🎤 How to Run a Poetry Assembly KS2 | Inspire and Perform with Confidence
A poetry assembly is one of the most powerful ways to get children excited about reading, writing and performing poetry.
It builds confidence, oracy and teamwork — and it’s a brilliant way to showcase the creative writing pupils have produced in class.
Whether you’re planning a one-off assembly, celebrating National Poetry Day, or wrapping up a poetry unit, this guide will help you run a KS2 poetry assembly that’s fun, inclusive and unforgettable.
Through a poetry assembly, children can:
🎭 Build performance confidence and expression
📝 Celebrate creativity and teamwork
🎶 Explore rhythm, rhyme and humour
🌟 Share their poems proudly with an audience
👉 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
💡 Step 1: Choose a Theme
Start by choosing a theme that connects to school life or classroom learning.
Popular assembly themes include:
✨ Friendship and Kindness
🌍 The Environment
😄 Funny Poems for Confidence
💭 Dreams and Imagination
🎉 Celebrations and School Life
A clear theme helps pupils link their poems together and gives the audience something to think about.
🔗 Related: Friendship Poems KS2 | Environmental Poems KS2 | Funny Poems KS2
🏗️ Step 2: Plan the Structure
A strong poetry assembly flows like a performance:
Welcome & Introduction – explain why the class are sharing poetry today.
Whole-Class Poem – everyone joins in together.
Small Group Performances – 3–4 short poems by different groups.
Reflective Poem – a calm, thoughtful finish.
Closing Message – celebrate creativity and thank the audience.
💬 Tip: Keep it to around 20–25 minutes — long enough to make an impact, short enough to stay focused.
🎶 Step 3: Pick the Right Poems
You can mix published poems, class-written work and performance pieces.
Here are some of my poems that work perfectly in assemblies — each one lively, visual and fun to perform.
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🍽️ The Dinner Lady Dance
This call-and-response poem is an instant hit in assemblies. It’s full of rhythm and repetition, so it’s perfect for group performance.
The Dinner Lady Dance
(Chorus)
Eat your dinner your last chance!
Do the dinner lady dance!
Eat your dinner your last chance!
Do the dinner lady dance!
Gets so angry in a crowd
Blows her whistle really loud
Always shouting in the hall
Stops you crying when you fall
Tells you off for telling lies
Hands on hips and angry eyes!
(Chorus)
Loves to jump in when you fight
Wears a coat that’s far too tight
Starts to panic in the rain
Dinner ladies they’re insane
Play a game and they will spoil it
Won’t let you go to the toilet!
(Chorus)
Keeps you waiting all the while
Makes you walk in single file
Always grumps and always pouts
Makes you eat your Brussels sprouts
Cleverest people in a way
They only work one hour a day!
(Chorus)
Makes you eat that fatty mince
Curly hair with purple rinse
Makes you stand up on the wall
Confiscates the playground ball
Think they’re nice then think again
They scared away the dinner men!
(Chorus)
💡 Activity idea: Split the class in two — half chant the chorus, half act out the “dinner lady” lines. Add hand movements for extra fun!
🔗 Related: Funny Poems KS2 | Performance Poetry KS2
🤝 I’ll Be Your Friend and I’ll Be There
This poem is perfect for PSHE, Anti-Bullying Week or assemblies about kindness and friendship. The refrain makes it ideal for choral reading.
I’ll Be Your Friend and I’ll Be There
When you tell a joke and no-one laughs
When you slip and fall in the swimming baths
When you trip in the hall and spill your food
When you get told off for being rude
When you lean too far and fall off your chair
I’ll be your friend and I’ll be there,
When your test comes back with nought out of ten
When you smudge your work with your fountain pen
When you slide and fall down in the mud
When the teacher tells you you’re no good
When the whole class giggles at your new style of hair
I’ll be your friend and I’ll be there,
When the bullies chase you in the yard
When the maths you’re given is far too hard
When you’re feeling blue and all alone
When others leave you on your own
When all you feel inside is doubt
I’ll be your friend and help you out.
💡 Activity idea:
Children perform in pairs or groups — one pupil reads the “problem” lines, and the others chant the refrain together.
🔗 Related: Friendship Poems KS2 | Anti-Bullying Poems KS2
Hundreds of FREE poetry ideas, activities and resources-ready to download!
👹 The Monster in My House
A great narrative poem with a twist ending — funny, rhythmic and perfect for performance.
The Monster in My House
There’s a monster in my house
He’s very tall and has big shoes.
He has a massive chair
On which he sits to read the news.
He has lots of yellow pointed teeth
And he likes to watch the telly.
He has a deep and slightly scary voice
And his socks are really smelly.
He gets up early every morning
And goes to bed quite late at night.
He sometimes tries to kiss me
But I’m frightened that he’ll bite.
He sometimes tries to chase my mum
And she runs away and squeals.
She’s probably really scared of him
And I know just how she feels.
He has lots of food at mealtimes
And I shout and cry and yell.
Because I’m scared he’ll put me on his plate
And eat me up as well.
But my mum says not to be so daft
He’s really not so very bad.
There’s no monster living in my house
It’s just a man and he’s my dad.
💡 Activity idea:
Perform with a narrator and “monster” voice actor! Add sound effects and movement to build suspense.
🔗 Related: School Poems KS2 | Narrative Poems KS2
🌍 Here Lies the Body of Planet Earth
A thoughtful ending poem — serious, rhythmic and emotional. Perfect for environmental themes, Remembrance, or reflection assemblies.
Here Lies the Body of Planet Earth
Here lies the body of Planet Earth
That gave the human race its birth
With valleys green and oceans wide
For lack of care the Earth just died
Flowers withered, the sky turned black
And now those humans can’t go back.
Here lies the body all charred and burned
With lessons humans should have learned
Poisoned lakes and lifeless seas
There’s nothing left now save disease
The humans left it to its fate
And now they see it’s far too late.
💡 Activity idea:
Pupils perform this one slowly with expression. Add quiet background music or projected artwork for atmosphere.
🔗 Related: Environmental Poems KS2 | Poems About Nature KS2
🎭 Step 4: Rehearse for Performance
Encourage pupils to:
Speak slowly and clearly — every word should be heard.
Use facial expression to match emotion.
Add gestures but keep them natural.
Look up and project their voices.
Smile and enjoy the performance!
💬 Tip: Rehearse in the hall so pupils get used to the acoustics and stage layout.
🎨 Step 5: Add Creative Touches
Make your assembly stand out with simple creative ideas:
🎵 Add background music or drumming
🎤 Use microphones for key lines
🎬 Project pupils’ artwork or poems behind them
🪶 Include movement or rhythm sections
Cross-curricular touches (art, drama, music) make poetry performances shine.
🔗 Related: Cross-Curricular Poetry KS2
🌈 Step 6: Reflect and Celebrate
After the performance, celebrate success with certificates or a short class reflection:
What did we enjoy most?
What did we learn about performing poetry?
How did it feel to be part of the show?
Encourage pupils to compliment each other’s bravery, teamwork and creativity.
👩🏫 Teacher Pedagogy Notes
Curriculum links:
English: performance poetry, speaking and listening, oracy
PSHE: confidence, teamwork, relationships
Music & Drama: rhythm, expression, movement
Differentiation:
Support: perform in groups with shared lines.
Challenge: solo performances or student comperes.
Engagement:
Great for class assemblies, literacy weeks or whole-school celebrations.
🌟 Final Thoughts
A Poetry Assembly KS2 is more than a performance — it’s a celebration of confidence, creativity and community.
Children love hearing laughter, applause and pride after sharing their poems.
👉 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)
