National Poetry Day 2017 is on 28 September and the theme is freedom. It’s about everybody sharing poetry, reading poetry, writing poetry, enjoying poetry, and living poetry! For schools this can be a chance to make more of something already enjoyed throughout the school or it can be a launch pad for new experience and enjoyment. Based on a four day festival of poetry run with Hull primary schools as part of the No Limits Learning Programme, here is a pack of tips and activity ideas to help schools celebrate poetry on National Poetry Day and beyond.

This year’s theme is LIGHT. We have wonderful education resources available to you here, to use in the run up to National Poetry Day 2015 on 08 October. Whatever you do, share your plans with us on Twitter with hashtag #nationalpoetryday.

National Poetry Day 2017 is on 28 September and is a chance for everyone to share poetry, read poetry, write poetry, and enjoy poetry. Use this resource created by CLPE (Centre for Language in Primary Education) to inspire children to write their own poem based on Matt Goodfellow's When I Swing.

Here is a sheaf of glorious lesson plans and activities on the theme of Remember. There is something for every age group and really excellent poets are involved, so download and read through them all when seeking inspiration. If you like any one in particular, let its creators know: all the NPD poetry partners – from England, Scotland and Wales – have been involved.

National Poetry Day (October 4th, 2018) is an annual celebration of poetry and all things poetical. It is about everybody sharing poetry, reading poetry, writing poetry and enjoying poetry. Use this pack of tips and activity ideas and join in the celebrations – not only on National Poetry Day itself but all year round. It’s full of activities schools can do (primary and secondary) and also contains book recommendations.

National Poetry Day 2017 is on 28 September. It’s about everybody sharing poetry, reading poetry, writing poetry, and enjoying poetry. This activity has been created specially by the Poetry School. The Poetry School is a national organisation running classes and projects to teach poetry. This resource features the poem The New Colossus by Emma Lazurus, which is engraved onto the Statue of Liberty in New York, as a starting point for discussion and a writing exercise.

National Poetry Day 2017 is on 28 September. It’s about everybody sharing poetry, reading poetry, writing poetry, and enjoying poetry. This activity by Sophie McKeand, Young People’s Laureate for Wales, for Literature Wales, the National Company for the development of literature in Wales, uses the Mask of Anarchy by Shelley and a new poem specially written by Sophie to consider freedom, and poetry as a tool for this.

Splashing Out With Poetry: a reading and performance activity for Early Years. For National Poetry Day 2013 by Mandy Coe. Based on a poem by James Carter

One of a series of National Poetry Day teacher resources on the theme of Messages. "Poetry in Frames" draws on the poetry of Taliesin. The resource fosters creative and critical thinking around poetry and is part of a collaborative effort between the National Poetry Day partners, who include Literature Wales, the Poetry Society, Apples and Snakes, and the Scottish Poetry Library. KS3 - KS4 - KS5

One of a series of National Poetry Day teacher resources on the theme of Messages. "A Note Can Be A Poem " draws on a celebrated short William Carlos William poem ('This is Just to Say'). The resource fosters creative and critical thinking around poetry and is part of a collaborative effort between the National Poetry Day partners, who include the Poetry Society, Apples and Snakes, and the Scottish Poetry Library. For KS3, KS4 and KS5

A comprehensive poetry analysis lesson plan for KS3 English students that uses Casia Wiliam’s poem ‘Help’ to encourage students to think more deeply about poetic voices and different meanings a poet might be trying to convey. Includes a copy of Casia William’s poem as well as links to external websites which discuss climate change in more detail.

Discover the fantastic work done by Kate Clanchy and Oxford Spires using contemporary poems featured in The Forward Book of Poetry 2015, and bring the lessons to your own classroom.

A poetry writing resource using a brand new poem from Bardd Plant Cymru, Gruffudd Owen. Designed for KS3, this resource is also available in Welsh.

Use this magnificent new lesson plan to spark off classroom discussion and inspire students to write their own poetry. It is written by poet Cheryl Moskowitz and features a huge variety of poems, all loosely related to the theme of stars. This lesson plan features a poem by Christina Rossetti.

Born of Water: a reading and writing activity for KS3. For National Poetry Day 2013 by Mandy Coe. Based on the poems Tornado by Rachel Rooney and Fog by Carl Sandburg.

Use these posters to remember and to remind. These images, free to print out and share, make a great centrepiece for a poetry display on a wall. Or print out lots, use them in selfies and/or as the cover of a classroom/reading group anthology? Above all, share the results using #thinkofapoem, so that by the time National Poetry Day arrives, on October 2, you’re part of the biggest celebration of poetry ever held. Write out your favourite poem, print out a sticker, and even hold up the poster in Welsh.

Take refuge with a resource about how picking up a pen can help us all let go.

A resource exploring the ways preconceptions can shape how we see the world.

Taking refuge in memories and building inner strength can help, during troubling times.

A resource about building a place of refuge using kindness.