Poetry Day - Limericks and Nonsense Poetry Lesson

A lesson looking at the rhyming and rhythmic structure of limericks, resulting in the children having a go at creating their own limerick. Originally made for a mixed-ability Year 4 class, but could be adapted for the years above and below.

The lesson includes a starting activity which encourages pupils to consider what poetry is. It continues to briefly review the poet Edward Lear and his nonsense poetry, specifically his limericks for children. The pupils work in pairs to look at examples and explain what they think a limerick is, before class discussion takes place on the structure and form of limericks. The class work together to make their own limerick, before pupils choose their own challenge and create a limerick of their own.

Resource includes:

• Lesson slides in Powerpoint format.
• Two limerick templates including rhyming wordbanks to support less confident pupils.
• A rhyming wordbank to support slightly more confident children with ideas.