Charlotte Mason Living Poetry Through the Seasons
Poetry is such an important part of a Charlotte Mason education, helping children to connect beautiful language with the world around them. In my homeschool, seasonal poetry has become one of my favorite ways to include verse in our daily life. We enjoy reading autumn poems while collecting leaves, and spring verses naturally pair with our morning bird watching. These connections have made poetry feel like a natural part of our day rather than another lesson to check off.
This collection of seasonal poems, paired with simple observation prompts, creates natural opportunities for children to form their own relationships with poetry. These gentle readings perfectly complement the changing seasons and bring enjoyment to our homeschooling days.
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A Simple Guide for Using Seasonal Poetry
Over the years, I’ve discovered that keeping things straightforward works best with poetry. We simply read poems that match what’s happening outside our windows. Sometimes we share a poem during our morning lessons, and other days we bring our poetry book on nature walks. By stepping back and not over-explaining the poems or forcing discussions, I’ve found my kids naturally make their own meaningful connections.
When my kids notice something we just read about in a poem – like a dandelion going to seed or a robin building a nest – it reminds me why I enjoy this gentle approach to poetry. These spontaneous observations often inspire them to reach for their nature journals, where they might sketch or write down what they’ve noticed.
How We Use Poetry Through the Seasons
I’ve organized these poems by season and age level, adding some observation ideas for each one. These aren’t meant to be assignments – they’re just suggestions for things you might want to look for outside. Reading poems during their matching seasons lets your kids see firsthand what the poet is describing. You’ll likely find some poems your family enjoys enough to read multiple times throughout the season.
Living Poetry for Spring
Spring brings with it fresh mornings, new growth, and the return of birdsong.
Early Years (Ages 4-6)
“Who Has Seen the Wind?” by Christina Rossetti
- Watch tree branches dance and grass ripple
- Feel spring breezes in garden leaves
“Spring Rain” by Marchette Chute
- Listen for rain on new leaves
- Notice how flowers and birds respond to showers
“Daffodowndilly” by A.A. Milne
- Observe daffodils through their blooming cycle
- Study different varieties in gardens
“The Rainbow” by Christina Rossetti
- Spot rainbows after spring showers
- Find rainbow colors in spring gardens
“We Have a Little Garden” by Beatrix Potter
- Notice which spring flowers bloom first
- Observe garden visitors like bees and birds
“Maggie and Milly and Molly and May” by E.E. Cummings
- Explore springtime beaches
- Discover what treasures wash ashore
Elementary (Ages 7-11)
“Spring” by William Blake
- Experience spring with all senses
- Notice signs of new life in fields and gardens
“The Daffodils” by William Wordsworth
- Find wildflower patches
- Observe how flowers move in spring winds
“Bee! I’m Expecting You” by Emily Dickinson
- Watch bees visit different blooms
- Notice when pollinators return
“The Secret Song” by Margaret Wise Brown
- Discover morning’s first sounds
- Observe birds building nests
“The Tree” by Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson
- Track a tree’s spring transformation
- Study how buds become leaves
Older Students (12+)
“Nothing Gold Can Stay” by Robert Frost
- Document spring’s fleeting changes
- Compare nature’s first green to summer’s
“A Prayer in Spring” by Robert Frost
- Observe spring’s promise in orchards
- Consider how nature and human work intertwine
“Spring” by Gerard Manley Hopkins
- Study contrast between winter-worn and fresh growth
- Find spring’s arrival in unexpected places
“Lines Written in Early Spring” by William Wordsworth
- Observe how nature’s small joys unfold
- Notice the harmonious connections in springtime gardens
Gentle Summer Poetry Collection
Long sunny days bring opportunities to explore gardens, shorelines, and summer skies.
Early Years (Ages 4-6)
“Bed in Summer” by Robert Louis Stevenson
- Notice how evening light lingers
- Watch birds singing past bedtime
“The Swing” by Robert Louis Stevenson
- Look down at gardens from high places
- Feel summer breezes while swinging
“At the Seaside” by Robert Louis Stevenson
- Explore summer beach treasures
- Listen to different wave sounds
“Wind on the Hill” by A.A. Milne
- Fly kites on summer afternoons
- Watch clouds race across the sky
Elementary (Ages 7-11)
“Summer Sun” by Robert Louis Stevenson
- Find sunny and shady garden spots
- Notice how plants follow the sun
“The Eagle” by Alfred, Lord Tennyson
- Watch birds soar overhead
- Notice different patterns of flight
“Time to Rise” by Robert Louis Stevenson
- Observe how sunrise wakes the garden
- Find early-rising insects
“A Bird Came Down the Walk” by Emily Dickinson
- Watch birds when they don’t notice you
- Observe their natural behaviors
“Summer Evening” by Walter de la Mare
- Listen for evening cricket songs
- Watch shadows stretch across the grass
Older Students (12+)
“Summer” by Christina Rossetti
- Study how summer mornings unfold
- Notice the quiet moments between day’s activities
“Summer Stars” by Carl Sandburg
- Watch stars appear at dusk
- Notice how summer nights feel unique
“In the Summer” by Paul Laurence Dunbar
- Find spots where summer feels most alive
- Observe the layers of summer life
“A Summer Day” by Lucy Maud Montgomery
- Discover meadow patterns and movements
- Study the character of summer clouds
Autumn Poetry Collection
Crisp mornings and changing colors invite us to explore autumn’s transformations.
Early Years (Ages 4-6)
“Merry Autumn Days” by Charles Dickens
- Find leaves twirling in autumn breezes
- Notice the bright colors overhead
“Come Little Leaves” by George Cooper
- Watch leaves sail on autumn wind
- Find leaves that traveled far
“Autumn Fires” by Robert Louis Stevenson
- Look for trees glowing in sunlight
- Find the brightest colored leaves
“All the Bright Colors” by Margaret Wise Brown
- Match autumn leaves to their trees
- Create a collection of fall colors
Elementary (Ages 7-11)
“October’s Party” by George Cooper
- Notice how different trees prepare for winter
- Watch leaves dance in autumn breezes
“Something Told the Wild Geese” by Rachel Field
- Listen for migrating birds
- Find signs of animals preparing for winter
“September” by Helen Hunt Jackson
- Notice changes in morning light
- Find fruits and berries ripening
“October” by Robert Frost
- Watch late autumn flowers fade
- Notice the stillness before winter arrives
Older Students (12+)
“To Autumn” by John Keats
- Find evidence of autumn’s abundance
- Watch bees on late-blooming flowers
“The Wild Swans at Coole” by W.B. Yeats
- Observe autumn light on water
- Notice changing behaviors of water birds
“Besides the Autumn Poets Sing” by Emily Dickinson
- Find beauty in autumn’s changes
- Study how plants prepare for winter
“Sonnet 73” by William Shakespeare
- Study how autumn mirrors nature’s cycles
- Observe the beauty in autumn’s gradual changes
Winter Poetry Collection
Frosty mornings and quiet snowfalls create perfect moments for winter poetry.
Early Years (Ages 4-6)
“Snow Song” by Sara Teasdale
- Watch the first snowflakes dance down
- Find where snow settles softly
“First Snow” by Marie Louise Allen
- Look for animal tracks in fresh snow
- Find winter berries in the snow
“Winter-Time” by Robert Louis Stevenson
- Watch steam rise from warm breath
- Find winter hiding places of small creatures
“Snowflakes” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
- Catch snowflakes on mittens
- Notice different kinds of snowfall
Elementary (Ages 7-11)
“Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” by Robert Frost
- Listen for winter evening sounds
- Watch snow gather on evergreen branches
“Winter Morning” by Ogden Nash
- Look for frost patterns on windows
- Notice how winter sun warms different spots
“Picture-Books in Winter” by Robert Louis Stevenson
- Find cozy spots to read on winter days
- Notice how winter changes indoor light
Older Students (12+)
“The Snow Storm” by Ralph Waldo Emerson
- Study how wind sculpts snow
- Watch a storm transform the landscape
“Winter Trees” by William Carlos Williams
- Study the distinct shapes of bare trees
- Find beauty in winter’s starkness
“Dust of Snow” by Robert Frost
- Notice small winter moments
- Observe interactions between birds and snow
Fitting Poetry Into Your Day
Here’s how we include poetry in our regular schedule:
During morning time, we keep our current seasonal poems in our morning basket. We often read the same poem several times in a week, and it’s wonderful to hear my kids naturally joining in after a few readings. We keep it short and relaxed – just a few minutes to share a poem together.
On nature walks, we sometimes bring a poem that matches what we might see. If we spot something mentioned in the verse – maybe the first spring flowers or leaves falling in autumn – we’ll stop to read it. These simple connections help make both the poems and our walks more engaging.
We also integrate our poetry readings with nature journaling in a relaxed way. Sometimes the kids want to draw what they’ve seen, or copy down parts of poems they like. This fits perfectly with Charlotte Mason’s approach of allowing our children to make their own connections with both nature and literature.
Recommended Poetry Collections for Your Homeschool Library
Having a few well-chosen poetry collections on your bookshelf makes seasonal poetry readings even more accessible. Here are some of my favorite collections that include many of the poems mentioned above:
Complete Collections
- The Random House Book of Poetry for Children
- A comprehensive collection featuring many beloved poets
- Includes most of the Robert Louis Stevenson poems listed
- Beautiful illustrations that enhance the poetry experience
- Sing a Song of Seasons: A Nature Poem for Each Day of the Year (my absolute favorite poetry collection)
- 365 nature poems perfect for daily readings
- Gorgeous illustrations that capture each season
- Excellent mix of classic and contemporary poets
- A Child’s Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson
- Contains many of the seasonal poems mentioned above
- Perfect for early years and elementary students
- Classic illustrations that children love
- Poetry for Young People: The Seasons
- Well-organized by season
- Includes helpful notes for understanding the poems
- Beautiful seasonal artwork throughout
Individual Poet Collections
- Poetry for Kids: Emily Dickinson
- Includes several of the seasonal poems mentioned above
- Helpful annotations for understanding deeper meanings
- Beautiful artwork that brings the poems to life
- Poetry for Kids: Robert Frost
- Contains many of our favorite nature poems
- Excellent introduction to Frost’s work
- Perfect for older students
These collections will give you a strong foundation for seasonal poetry readings in your homeschool. Having physical books also makes it easier to take poetry along on nature walks or to share during your morning lessons.
Getting Started with Seasonal Poetry
Using seasonal poetry is one of my favorite ways to help kids connect with both literature and nature. When they read about what they’re actually seeing outside, both the poems and their observations become more meaningful. I hope these suggestions help make poetry a natural part of your homeschooling day too.
Want to explore more seasonal learning in your Charlotte Mason homeschool? These posts will help you to make the most of your nature study lessons throughout the year:
- Charlotte Mason Nature Study in Winter: Fun and Easy Ideas
- A Gentle Evergreen Study: Living Christmas Nature Lessons
- Simple Charlotte Mason Spring Nature Study Ideas
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