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 illustrated writing frame offers scope for imaginative input, while also stretching language skills. It can be used for a poem in its own right, or - for more able writers - a springboard for independent writing. The format calls for ideas for different park visitors and features, verbs to describe their actions, and adverbs to embellish them, e.g. ‘Dogs dashing wildly’. Ideas for variations, enrichments and extensions are included.
Black/white, PDF
This hand-illustrated, jungle-themed poetry frame sheet spurs young, independent writers to draw on their imagination and passive vocabulary to create an expressive poem about it, and its inhabitants. The line-starters invite description and similes, and the pictures offer inspiration. Ideas can be further explored through the colouring opportunities.
While intended primarily as a literacy support and creativity launch pad, the sheet also presents a window onto the natural world.
For best outcomes, prepare children first with discussion, pictures or a video of a jungle and the animal types featured here, and act out trying to make your way through a jungle’s exotic undergrowth - in the heat.
This poetry frame has been successfully tried and tested during my poetry workshops, as all my TES resources have to date.
Phonic short ‘a’ and others feature in these 4 illustrated reading and writing sheets. Large, child-friendly text and fun pictures with colouring scope. Words: cat, cat in a hat, bat, hats, bats and cats, and the letter ‘a’ repeated.
I offer similar style sheets for ‘o’ sounds. See:
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/phonics-short-o-writing-sheets-12246709 ,
also available individually.
Gorgeous cat music by Rhodri Williams-Wandoch: https://soundcloud.com/rhodri-williams-wandoch/watching-the-cat
Have a listen!
Phonics ay, ee, iy, oe (as in go), and oo feature in these 5 illustrated reading cards. Each contains a sentence or question with examples of the featured phonic. Supports phonic-learning, sounding out and emergent reading. The coloured, hand-drawn pictures also offer discussion points for speaking and listening skills development. Best for ages 4-6 approx.
Phonic ‘e’ is highlighted in these 3 simple, illustrated reading and writing sheets, with words - egg, eggs, red hens, and red pen given in pastel shades for writing over, plus extra ‘e’ letters too. Attractive, meaningful pictures, helping young children connect with the letters and remember them. An ‘ee’ reading card also included, to clarify the different sounds with the letter ‘e’.
Many other phonics activity sheets like this one at my shop. (Click ‘recent’.)
Healthy eating poem, with fun, celebrating bananas.
This fun, snappy little rhyme is presented attractively over a photo of bananas in a bowl. The writing is in a curve, just like the fruits!
Poem and photo are both by this author, Kate Williams.
See also my other healthy eating resources.
This rosy garden apple picture poem celebrates nature, seasons and healthy eating.
The 5-line cinquain is simple and attractive to read, view and listen to.
Perhaps your class can make up a similar cinquain about apples or another fruit?
See my banana poem too, and my other Healthy Eating resources.
The poem and photo are by this author, Kate Williams.
A beautiful, inspiring, comforting poem about autumn leaves, their colours, movements and seeming free spirits.
Use as a starter for class poetry writing, to spur other ideas for language, imagery, movement and poem forms.
Help the children identify the rhyming words (gloaming/roaming, where/care/air, glow(ing)/low/go).
Who can spot the question? Any other questions to ask?
See my other autumn leaf resources for more inspiration and format ideas.
I’m ___ ing and ___ ing, like a __ , this poem starts, with a long, wavy line down the page for children to take off and fly with their ideas. The accompanying colour sketch will inspire ideas.
EXAMPLE: I’m sailing and gliding, like a leaf in the wind, free as the air and merry as sunshine… But now I’m tipping and tilting, like a boat on a rough sea. I’m spinning, spiralling, loop-the-looping. I’m a circus acrobat, vaulting the air… and now calmly cruising the fine, silky skies again.
Supports literacy, including vocabulary, writing fluency and encouragement, also weather, travel and transport studies.
**SEE ALSO - ** LAND OF L… magic land alliteration game - https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/land-of-l-creative-alliteration-fun-12031118 .
These four lip-curling rhymes are all to do with activity and movement, from visiting a seaside to going on a world trip, as well as dancing and tree-climbing. These punchy, 4-line verses will engage independent readers of all levels, helping to nurture a love of reading. The rhymes can be shared and discussed, and may inspire rhyme-writing too.
For more, see my other 4-rhyme sheets (look out for similar cover picture).
Four more funny rhymes for school-aged children. These ones focus on school, in one way and another. Easy to read and understand, with punchy rhythms and rhymes to spot. Each rhyme is just 4 lines long.
More more, see my first ‘4 Funny Rhymes’ resource:
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/4-funny-rhymes-12289613
Encourages reading and stretches vocabulary and rhyme sense.
Phonics and reading support is offered in this enjoyable game. Children have to read or sound out the listed words to sort Mr Mix-Up’s house and garden items for him. Each identified item can be linked (by line or arrow) to either house or garden, as appropriate. The list contains 1- and 2-syllable words of varying difficulty, but the fun of the game will spur on any strugglers. Younger and older children will also it, older ones perhaps being inspired to create their own versions. Colouring opportunities too.
These four fascinating castle photographs will bring your history or castle project alive for your class. They were taken in Caerphilly Castle, south Wales, and show the Welsh flag, castle doors, windows and an arrow slit. They could be used in conjunction with my castle poetry-writing frames and rhymes.
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.
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!
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.
Releasing pandemic stresses.
The pandemic restrictions affect us all, and perhaps young people most of all. Writing down feelings and thoughts about lockdown life will help your class process and cope with them. This one-page guide offers ideas and example lines for you to present as prompts and starting points for individual responses. Tips for presentation are also provided.
The sheet demonstrates how ideas can be built into free-style verses or paragraphs, with one basic theme per verse/para. Both negative and positive viewpoints are offered, rounding off with a positive, upbeat approach to the pandemic lifestyle adjustments we’re all having to make.
‘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.
This rainbow poem of mine has been published by The School Magazine, Australia.
It describes the varied, characterful colours of the rainbow, with a brief, rhyming word or phrase for each, summing up its character. Calming end, celebrating the beautiful merging and curving of the colours over the land.
Picture and coloured border.
Fun learning for indoors or out! Do for 5 mins. or an hour, in writing or just out loud.
Build funny sea-monster rhymes with your class, with this frame, partially done for you. List of extra rhyming words provided at bottom of page.
As I was swimming in the sea,
I saw a monster looking at me.
A whole story unfolds - but what story, exactly? That’s for you and the children to decide. Just help them make sure that every line ends in a word that rhymes with ‘sea’. There are lots to choose from. Elicit a list, perhaps starting them off with bee, key and flee.
Great for:- Literacy, Ocean,Myths, and other related topics, end-of-term fun, perhaps outside in the shade of a tree, with mini-whiteboards and pens for jotting ideas. Have fun!