Finding Words Within Words!

If you are looking for a quick, fun, and engaging poetry idea for your class this week, try Words Within Words. This activity encourages children to play with language in surprising ways—and it always sparks excitement!

What Is a “Words Within Words” Poem?

Here’s a simple example:

• Look for the circular shape in ground (round)

• Can you spot the happiness in malfunction? (fun)

• Is there a place for a ship in importance? (port)

• Search for the tree in apologise (log)

• Hunt for the insect in ignorant (ant)

• Is there any anger in empire? (ire)

Download: Words Within Words Writing Framework

Each line hides a smaller word inside a larger one. The fun lies in spotting the hidden word, then thinking about how its meaning might connect—or clash—with the bigger word around it.

Why Try This Activity?

• It meets the literacy curriculum goal of exploring word play.

• It builds vocabulary awareness and encourages children to think carefully about spelling. 🔗 Related: Vocabulary Development KS2

• It develops creative thinking—children must find new links between words.🔗 Related: Creative Poetry Starters KS2

• It’s quick to set up and appeals to both confident and reluctant writers.🔗 Related: Poetry For Reluctant Writers KS2

How to Run the Lesson

1. Introduce the idea
   Share the example poem above and see if the children can spot the hidden words.

2. Word Hunt
   In pairs, ask children to scan two pages of a reading book, hunting for smaller words hidden inside longer ones. Encourage them to keep a list of their finds.

3. Create a Poem
   Using their word list, children write a series of short lines. Each line should reveal the smaller word in a playful or thought-provoking way.

4. Swap and Solve
   Once complete, swap poems with another pair. Can they figure out the hidden meanings in each other’s work?

Extra KS2 Activities

• Themed Word Hunts: Link to your topic. For example, during a science unit on plants, ask pupils to search for plant-related words hidden inside longer ones.

• Performance Challenge: Children read their lines aloud with dramatic pauses to build suspense before revealing the hidden word.🔗 Related: Performance Poetry KS2

• Dictionary Dash: Give pupils a page from the dictionary. Who can find the most hidden words in five minutes?

• Art Extension: Illustrate the “hidden” word inside the larger one, almost like a calligram or visual puzzle.

• Group Poem: Collect the best lines from the whole class to make one big collaborative poem.

Teacher Tip

Be warned: once children learn to spot words within words, they’ll start finding them everywhere! It may drive you a little crazy—but it’s worth it for the creativity it unlocks.

This poetry activity is playful, quick, and always a hit in KS2 classrooms. It helps children see language in a brand-new way and gives them the joy of discovering hidden treasures in words.

Have fun writing with your class!

Best wishes,
Ian Bland

👉 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