Acrostic Poem Template
Type a word or a name and get an acrostic poem sheet: the word runs down the left side in big bold letters, one per line, with a writing line (or two) after each letter. Pick one of 15 borders we drew ourselves (plain line, double line, rounded double, stitched, dots, scallops, waves, zigzag, stars, hearts, leafy vine, diamonds, checkerboard, corner brackets, bunting), a colour or black for colouring in, and how the first letters look: in a square, in a circle, plain or underlined. Add a word ideas box with a few starter words for every letter of the word, or a box to draw a picture. Type one word per line to make a class set: each word or name gets its own page in one PDF. Already written the poem? Type it in and the sheet prints a neat final copy with the first letters in bold. Download a PDF, 300 DPI PNG or SVG. Nothing is uploaded.
100% private — everything runs in your browser. Everything runs in your browser; nothing is uploaded.
Print at 100% (Actual size). Leave the poem box empty for a blank sheet to write on, or type the poem for a neat final copy.
Word
Look
Your poem (optional)
Word ideas for your word: click one to start that line.
Runs in your browser with our own code: nothing you type is uploaded or saved. The borders and word lists are our own. You may use what you make here, including commercially, with no credit needed.
How to make an acrostic poem sheet
- Type the word or name. For a class set, type one per line.
- Choose a border, a colour, the first-letter style and the writing lines (single, handwriting or dotted).
- Pick the bottom box: word ideas for each letter, a picture box or nothing.
- To print a final copy, type the poem, one line per letter, or click a word idea to start a line.
- Download the PDF and print at 100% (Actual size).
What you can use it for
- Poetry lessons and writing centres
- Name poems for the first week of school
- Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and teacher thank-you cards
- Seasonal words such as SPRING, AUTUMN or SNOW
- Vocabulary practice with a topic word
- Bulletin board displays of finished poems
The 15 borders
Every border is our own drawing: plain line, double line, rounded double, stitched, dots, scallops, waves, zigzag, stars, hearts, leafy vine, diamonds, checkerboard, corner brackets, bunting. Each comes in black for colouring in or one of 5 colours.
| First letters | Writing lines | Bottom box |
|---|---|---|
| Letter in a square | Single lines | Word ideas for each letter |
| Letter in a circle | Handwriting lines (solid top, dashed middle, solid base) | A box to draw a picture |
| Big letter, no shape | Dotted lines | Nothing (more room) |
| Letter with an underline | 1 or 2 lines per letter | Title, name and date line on top |
How many letters fit on one page
| Layout | US Letter | A4 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 line, word ideas box | 16 | 18 |
| 1 line, picture box | 14 | 16 |
| 1 line, no bottom box | 18 | 18 |
| 2 lines, word ideas box | 10 | 11 |
| 2 lines, no bottom box | 13 | 14 |
Longer words still work with fewer lines per letter or no bottom box. Every letter gets the same row height, so the sheet stays even.
Word ideas
| Theme | Words | Letters |
|---|---|---|
| Describing words | 103 | A to Z |
| Nature | 102 | A to Z |
| School and learning | 94 | A to Z |
| Feelings and friends | 85 | A to Z |
The word ideas box prints a few words for each different letter of your word. In the tool, click any word to start that line of the poem with it.
Acrostic poem ideas
| Word | Good for |
|---|---|
| Your name | First week of school, all-about-me pages |
| SPRING, SUMMER, AUTUMN, WINTER | Seasonal writing |
| MOM, DAD, TEACHER | Cards and thank-you notes |
| FRIEND, KIND, BRAVE | Feelings and character lessons |
| OCEAN, FOREST, EARTH | Science and nature topics |
Print matching writing paper with Lined Paper, make a word hunt with the Word Search Maker or find a starting word with the Random Word Generator.
What prints
| Download | What is in it |
|---|---|
| One page per word, vector lines and text, at real size | |
| PNG 300 DPI | One picture per page (a ZIP when there are several) |
| SVG | The page on screen at real size |
More free tools
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Frequently asked questions
What is an acrostic poem?
A poem where the first letter of each line spells a word when you read down the left side. The word is often the topic of the poem, such as a name, a season or a feeling. The lines do not need to rhyme.
How do I write an acrostic poem?
Write the word down the left side, one letter per line. Think of things about the topic, then start each line with a word that begins with that letter. A line can be one word, a phrase or a sentence, and it can run on to the next line.
Can I make a sheet for every child’s name?
Yes. Type the names one per line and the PDF has one page for each, all in the same border and style.
How long can the word be?
Up to 18 letters. How many fit on one page depends on the lines and the bottom box: with one line per letter and the word ideas box, up to 16 letters fit on US Letter; with no bottom box, up to 18. The tool tells you when a word is too long for the layout.
Where do the word ideas come from?
They are our own lists in 4 themes: describing words, nature, school and learning, and feelings and friends, with a few words for every letter from A to Z. For X, most ideas have the X inside the word, such as eXtra and eXcited, which is a common acrostic trick.
Can it print my finished poem?
Yes. Type the poem in the box, one line per letter. If a line starts with its letter, that letter is the big bold letter and the rest of the line follows it. The tool tells you if a line does not start with its letter or is too long.
Can I use other letters or numbers?
The word can use the letters A to Z. Spaces, apostrophes, dots and hyphens are left out, so MARY-JO becomes MARYJO. Numbers and accented letters are not drawn, and the tool says which character it cannot use.
Can I use the sheets in class or in things I sell?
Yes. The borders, layouts and word lists are ours, and you may use the sheets and anything made with them, including in things you sell, without giving credit. The note under the tool gives the full terms.
Is anything uploaded?
No. The sheets are drawn by JavaScript in your browser. Nothing you type is sent anywhere or saved when you close the page.