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.
Promote exercise and physical fitness with this acrostic poem sheet, using the letters of ‘Active’ to start words or phrases, e.g. Alive for A. Examples page accompanies the writing sheet, with suggestions for single words and whole phrases.
SEE ALSO: Keeping on the move - https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/keeping-on-the-move-fitness-rhyme-for-all-ages-12106811
These healthy eating word lists can be drawn from, built on and referred to in class discussion and writing. There are two full-page lists, one comprising descriptive words, e.g. Nutritious; the other listing food and drink examples, e.g. Unsalted nuts. Handy for prompts and inspiration throughout your healthy eating topic work. Recommended for Years 2-6 (age 6-11 approx.).
‘Juicy Fruit Queen’ is the fun title of this lively, rhythmic poem. Clap and swing along to it with your class, to liven up your healthy eating guidance and encourage fruit-eating.
As a published children’s poet, I’ve written this multi-verse poem specially for TES users. It’s versatile for a range of applications and age groups, also serving as an introduction to poetry-writing, rhyme fun or discussion, or as an action rhyme to get your class up and moving.
“Lockdown” is the word for this acrostic poem idea, with a line of suggestions for each letter down the page. Teacher tips are provided at the bottom of this one-sheet resource, with advice for preparing students for the task with wide-reaching discussion, for ensuring privacy in case of sensitive issues, and for follow-on artwork.
Literacy, PSHE and current affairs are all addressed in this resource, with scope for taking in different directions through follow-on activities.
The coronavirus pandemic and lockdown experiences will be prominent in students’ minds, so this literacy activity offers an outlet for processing feelings and thoughts on the subject, while also stretching literacy and poetic skills.
This fruit rhyme lists some of the many ways that fruit can help you - by giving you energy, making you feel and look good, etc., with references to hair, skin, weight, figure, mood and more. For girls and boys of all ages. Rhythmic, rhyming, punchy and fun.
SEE ALSO - Healthy Eating Acrostic https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/healthy-eating-acrostic-writing-frame-ideas-sheet-12075496 and Oranges rhyme - **https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/oranges-rhyme-healthy-eating-support-12076883
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This is a funny, crazy rhyme about face masks, for a little light relief in Coronavirus times. While taking a humorous look at our masks, and how they can come in handy for non-health purposes too, this three-verse, rhyming poem will also develop children’s sense of rhythm, rhyme and poetic form, stretching vocabulary and ideas, too. It also has great scope for actions and performance, and offers welcome cheer and fun for students and teachers alike at this time.
Written by the author - a published children’s poet.
Healthy eating becomes meaningful for children when thinking up healthy foods beginning with particular letters, e.g. Green beans for the last letter in “Healthy eating”. Adjectives, like Gorgeous, and phrases, like Good for you (for the G letter), are also fun and meaningful to select. The Ideas Sheet provides plenty of suggestions for each letter of the acrostic, to prompt for as needed.
Supports Literacy as well as healthy eating drives. Recommended for upper Juniors (9-11 approx.).
This sheet combines poetry-writing with emotional outlets, supporting Literacy and PSHE simultaneously. If sadness, happiness, excitement, and one emotion to choose, were sounds, what would they be? Suggestions are provided on the Example Sheet, which will support teacher and pupils alike, also offering prompts for a warm-up discussion about feelings and what they’re like. This resource would support anti-bullying drives and other social issues, as well as providing openings for maturing children and teens to explore and share their own feelings and moods. The metaphors invited will stretch creative writing techniques at the same time. Encourage embellishments, such as adjectives and onomatopoeia.
Motivate your class to get up and moving with this punchy, inspiring rhyme. Why miss out on all the fun? It asks, encouraging standing rather than sitting, and running rather than walking, to keep fresh, smart, trim and slim.
The rhyme is in two verses, with different styles. You could use them separately as two different rhymes.
Act them out and develop with stretches, runs, jumps, spins and anything else the children suggest.
Healthy eating (PSHE) support, helping to nurture a love of fresh fruit. The 3-verse rhyme celebrates oranges, encouraging listeners to eat and appreciate them. The lines are rhythmic, rhyming, punchy, accessible and fun. Read it out loud, chant with class, add in actions or clapping, set to music or percussion, and discuss. Ideally, bring in some real oranges or tangerines for children to handle, peel and taste first.
Mental wellbeing, inclusiveness, self respect and confidence are supported in this poem, besides literacy and performance skills. Boost students’ self-esteem and motivation with this upbeat rhyme and its positive message about individualism. Through simple words, rhymes and rhythm, it celebrates the fact that everyone is different, just like the leaves of a tree. Written specifically as a PSHE resource by myself - a well-published children’s poet, after seeing the need for confidence boosts in children of all backgrounds.
Bring Literacy, Space studies and Healthy Living to life with this hilarious writing sheet.
How do Martians keep fit? By swinging from the moon? By running round black holes? By competing in floating races? The line-starters and prompts will fire up ideas and set pens rolling. See the accompanying guide sheet for examples and ideas to prompt with.
Recommended for Yr 2 upwards. Pool ideas first - both for space features and keep-fit methods, and share ideas for filling the gaps before independent writing.
SEE ALSO: Meals for Martians - https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/meals-for-martians-fun-sheet-guide-12115040, and Funny Space Rhymes - https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/funny-space-rhymes-12051967 .
More space writing resources at my shop: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/katewilliams_poetry?sortBy=newest&p=2 .
Supports Literacy, PSHE, mental wellbeing and physical exercise, as well as poetry, drama and all-round creative expression. This is a fun writing challenge, involving similes and action words, with scope for enrichment. A monster (s/he) can be any sort you like, with three heads and two tails perhaps, and this one has moods - happy, cross, excited, ?.. How does a monster behave when cross? Do they charge around the monster school, stamping on books like an angry giant? When happy, does s/he glide like an angel, or perform back-flips like a gymnast? The warm-up actions sheet will spur extended ideas. Hand-sketched illustrations.
SEE MY SEA-MONSTER FOOD sheet too!
This 14-line poem inspires confidence in beating Covid and its effects. It points out that, while tiring, it’s inspiring - making us stir and think outside the box, warning the virus to be prepared for a battering.
Offers support for students suffering from mental health issues at this time, and opens doors to discussion, writing and general artistic expression.
Recommended for Year 6 upwards.
Written by this author - a published poet.
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.
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.
Being kind is - this opening phrase invites examples, which children can think up individually, following class discussion. The writing sheet rounds off with a simile: Kindness is like … - the more the better. An example of a completed version of the sheet is provided for teacher and pupil guidance. Recommended for Yrs 4-6 (ages 8-11).
Older children and teens can explore feelings - their own and those of others - by completing this thought-provoking poetry frame, ‘Fragile Feelings’. The sheet, which comes with an example completed version, is designed to help youngsters understand that other people have feelings like theirs, and that they are vulnerable and easily hurt, likewise. It will help develop awareness and empathy, while also providing reassurance that they are not alone in feeling down or upset sometimes. The sheet invites description and similes for feelings, starter lines for suggestions of when care is needed, and a free line and space for further writing. Will support anti-bullying drives and other social problems, individually and for the whole class.
Rhyming couplets to celebrate the end of the school year with your class. Pick and build together, perhaps adding in your own contributions too. Set to music? Perform in assembly? Lots of fun and food for thought as well in these two pages of specially crafted rhymes. I’m a well-published children’s poet, and use my rhymes with children in my school workshops. They bring lessons and learning alive for children, also building self-confidence and PSHE skills.
Please note: rhymes presented in random order.
Here’s a summery video-poem, with music & pictures:
https://youtu.be/wdQJtlPJpeQ
Get your class up and moving in your poetry warm-ups and performances, with this lively mix of poems to read, write and act out. There’s also an 8-point list of outdoor literacy activities for healthy and motivating learning approaches. Approx. age range - lower juniors, and younger as verbal, teacher-led group.