Limerick Poem for Kids: Teaching Semantics Through Wordplay
- Mark Bird
- Apr 10
- 2 min read
Updated: Apr 26
A limerick poem for kids: (See end of post for lesson ideas).
Extra
There once was a worm known as Wurst
Who decried that his dream had been burst
But still he would beg
For one extra leg
Unbeknownst that he needed one first
Mark Bird
As a writer who loves crafting poems, I thought it was time I wrote a limerick poem for kids. I enjoy playing with language in ways that spark curiosity and giggles. My poem “Extra” is a great example—it’s short, silly, and packed with a deeper layer of meaning hiding beneath the rhyme.
The star of this limerick poem for kids is Wurst, a worm with big dreams and one very specific wish: an extra leg. The twist? He doesn’t have any legs to begin with. That’s where the semantic fun comes in. Kids laugh at the irony, but they’re also learning an important concept: what “extra” really means depends on context. You can’t have an “extra” of something you don’t already have—and that’s a gentle introduction to semantics in action.
Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or just a lover of witty verse, “Extra” is a reminder that even the silliest creatures can teach us something new.
🪱 Dreaming Big with Wurst: Creative Writing, Limerick Poem for Kids, and Drama Prompts:
Wurst the worm is a creature full of big dreams and small realities, making him the perfect springboard for imaginative learning. For creative writing, students could invent new tales about Wurst’s next dream – perhaps he wishes for wings, a hat, or even a voice loud enough to sing. For a poetry activity, students could write their own limerick poem for kids about a different creature who dreams of something unusual, exploring rhyme, rhythm, and silly twists just like in "Extra." In drama, students might create a short improvisation where Wurst visits a "Dream Shop" trying to buy legs, and encounters other animals with strange requests. Emphasise the absurdity and humour, encouraging students to think about wants versus needs and the joy of being yourself.
Creative Writing, Poetry and Drama Worksheets for Teachers:
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