“I’ve Never Seen…” – A Fun Way to Teach Rhythm and Rhyme 🎶✍️
Asking children to write a poem with rhythm and rhyme can be tricky. Without guidance, their writing often becomes muddled, repetitive, or nonsensical.
That’s why starting with a simple, playful model poem is so effective. It gives structure, sparks ideas, and makes success achievable.
I’ve Never Seen
(After John Rice)
I’ve never seen a fridge climb a tree.
I’ve never seen a dog as small as a bee.
I’ve never seen a lamp-post shake my hand.
I’ve never seen a tiger play in a band.
I’ve never seen a pigeon smoke a pipe.
I’ve never seen an elephant learn to type.
I’ve never seen a television dance a jig.
I’ve never seen a pillar-box swallow a pig.
I’ve never seen a feather that weighed a ton.
I’ve never seen an igloo built in the sun.
I’ve never seen a mountain wear a hat.
I’ve never seen a caterpillar catapult a cat.
Have you?
Why This Poem Works ✅
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Simple rhyme scheme (AABB) – easy for children to copy.
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Clear rhythm – perfect for chanting or performing aloud.
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Humour – the silliness keeps children engaged.
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Endless possibilities – pupils can invent their own verses.
👉 For more support teaching structure, check out Teaching Rhyme and Rhythm in KS2 Made Easy.
Step 1: Model Writing Together 📝
Begin with a whole-class brainstorm of strange or impossible images. For example:
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“I’ve never seen a giraffe eating chips in a café.”
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“I’ve never seen a spider taking the bus.”
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“I’ve never seen a lion making a TikTok dance.”
Write a few sample verses on the board before setting children off to create their own.
👉 For more quick inspiration, try Quick & Easy Poetry Starters for KS2.
Step 2: Draft, Redraft, Improve ✍️
Encourage pupils to experiment with more powerful verbs. This makes their verses funnier and more dramatic.
Instead of: “a rabbit fry a steak”
Try: “a rabbit devour a steak.”
Instead of: “a jellyfish bake a cake”
Try: “a jellyfish demolish a cake.”
This is a brilliant way to show how word choice impacts tone and humour.
👉 For more on building vocabulary, see Teach Powerful Verbs Using Poetry.
Fun Extension Activities 🎭
1. Animal Antics Challenge 🐘
Give each child a random animal card. Their job: write a “never seen” verse featuring that animal. Share in a quick-fire performance session.
2. Class Anthology with Illustrations 🎨
Invite children to illustrate their funniest verse – a tiger in a band, a budgie driving a crane. Collect the work into a class book or display.
3. Poetry Performance Game 🎤
Turn verses into a group performance. Add silly actions, sound effects, or props. Perfect for an assembly or even a mini Poetry Slam in Your Primary School.
4. “Have You?” Twist Ending ❓
Instead of ending with “Have you?”, let children invent their own endings:
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“And if you ever do, please tell me too!”
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“If you spot one, take a photo quick!”
5. Mix It Up!
Encourage pupils to move beyond animals. They could write about:
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Everyday objects (“I’ve never seen a pencil ride a bike.”)
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People (“I’ve never seen my teacher juggling jelly.”)
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Places (“I’ve never seen the seaside in the snow.”)
6. Poetry Relay 🏃♀️
Split into teams. One child writes the first line, the next completes the rhyme. Continue until a whole verse is finished, then perform together.
7. Poem into Poster 📜
Ask pupils to publish their final poem as a mini-poster with artwork and bold lettering. These look fantastic in a classroom display.
👉 For more lively ideas, check out Creative Classroom Challenges for KS2.
Final Thoughts 💡
This activity is quick, fun, and accessible. It helps children understand rhyme, rhythm, and redrafting, while also giving plenty of opportunities for performance and illustration.
Most importantly, it guarantees laughter and creativity in your classroom.
👉 You might also like my 10 Fun Poetry Activities for KS2, which includes even more playful, ready-to-use ideas.
