A class rhyme about space will bring your lesson to life. This list of relevant rhyming words, together with the example rhyming couplets on the next page, will provide all the back-up you need. There are plenty of other rhyming words (and near-rhyming ones) to think up too, and any number of ways to write your verses, but these suggestions will provide a solid starting point to branch out from. Recommended: read out some of the verses first, to give your class an idea of what rhyming couplets are like and how fun and varied they can be. Then read out and write up a selection of the rhyming words, inviting others too, to spur and guide ideas. Next, read out one of the first lines offered, and either invite word alternatives for variation, or ask for a different second line from the one given here. Try some more together, drawing on these resources as need be, then let your class have a go independently, or in pairs or groups, with help as needed.

’Watch for the Moon’ is a published poem for children by this author, Kate Williams. The 12-line rhyming poem is presented on a moon photo background. It is fascinating, yet easily accessible for junior-aged readers. The poem highlights the ever-changing appearance of the moon, likening it to different things - a coin, a slice, melting ice… The rhymes are fun to spot - slice/twice/ice/trice, bright/white/sight, swerve/curve, and more.

Dragon inspiration! Dragons are ever-popular with children, and make great starting points for all sorts of teaching, from creative writing and expressive arts and design, to studies of myths and legends, fire, flight, colour, movement, and even for counting - why not? These red, pink and green ones have been key to my numerous dragon poetry workshops this year. Great for all ages.

Watch out for the dragon - but what sort? Scary? Crazy? Hot and spiky? Red, green, wild, funny? Your Reception and KS1 children will be eager to express their ideas, both out loud and in writing. Never mind if their word is hard to spell - they can sound it out and give it a go, building confidence in their writing skills as they go. Not that dragons have to be scary, of course - ‘Watch out for the kind or friendly dragon!’ would be equally valid - as in: don’t miss him/her. The gender can also be changed. There are 3 versions here, of graded difficulty, the last inviting describing words for spikes and scales too, and ideas for the dragon’s favourite food. NB (1) Please note that my hand-drawn illustrations are sketchy. However, in my experience, children don’t mind or notice this. NB (2) Older/abler Yr 2s will welcome further lines, perhaps inviting similes, e.g. He’s as hot as a… or [colour] … as a. These could be squeezed in or written on the back, or the sheet could be manually adapted. More advanced versions coming here in due course.

**This dragon poetry-writing frame will fire the creative zest of independent writers. See video! The dramatic and humorous illustrations will spur ideas, as will the title - Watch out! - and open-scoped line starters: Watch out for the … dragon! He’s …, … and … . His spikes are …, his … (wings/eyes/scales?) are … and he’s as … as a … . He goes … (galloping and roaring through our town at night?) His favourite food is … (always a favourite line!). Tried and tested with great success, especially after plenty of warm-up chat and acting out. Dragons can be any type a young writer likes, from wild and scary to kind and brave, or just downright bonkers. See also my simpler versions, plus Dragon’s Menu, and dragon writing and colouring sheet.

This is a fun, imagination-firing, creative writing activity, centred on a pirate’s treasure map. It has proved popular with children of all ages and abilities in my workshops. It can be written individually or shared verbally, the challenge being to think up nouns to fit the gaps, with one rule: they have to start with the same letter as that of the starter word (e.g. Forest of Feet). The Guide sheet offers lists of words to prompt for - if needed, and suggestions for embellishing the activity. The challenge of thinking up nouns starting with the same letter as the starter word - and on a treasure map - motivates even reluctant writers to have a go at this mind-stretching, language-enriching game.