Learn How To Write An Exciting Blackout Poem! KS2 blackout poem activity

Blackout poems are a simple, creative, and engaging way to get children writing poetry. They are particularly effective in KS2, where pupils are ready to play with language and meaning in exciting ways.

If you have not used them before, a blackout poem is made by taking an existing piece of text—perhaps from a newspaper, magazine, or even a photocopied book page—and “blacking out” most of the words. The few words that remain form a brand-new poem.

This activity is easy to set up, fun to try, and can lead to surprisingly powerful results.

👉 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

Why Try Blackout Poems?

Accessible for everyone – Children don’t start with a blank page, so even reluctant writers can succeed.
Creative with vocabulary – Pupils spot unusual words and learn to link them in original ways.
Artistic as well as literary – The design and blackout patterns can make the finished work look striking.
Flexible across themes – You can tie the poem to a topic such as Remembrance Day, the Vikings, or environmental issues.

How to Run a KS2 Blackout Poem Lesson

Choose a text
Provide photocopied pages of suitable texts. Newspaper reports, non-fiction books, or old magazines work well. For themed lessons, give everyone the same passage. For more independence, let older KS2 pupils choose their own source.
Spot the key words
Ask children to skim the text and lightly circle words or phrases that stand out. Encourage them to focus on strong nouns, verbs, and surprising adjectives.
Build the poem
Using those words, pupils can begin to connect ideas into short lines of poetry. The rest of the page is blacked out, coloured, or decorated to leave only their chosen words visible.
Add the artwork
Encourage children to use patterns, illustrations, or colour shading around the final words. This makes each poem unique and gives the finished piece real visual impact.

Extra Ideas and Activities for KS2

Partner Challenge: In pairs, give both children the same text. See how differently their poems turn out.
Theme Focus: Use historical texts (e.g. The Great Fire of London or Ancient Egypt) to create cross-curricular blackout poems. History Poems KS2
Performance Poetry: Once poems are complete, challenge pupils to perform them aloud, experimenting with pauses and emphasis. Assembly Poems KS2
Poetry Gallery: Display the finished blackout poems around the classroom or school hall to create an instant poetry exhibition.
Vocabulary Hunt: Before starting, ask pupils to highlight as many powerful verbs as they can find. Can they build their poem around action words? Boost Vocabulary with Poetry
Compare and Contrast: Give half the class a fiction text and the other half a non-fiction passage. Afterwards, compare how the tone of the poems differs.
Extension Task for Able Writers: Encourage pupils to create a short collection of blackout poems linked by a single theme (e.g. nature, space, friendship).

Tips for Teachers

Use bold or large-font texts so children can easily see the words.
Photocopy pages onto A4 paper to avoid damaging books.
Offer coloured pens and pencils for decoration to make the activity double as an art project.
Share examples from the internet to spark inspiration before the children start.

Blackout poetry is a brilliant way to help children see words in a completely new light. It encourages them to be playful, thoughtful, and creative, all while producing poetry that looks as good as it sounds.

Have fun trying it with your class—your pupils will be amazed by what they can create!

Looking for writing prompts? ? Try these 7 poetry starters for KS2.

Regards,
Ian Bland