern of beats in a line, which you can clap or tap.
- SyllableOne beat in a word. The word pencil has two syllables.
- LineOne row of a poem. A limerick has five.
- NonsenseWords or ideas that are silly and do not have to make sense in real life.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2, which has the notes and answers.
- Read the example aloud together and clap the beat as you go.
- Work through the activity together the first time. Talk about each choice of word.
- Check against the notes and answers on page 2. Ask your child to explain why they chose their rhyming words.
- Come back another day and write a new limerick. Repeating a familiar activity builds confidence.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Start with rhyme. Pick a word, then list others that sound the same, such as bog, log and frog. Say them aloud. Choose a silly character first, then write the last word of each line before you fill in the rest.
To stretch confident children
Write a second limerick about a family member or pet. Make the beat as steady as you can and save a surprise for the last line. Then swap with someone and see if they can spot your rhyme pattern.
Make it a game
Play rhyme chain. One player says a word and the next must say a word that rhymes. Keep going until someone is stuck. Then use the words from the chain to build a limerick together.
Mistakes to watch for
Watch forTwo words look alike but do not rhyme, such as cough and rough.
Try thisSay both words aloud and listen to the ending sounds. Rhyme depends on sound, not spelling.
Watch forA line is so long that it is hard to read with the beat.
Try thisClap the line and cut small words until it flows. Shorter lines are easier to say.
Watch forThe poem has five lines but the last line has no surprise.
Try thisAsk what could go wrong or what would be funniest. Try a few endings aloud and pick the best.
Talk about it
- Which words did you choose to rhyme, and why?
- What makes your character funny?
- How does the beat change when you add a long word?
- Which line is your favourite, and can you make it funnier?
- Why might a poet choose a silly idea instead of a serious one?
- What other rhyming words could you have used?
Take it off the page
Rhyme hunt
Walk around the house or garden and find objects whose names rhyme with other words. Make a list and see how many pairs you can find.
Draw then write
Draw a silly character, such as a cat in a top hat. Then write a limerick about what happens to it.
Clap and stomp
Say a favourite rhyme and clap the strong beats. Then stomp the same beat while you read your own limerick.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit with your child for the first go, then let them lead. Listen to the poem read aloud and praise clever rhymes and funny ideas. Do not worry about perfect beat. Help them hear it by clapping.
Teachers
Use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task, homework or table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing. Page 2 gives support and stretch ideas for mixed ability groups, and the poems make a good performance or display.
Home educators
Pair it with a book of funny verse and a read aloud session. Let children perform their limerick for the family. It can be used again for brothers and sisters, or as a quick revisit of rhyme and rhythm in a later week.
Where this fits in your child's learning
Before this, children meet rhyme and rhythm through nursery rhymes, songs and simple poems. They learn to hear similar sounds, tap a beat and choose words that fit.
After this, they can try other poetry forms and write about more serious ideas. They can also practise reading poems aloud with expression, which builds confidence in performing and in writing for an audience.
Check it worked
Ask these when the sheet is finished. Listen for the reasoning, not just the answer.
- Which lines rhyme with each other in your limerick?
- How did you choose your rhyming words?
- How can you make the beat sound funnier when you read it out?
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Limerick Writing for?
It is written for Year 5 (ages 9 to 10), in Key Stage 2. Older or younger children can try it too. Adjust the support to suit them, using the help and stretch ideas on page 2.
- What will children practise?
Children practise rhyme, rhythm and poetry writing. They learn the AABBA limerick pattern and write a funny five line poem of their own, then read it aloud with a good beat.
- Is Limerick Writing free?
Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. You can print it again for brothers, sisters or a later revisit, and it works well in black and white.
- What if my child cannot think of rhymes?
Start with a list of rhyming words. Choose a word, say it aloud and try others that sound the same. Then build each line towards one of those words. Silly ideas often make rhyming easier.
- Is it a screen free activity?
Yes. It needs only paper and a pencil, so it works well for quiet time, rainy days and school holidays. Children read, think and write by hand, and can perform their poem afterwards.
- Does it link to the National Curriculum?
Yes. It supports the National Curriculum for England at Year 5 under English, in the writing composition strand. It is practice and play, not a replacement for classroom teaching, so check it against your own plan.
- What is on page 2?
Page 2 is for the grown up. It has notes on how to use the sheet, help for children who find it hard, a stretch idea and the answers. Keep it separate until your child has finished.
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Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.