đŁ Growing Up Poems KS2 | Fun PSHE & Assembly Writing ActivitiesđŁ
Growing up is full of changes. New schools, new friends, new challenges. Some of these changes are exciting, others can feel daunting. Poetry provides a safe, creative way for children to explore these experiences.
Writing growing up poems KS2 allows pupils to express themselves, laugh at silly ideas, and build resilience when life feels tough. These poems can be used across literacy, PSHE, and assemblies, supporting both creativity and wellbeing.
đ 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 Iâd love to work with your children and teachers.
đ 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 â Ian Bland
Here are some fun examples of growing up poems KS2, with expert activity ideas to help you deliver them in your classroom.
đ¤ Mr Hewitt â The Teacher That SaysâŚ
You can be a chocolate tester you can be a witchdoctor
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
âYOU CAN DO IT KIDDO!â
Thatâs what Mr Hewitt saysâŚ
You can be a roady an investigator
That guy thatâs 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
âYOU CAN DO IT KIDDO!â
Thatâs what Mr Hewitt saysâŚ
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
âYOU CAN DO IT KIDDO!â
Thatâs what Mr Hewitt saysâŚ
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
âYOU CAN DO IT KIDDO!â
Thatâs what Mr Hewitt saysâŚ
⨠Activity idea (expert literacy focus):
This poem introduces pupils to the idea of a refrain in poetry. The repeated line âYOU CAN DO IT KIDDO!â provides rhythm and structure.
Read aloud as a class, with pupils joining in on the repeated line.
Brainstorm the funniest or most unusual jobs pupils can imagine. Record them on the board.
In pairs, children write their own stanza, ending with the refrain.
Extend by inventing new characters â âMrs Jones â the teacher who saysâŚâ â to add variety and humour.
This develops vocabulary, rhythm and oral performance skills. For more humour, see my Funny Poems for KS2 Assemblies.
đ Iâd Like to Be aâŚ
Iâd like to be a teacher,
To tell people off and shout.
Iâd like to be a boxer,
So I could knock somebody out.
Iâd like to be a dentist,
And give people lots of pain.
Iâd like to be a Headteacher,
And give everyone the cane.
Iâd like to be a soldier,
And squash houses in my tank.
Iâd like to be a robber,
And steal money from a bank.
But if I was Prime Minister,
Iâd make a brand new rule,
To put all teachers in a jail,
And close down all the schools!
⨠Activity idea (expert literacy focus):
This poem uses a simple rhyming pattern that children can copy with ease.
Begin by discussing what pupils want to be when they grow up. Start with serious answers, then encourage silly, exaggerated ones.
Model how the rhyme scheme works. Encourage pupils to come up with rhyming pairs linked to their chosen jobs.
Pupils create their own stanza beginning âIâd like to be aâŚâ followed by two or four rhyming lines.
For performance, encourage acting â the âdentistâ pretending to pull a tooth, the âsoldierâ marching, etc.
This blends performance poetry with PSHE aspirations. For more school-themed writing, see School Poems KS2.
đŞ Never Going To Keep Me Down
Donât care if you call me names
Donât bother that you spoil my games
Iâm a firework exploding in the sky
Iâm a warrior screaming a battle cry
Never going to keep me down
No, youâre never going to keep me down
Donât care that you wonât let me past
Donât bother about the race where I came last
Iâm a treasure chest thatâs stuffed with jewels
Iâm a diamond sparkling in the sun
Never going to keep me down
No, youâre never going to keep me down
Say things about me that just arenât true?
Think thereâs nothing that I can do?
Iâm a star with unlimited power
Iâm a river that never stops flowing
Never going to keep me down
No, youâre never going to keep me down
Did you really think you could make me cry?
Did you really think Iâd just walk on by?
Iâm a bullet proof vest six inches thick
Iâm a Teflon wall where lies wonât stick
Never going to keep me down
No, youâre never going to keep me down
⨠Activity idea (expert literacy focus):
This poem models resilience through metaphor.
Read the poem aloud and identify metaphors: âIâm a fireworkâ, âIâm a treasure chestâ. Discuss what qualities each metaphor suggests.
Provide a bank of metaphor prompts (mountain, shield, storm, flame).
Pupils write their own stanza using at least two metaphors to describe their resilience.
Perform as a class poem, with the refrain âNever going to keep me downâ chanted as a chorus.
This supports wellbeing and ties into Anti-Bullying Poems KS2 and Feelings & Emotions Poems KS2.
đ¤ Friends Come and Go
Sometimes friends stay, sometimes they leave,
Sometimes theyâre kind, sometimes they deceive.
But every new class, each brand-new year,
Brings new friendships, laughter and cheer.
⨠Activity idea (expert literacy focus):
Friendship is a theme all children can connect with.
Begin with a circle-time discussion about friendship journeys.
Brainstorm similes and metaphors for friendship: âFriendship is a bridgeâ, âFriendship is a rainbowâ.
Pupils write their own four-line stanza about their friendship experiences.
Display the stanzas on a âFriendship Wallâ for PSHE and literacy celebration.
This links with Friendship Poems KS2.
đ Moving Up
New classroom, new teacher, new desk, new chair,
A little bit nervous, but Iâll try not to stare.
A smile on my face, my bag packed with pride,
Iâm ready to learn with my friends by my side.
⨠Activity idea (expert literacy focus):
This poem works perfectly as a transition activity.
Read the poem and ask pupils how they feel about moving up. Record words like excited, nervous, hopeful.
Pupils create stanzas about a first day experience, using sensory detail â sights, sounds, feelings.
Combine stanzas into a group performance poem with each pupil voicing one part.
This links with Back to School Poems KS2 and Leaversâ Poems KS2.
đ Why Use Growing Up Poems in KS2?
Using growing up poems KS2 helps children to:
Explore and articulate emotions đ
Build resilience and confidence đ
Practise figurative language and rhyme âď¸
Share experiences through performance đ¤
These activities provide strong links between literacy, PSHE and assemblies.
đ For more inspiration, check out:
Growing up is full of change, but poetry helps children explore it with confidence, humour and creativity.
đ 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 Iâd love to work with your children and teachers.
đ 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 â Ian Bland
