Geography Through Poetry: Exploring Landscapes and Cultures in KS2

Introduction 🌟

Mountains, rivers, cities, coastlines — geography is full of sights, sounds, and sensations that spark the imagination. Using geography poetry KS2 lessons helps children connect with the natural and human world through language, creativity, and performance.

Poetry is a brilliant way to make mapwork, habitats, and global studies come alive. From haikus about rivers to list poems about countries, geography and poetry fit together beautifully.

If your children enjoy creating poems, I run Online Poetry Workshops and In-Person Poetry Days for primary schools.

Great for teachers looking to save time!

Why Use Poetry in Geography? 🌍✏️

• Strengthens vocabulary – children learn geographical terms and use them in context.

• Builds empathy and awareness – pupils explore other cultures and environments creatively.

• Encourages observation – poems help children notice detail in landscapes and maps.

• Cross-curricular links – literacy outcomes combined with geography knowledge.

🔗 Related: List Poems for KS2 • Haiku Poems KS2 👉 Performance Poetry in Primary Schools  👉 Shape Poems KS2

🔗 Teaching Figurative Language Through Poetry 🔗 Teaching Rhythm and Rhyme KS2 🔗 Christmas Similes and Metaphors KS2

Geography Poetry Examples for KS2 📝

The River (Haiku)
Silver snake twisting,
Carving valleys through the hills,
Journey to the sea.

👉 Haiku Poem Writing Framework

The Mountain (Free Verse)
I stand against the clouds,
snow on my shoulders,
roots deep in the sleeping earth,
older than time.

The City (List Poem)
Tower blocks,
markets,
traffic lights,
shops,
cafés,
parks,
and people —
always people.

The Desert (Cinquain)
Desert,
Silent, endless,
Shimmering, burning, stretching,
Sand dunes whisper secrets,
Wasteland.

Fun Classroom Activities 🔍

1. Map to Poem
   Give pupils a map or atlas. Ask them to choose a location (river, mountain, capital city) and turn it into a short descriptive poem.

2. Soundscape Poetry
   Play recordings of waves, storms, or city noise. Children write sensory poems based on what they hear.

3. Cultural Poetry Exchange
   Explore poems from around the world (e.g. African praise poetry, Japanese haiku). Pupils use these as models for writing about other cultures.

4. Poetry Postcards
   Children write a poem in the style of a postcard from a geographical location they’re studying.

Geography Topics That Work Well for Poetry 🗺️

• Rivers and Coasts – flooding, erosion, waves

• Mountains and Volcanoes – landscapes, natural disasters

• Habitats – rainforests, deserts, polar regions

• Weather and Climate – storms, sunshine, snow

• Cities and Villages – urban vs rural life

• Global Cultures – food, traditions, celebrations

🔗 Related: Cinquain Poems for KS2 • Science Poetry KS2 🔗 The Ultimate Guide To Teaching Poetry KS2

Tips for Teachers 👩‍🏫

• Display topic vocabulary (geographical terms + sensory words).

• Use visual prompts (maps, photos, satellite images) to inspire poetry.

• Encourage pupils to compare landscapes in their poems (e.g. village vs city, mountain vs coast).

• Link to art or music for cross-curricular outcomes.

Final Thoughts 💡

Geography and poetry are natural partners. With geography poetry KS2, children can explore landscapes, cultures, and environments in ways that deepen both understanding and enjoyment.

👉 Want to take geography poetry even further? My Poetry Days in schools include cross-curricular workshops where pupils bring subjects like geography alive through performance and writing.

Find out more and book your school’s Poetry Day here ➡ Poets in Schools – Ian Bland

Earth Day is coming soon on the 22nd April!