Original magazine headline: Date to celebrate - October 8 - National Poetry Day
- What’s it all about?
Use National Poetry Day to get children interested in literature through entertaining and engaging activities. The theme is “heroes and heroines” and pupils can take advantage of this by writing about people they deem to be their idols.
- Classroom ideas
Lessons (or assemblies) could look at the idea of heroes, such as Byron, and heroines and their significance, and touch on the impact of poetry from different eras on contemporary culture.
Engaging poems can introduce children to the world of literature in a fashion less demanding than conventional English lessons. Discuss the beauty and structure of a good poem.
As the theme permits, talk about general heroes that pupils can relate to and weave them into poetry, perhaps preparing a few pieces of your own regarding a hero shared by many. A tailored poem may be more effective than those provided in the archive or in books.
- Help, I’ve got no time to prepare
Poetry archive offers a vast selection of poems covering different topics that can be used to tailor your assembly to the tastes of your audience. www.poetryarchive.orgpoetryarchivehome.do
- Where do I get more information?
The National Poetry Day website outlines the theme and nature of events in more detail in addition to providing resources that may aid planning. www.nationalpoetryday.co.ukresources
- Patterns in Poetry
This is a 30-slide PowerPoint presentation to introduce patterns in poetry, including pyramid poems, haiku and tanka. The comprehensive resource includes a number of activities and templates for pupils to complete. www.tes.co.ukpoetry-patterns.