💬 Dialogue Poems KS2 | Conversations in Verse
Dialogue poems (sometimes called poems for two voices) are written as conversations — poems that come alive when spoken aloud. They’re full of rhythm, humour, and personality, making them perfect for performance and teamwork.
Through Dialogue Poems KS2, pupils can:
🎭 Build confidence in speaking and listening
🗣️ Explore different voices and emotions
✍️ Experiment with rhyme, repetition and contrast
😂 Enjoy shared reading and performance
👉 In my Poetry Days in primary schools across the UK I work hard to get the children excited about writing and performing their own poems. I visit over 100 schools every year and I’d love to work with your children and teachers.
📅 You can book me for:
-
In-person Poetry Days across the UK
-
Online Poetry Workshops (affordable and flexible)
➡ Secure your date here: Poets in Schools – Ian Bland
💡 What Is a Dialogue Poem?
A dialogue poem is a conversation between two (or more) voices.
Each speaker responds, argues, agrees or disagrees — sometimes seriously, sometimes playfully.
Children love them because they feel like mini plays — full of rhythm, comedy, and teamwork.
Great classroom themes include:
💬 Teacher vs pupil
💘 Love vs hate
🌍 Human vs planet
💪 Optimist vs pessimist
🎒 Class vs headteacher
🔗 Related: Performance Poetry KS2 | Funny Poems KS2 | Growth Mindset Poems KS2
🎱 Mr Lawlor – The Teacher Who Used to Be a Bingo Caller!
This one’s a perfect call-and-response poem for performance — one voice as Mr Lawlor, the other as the groaning class.
The rhythm and rhyme make it great fun to act out.
Mr Lawlor – The Teacher Who Used to Be a Bingo Caller…
Mr Lawlor: Who has spilt that pot of glue?
Class: (Groaning) Eight times four is thirty-two…
Mr Lawlor: I’m so handsome can’t you see?
Class: (Groaning) Eleven times three is thirty-three…
Mr Lawlor: How did I end up with that kid Kevin?
Class: (Groaning) Nine times three is twenty-seven…
Mr Lawlor: It’s only Monday how will I survive?
Class: (Groaning) Five times five is twenty-five…
Mr Lawlor: I’d like to expel you all just for fun!
Class: (Groaning) Seven times three is twenty-one…
Mr Lawlor: Fed up of this class and its lies and tricks!
Class: (Groaning) Six times six is thirty-six…
Mr Lawlor: Well done everybody!
💡 Activity ideas:
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Call-and-Response Performance:
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Assign one confident reader as Mr Lawlor and the rest of the class as the chorus.
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Add actions (groaning, rolling eyes, stretching arms).
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Experiment with pace — try slow, serious versions and then fast, chaotic ones!
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Maths Link:
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Children write their own “Maths Class Dialogue Poems” — using different number facts or subjects (e.g. “Science vs Pupil”).
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Creative Extension:
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Rewrite the poem from Mr Lawlor’s point of view as an internal monologue — “I used to be a bingo caller, now I’m stuck here with 4B!”
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🔗 Related: Funny Poems KS2 | School Poems KS2
😎 Mr Waterloo – The Teacher Who Doesn’t Mind What the Children Do!
This poem’s tone is calm and laid-back — perfect for practising irony and delivery. The humour comes from the contrast between chaos and chill!
Mr Waterloo – The Teacher Who Doesn’t Mind What the Children Do…
Child: Chewing gum on the carpet?
Mr Waterloo: “No biggie…”
Child: Secretly playing on a mobile phone?
Mr Waterloo: “Pffffft…”
Child: Leaving your reading book at home for the tenth time?
Mr Waterloo: “Whatever…”
Child: Spilling your water bottle on your table?
Mr Waterloo: “It’ll dry…”
Child: Spending twenty minutes in the toilet?
Mr Waterloo: “Meh.”
Child: Passing secret messages around the classroom?
Mr Waterloo: “Ahh, mañana.”
Child: Being cheeky to the dinner ladies?
Mr Waterloo: “They’ll live…”
Child: Talking in assembly?
Mr Waterloo: “Assembly shmembily…”
Child: Chaos in the dinner line?
Mr Waterloo: “Try again tomorrow…”
Child: Headteacher on the warpath?
Mr Waterloo: “She’ll calm down soon…”
💡 Activity ideas:
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Tone Exploration:
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Perform once seriously, once sleepily, and once like a game show host!
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Discuss how tone changes meaning.
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Creative Writing Extension:
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Pupils write “Mr Waterloo’s Diary” or a new version called “Miss Mayhem – The Teacher Who Can’t Keep Control!”
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PSHE Link:
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Discuss responsibility and rules — what happens if no one takes charge?
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Drama Challenge:
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Act out the classroom scene — who’s causing chaos? Who’s desperately trying to restore order?
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🔗 Related: Teacher Poems KS2 | Classroom Poems KS2
💪 Mr Hewitt – The Teacher Who Says “You Can Do It!”
This one’s pure positivity — an ideal growth mindset piece and brilliant for performance. Pupils love the repeated catchphrase.
Mr Hewitt – The Teacher Who Says “You Can Do It!”
You can be a chocolate tester, you can be a witch doctor,
That guy that hangs out of helicopters.
You can be a ballet dancer, a white hat hacker,
That TV Amazonian jungle tracker.
He says these things day after day —
“You can do it, kiddo!”
That’s what Mr Hewitt says…
You can be a roady, an investigator,
That guy that’s an FBI negotiator.
You can be a lawyer, a billionaire investor,
Travel the world as a water slide tester.
He says these things day after day —
“You can do it, kiddo!”
That’s what Mr Hewitt says…
You can be a worm picker, a snake charmer,
A sub-Saharan apricot farmer.
You can be a teddy bear technician, a professional sleeper,
A modern-day Victorian chimney sweeper.
He says these things day after day —
“You can do it, kiddo!”
That’s what Mr Hewitt says…
You can be a face feeler, a golf ball diver,
A Formula One Grand Prix driver.
You can be a sumo wrestler, an armpit sniffer,
A champion Olympic power lifter.
He says these things day after day —
“You can do it, kiddo!”
That’s what Mr Hewitt says…
💡 Activity ideas:
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Performance Task:
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Split the class into two groups — one reads the jobs, the other shouts the refrain.
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Add rhythm using percussion or body claps.
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Writing Challenge:
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Pupils create their own verses of wild jobs and end with a new catchphrase (“You’ll smash it, mate!” or “You were born for this!”).
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Growth Mindset Link:
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Discuss resilience — how do words of encouragement help us try new things?
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PSHE Extension:
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Write an ode or rap to a teacher who inspires them.
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🔗 Related: Growth Mindset Poems KS2 | Performance Poetry KS2
💘 Will You Be Mine?
A hilarious love-hate dialogue — perfect for Valentine’s season or any day you need a laugh! Two speakers battle it out: one smitten, one disgusted.
Will You Be Mine?
Voice 1:
Your hair is so gorgeous, your eyes are so clear,
My heart can’t stop booming whenever you’re near!
Your face is a picture of everything fair,
You’d make me so happy if only you’d care!
Voice 2:
I’ve never seen anyone as ugly as you,
Your face is like something I saw in the zoo!
Whenever I see you I just want to squirm,
You’re really disgusting, you sad little worm!
Voice 1:
I’ll buy you some diamonds, some rings and some pearls,
You’re really not like the rest of the girls.
You’re so very charming and funny and sweet,
(I picked up the chewing gum you left on the street!)
Voice 2:
You think you’re attractive and clever and hip,
You’re really a gormless, unbearable drip!
And as for the promises, presents and charm —
Please go away quick or I’ll break off your arms!
Voice 1:
I’ll be your little pixie if you’ll be my elf,
I’ll pick out your bogies and eat them myself.
I’ll do all your homework and all of your chores,
You’ve got to believe me, I want to be yours!
Voice 2:
I really don’t care how you moan and you whine,
I’d rather go out with a green bit of slime.
You’re boring and ugly, you’re smelly and thick,
I really don’t like you — you make me feel sick!
💡 Activity ideas:
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Performance Task:
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Two pupils perform side by side.
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Encourage exaggerated tone — whispering, shouting, dramatic pauses.
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Finish with both walking off stage in opposite directions!
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Writing Challenge:
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Write your own “opposite” dialogues: Dog vs Cat, Summer vs Winter, Pupil vs Homework.
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Literacy Focus:
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Highlight antonyms and contrasting emotions — love vs hate, nice vs nasty.
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🔗 Related: Valentine’s Poems KS2 | Funny Poems KS2
👩🏫 Teacher Pedagogy Notes
Curriculum links:
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English: spoken language, rhyme, contrasting voices
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PSHE: confidence, empathy, emotional literacy
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Drama: characterisation, tone, and timing
Differentiation:
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Support: read in pairs with printed dialogue layout
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Challenge: write a 3-voice poem or include overlapping dialogue
Engagement:
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Dialogue poems work brilliantly for assemblies, literacy weeks, and National Poetry Day performances.
🌟 Final Thoughts
Dialogue Poems KS2 help children find their voices — literally!
They combine performance, rhythm, humour and emotion, turning classrooms into mini theatres.
👉 In my Poetry Days in primary schools across the UK I work hard to get the children excited about writing and performing their own poems. I visit over 100 schools every year and I’d love to work with your children and teachers.
📅 You can book me for:
-
In-person Poetry Days across the UK
-
Online Poetry Workshops (affordable and flexible)
