Poetry & literacy resources by published children's poet.
I also lead poetry workshops for UK primary schools.
Website: katewilliamspoet.com
Book news - Squeak! Squawk! Roar! Animal poems - out 9th January '25. Publisher: Otter-Barry Books.
Poetry & literacy resources by published children's poet.
I also lead poetry workshops for UK primary schools.
Website: katewilliamspoet.com
Book news - Squeak! Squawk! Roar! Animal poems - out 9th January '25. Publisher: Otter-Barry Books.
This fascinating castle picture will lure your emergent readers into sounding out the ten words that describe it. The bright, bold lettering is easy to clear and attractive, and the words are intriguing, yet simple, comprising: old, cold, dark, big, grand, still, spooky, crumbly, stony and webby. Fun and motivating for older readers too; also for younger children to look at. Handy for quick revision, testing and general reading practice. Also supports castle and history studies.
Robins, squirrels, hedgehogs and other woodland animals feature on this cheerfully-illustrated poem - or creative writing sheet, spurring young writers to think up describing words, action words and a simile to fill the gaps in the given verses. Recommended for Yrs 2-4 (UK), ages 6-8 approx. See my other two versions, mid-level and easier, for younger or less confident writers. This resource supports nature, animal and environmental studies, while developing writing skills and firing imagination and creativity.
Inspiring spring writing frames, illustrated, in 5 grades.
Opportunities to describe different young animals, as well as daffodils and more, with similes invited and space for individual input.
Prepare by taking children outside on a fine spring day and sharing experiences and observations. Talk about the soft, fresh, fragrant air, the bright, cheerful daffodils, the busy, nesting birds, the budding leaves and crisp, green grass. Look out for buds, insects, squirrels, birds of all kinds, and any other flora or fauna around.
Be the different young animals yourselves, and the budding trees, swaying gently in the breeze. Be birds, butterflies, squirrels and frogs. Have fun!
Invite similes when helping children describe spring features. Lambs are as white as what? Wedding lace? Fluffy clouds? Snowdrops? Daffodils are as yellow as the sun, sunspots, corn, buttercups, lemons.
SEE MY OTHER SPRING SHEETS TOO.
14 rhyming couplets depicting autumn leaves - their colours, movements and other qualities, often with imagery. Bare, winter trees also feature towards the end.
A handy resource for teachers and pupils to work from, spurring further ideas for poetry and prose creations.
See also my other autumn leaf resources.
I’m a published children’s poet, and experienced workshop leader for schools.
The Thrill of December - this is the title of my uplifting, 4-verse poem for children and their teachers.
Enjoy the magical images, the rhythm and rhyme, the sparkle and glow of natural, outdoor Christmastime in this upbeat poem.
Discuss, share similar experiences, add a verse of your own.
Poem written by me, a published children’s poet.
Beautiful, evocative eco-poster. Words - ‘Our World - in our hands’ - on natural scene of wild flowers.
Celebrates nature. Sends out gentle reminder to care for our natural world.
Will inspire children with the beauty and wonder of nature, and help them understand its vulnerability and our duty of care.
See my other ‘green’ and ‘eco’ resources too, many free.
This cat poem is fun and child-friendly. Follow this restless cat around the house, checking its food dish, checking window view, zipping upstairs for a look-around, then at last remembering the cosy sofa - ideal for a snooze!
This poem will inspire discussion, language-stretching, creative writing, drama, art, and physical movement, also nurturing animal appreciation.
FREE! Firework Night - an exciting, atmospheric poem by this author, a published children’s poet.
Read out, pin up, copy and distribute, use as a base for your class poem, draw from its vocabulary, imagery and poetic techniques for inspiration and examples.
So much to do with this poem!
See my many other fireworks poetry and colouring resources too.
Spooky lit. fun for Halloween - whole school.
Rhymes, similes and spell chants and ghostly poem to complete, shadowy night-time poem to hear/read, plus creepy castle words!
Exciting, fun, engaging, imagination-firing, skills-stretching!
Easy and quick for teachers to use.
Spooky rhyming couplets to complete, with prompts and rhyme choices.
One PDF sheet of rhyme starters, in different colours, with picture.
This is a teacher’s guide, for sharing with class as they wish - verbally, with written out selections, or photocopied and distributed (for older).
Whole-school Halloween fun!
This beautiful autumn leaves resource contains a simple sample poem about autumn leaves, to read and share with class, a blank frame, and some sample words and lines to generate more poetry-writing ideas.
(See my other autumn leaf and woods resources for more ideas.)
**FREE! Autumn leaf picture to write inside and below, with colouring fun too.
**
’ Autumn leaves can be - ’
Describing words can be written inside the page-size leaf-drawing.
Encourage words such as - crispy, floaty, gentle, calm, red, gold (+ other colours), crunchy, delicate, twirly, crinkly, dry, wet, soggy, spotty, beautiful, colourful, torn, ripped, patched.
Text below picture - 'They are as colourful as __ ’
perhaps jewels, flowers, petals, treasure, fire, candles, fruit, strawberries or butterflies.
Supports creativity, vocabulary, seasonal work, colour work, art and design, and PSHE (calming and uplifting).
See my other leaf writing activities for all primary stages.
Snow is … This simple, one-line picture poem will tempt any emergent writer to have a go at a word or more to describe snow, especially if they’ve just been out in some!
Encourage with simple suggestions, such as soft, cold, fluffy, fun… For more adventurous writers, encourage interesting words like - smooth, gentle, swirly, floating, peaceful, pure white, white as icing sugar, calm, exciting, magical, twinkly, crunchy.
See also my harder version:
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/snow-writing-ys-1-3-12466490
These 7 simple stories are inviting to read, and simple enough for new readers to enjoy unaided, or with minimal adult support. Those just below this level will need a little help in sounding out words and making informed guesses to work out the words and follow the drift of the stories.
A mix of phonics and short, familiar words are used, with basic punctuation.
Large, clear print and light illustration help the reader along and add to the fun.
See my Phonics sheets, too.
Fun in the Snow - this is a simple, 40-word story, lightly illustrated, about a boy enjoying the snow and making a snowman.
There is an extra page highlighting a few words from the text - in different colours for extra fun.
Engages young children, encouraging sounding-out and ‘have-a-go’ reading.
See my other stories and also Phonics sheets, for more simple, fun reading.
Space recipe poem example, on space photo backdrop, plus blank writing frame on same background (2 sheets total).
This fun, fascinating poem was written by the author - a published children’s poet. It demonstrates key poetic techniques, e.g. simile, metaphor and alliteration, and stretches minds and language.
The blank writing frame is open to other styles of space poetry too, encouraging poetry exploration AND space exploration!
Supports poetry, literacy and space studies.
SEE ALSO, here on TES: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/recipe-for-a-night-sky-poem-to-read-12420912.
Precious world is presented in a heart surround over a beautiful summer meadow. An inspiring picture and message to help nurture a respect for nature and care for the planet’s future. Will also bring a bright, fresh wall feature to a classroom. Supports environmental studies and discussion of green issues such as climate change and species extinction.
In these emotionally challenging pandemic times, this rich array of writing spurs offers channels through which feelings can be released and shared. The five items comprise Pandemic Haiku Writing - with details, frames and examples, an upbeat poem about Coronavirus by the author to bring cheer and comfort, a Lockdown Acrostic Poem, with lists of words and phrases to prompt for as needed, and a Lockdown Writing Guide - example lines and verses expressing different viewpoints, with tips for teachers. A PSHE-focused poem frame is also included - ‘Emotions’ - with example poem to read out.
FIREWORKS picture poem writing sheets - easier/harder,
for Reception, Yr 1, lower Yr2, plus YouTube demo, full of ideas!
Large, clear firework pattern to colour in, with line(s) inviting describing word and more. See also my higher level firework sheets.
Supports creative writing, inspires enthusiasm and confidence in writing, develops artistic skills and colour sense, enhances understanding of fireworks, provides relaxing, calming activity.
‘What Makes a Camp Fire Glow?’ and ‘Banjo in the Sunset Glow’ -
Two atmospheric, upbeat poems to inspire creative writing, stretch language and encourage friendship and community spirit.
Easy to read and listen to, yet rich in language and concepts.
The poems support poetry, literacy, outdoor learning, nature, and PSHE.
Published in The School Magazine, Australia.