KS2 Poetry Comprehension Worksheets 📘 | Questions for Any Poem (Free Printable)

Teaching poetry comprehension in KS2 can be simple, creative and enjoyable.
With the right questions, children can explore meaning, language and inference in any poem.
These poetry comprehension worksheets work across Year 3, Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6, and support the English National Curriculum focus on understanding, vocabulary and reading for meaning.

This post gives you:

• ready-made KS2 poetry comprehension questions

• model answers written for a real poem

• a free printable worksheet

• simple teacher tips

• ideas that work with any poem you choose

Poetry comprehension helps children:

• retrieve key information

• understand vocabulary in context

• make inferences

• explore imagery and figurative language

• justify opinions with evidence

• read aloud with expression

👉 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 Use Poetry for KS2 Comprehension? 🔎

Poetry supports every reading skill in the KS2 curriculum.
Because poems are short, pupils can revisit them easily, explore language deeply and focus on key lines.

Poetry comprehension is ideal for:

• guided reading

• whole-class reading

• English starter tasks

• homework tasks

• inference lessons

• performance poetry sessions

Related:
Poetry Teaching Ideas KS2 | Performance Poetry KS2 | Figurative Language KS2

Great for teachers looking to save time!

Example Poem for KS2 Comprehension 📝

by Ian Bland

The Playground

The playground yawns awake each day,
A giant stretching in the grey.
Its chalk-lined smile, its skipping beat,
Its heartbeat echoes under feet.

At breaktime, laughter shakes the ground,
The slide squeals out a joyful sound.
The climbing frame begins to sing,
The roundabout spins like a carnival ring.

When the bell cries out, the giant sleeps,
Dreams of games the playground keeps.
Till morning comes with shouts anew —
The playground wakes… and so do you.

👉 The Playground Poem

KS2 Poetry Comprehension Questions for This Poem ✍️

These questions cover retrieval, vocabulary, inference and explanation — the key strands of KS2 reading.

1. Retrieval Questions

1. What wakes up at the start of the poem?

2. What happens at breaktime?

3. Which object “squeals out a joyful sound”?

2. Vocabulary Questions

1. What does the word “echoes” mean in this poem?

2. Why is “yawns” an interesting verb to describe the playground?

3. What does the phrase “shouts anew” suggest?

3. Inference Questions

1. Why might the playground be described as a “giant”?

2. What clues show that the playground is lively at breaktime?

3. How do you think the children feel when the playground “wakes”?

4. Explanation Questions

1. Why has the poet used personification in this poem?

2. Which line creates the strongest image for you and why?

3. How does the poet show the difference between breaktime and home time?

Hundreds of FREE poetry ideas, activities and resources-ready to download!

Model Answers (Teacher Version) 📚

These can be used for modelling, marking or peer assessment.

Retrieval

1. The playground wakes up at the start of the poem.

2. Laughter shakes the ground and the equipment becomes lively.

3. The slide “squeals out a joyful sound”.

Vocabulary

1. “Echoes” means the sound is repeating or bouncing around.

2. “Yawns” suggests tiredness and makes the playground seem like a waking person.

3. “Shouts anew” means new shouts or fresh noise at the start of the day.

Inference

1. The playground might be called a giant because it is large compared to the children.

2. Words like “laughter shakes the ground” and “the climbing frame begins to sing” show energy.

3. The children probably feel excited and ready to play.

Explanation

1. The poet uses personification to make the playground feel alive and active.

2. Answers will vary, but pupils should explain why an image stands out.

3. Breaktime is loud and lively, while home time is quiet when the “giant sleeps”.

Free KS2 Poetry Comprehension Worksheet (Text Version) 📄

👉 KS2 Poetry Comprehension Worksheet Download

KS2 Poetry Comprehension Worksheet
Name: ___________________ Date: _______________

Poem Title: ____________________________
Poet: _________________________________

1. Retrieval

a) Write down two things that happen in the poem.
b) What does the poet say about…?
c) Who or what is the poem describing?

2. Vocabulary

a) What does the word __________________ mean in this poem?
b) Find a phrase that creates an interesting image.
c) Why do you think the poet used that word?

3. Inference

a) What clues help you understand how the character feels?
b) What do you think happens next?
c) Why do you think the poet chose this setting?

4. Explanation

a) Why do you think the poet wrote this poem?
b) Which line do you like most and why?
c) How does the poem make you feel?

👉 KS2 Poetry Comprehension Worksheet Download

Classroom Activity Ideas 🎓

1. Paired Reading

Pupils read the poem aloud in pairs, focusing on tone and pace.

2. Highlight Hunt

Children find examples of verbs, adjectives, personification or imagery.

3. Inference Corners

Place four inference questions around the room.
Groups move between them, discussing their answers aloud.

4. One Line at a Time

Give each group one line to interpret.
They feed back and the class pieces the whole poem together.

5. Build Your Own Worksheet

Pupils write three retrieval questions and three inference questions for a different poem.
Swap with a partner to answer.

Related:
Descriptive Poems KS2 | Figurative Language KS2 | Emotions Poetry KS2

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Teacher Pedagogy Notes 👩‍🏫

Curriculum Links

• Vocabulary in context

• Inference and deduction

• Retrieval of information

• Explaining meaning

• Reading aloud with expression

Differentiation

• Support: sentence stems, highlighted vocabulary, paired answers

• Challenge: write six more questions using different question types

• Extension: compare two poems using inference and retrieval

Assessment Idea
Mark answers using traffic light colours.
Red = needs support, Amber = developing, Green = secure understanding.

Final Thoughts 🌈

Poetry comprehension is one of the most flexible and engaging ways to explore reading skills in KS2.
With the right questions and a simple structure, children can dig deeper into meaning, language and feeling.
These worksheets work with any poem, giving teachers an easy tool for guided reading, independent tasks or homework.

If you’d like your pupils to explore comprehension, rhythm and performance with me, book a Poetry Day or Online Workshop.

Bring Poetry to Life in Your School

👉 In my Poetry Days across the UK, I show children how to use figurative language to turn ordinary topics into extraordinary poems!
I visit over 100 schools every year — performing my poems, inspiring pupils and helping teachers link poetry to curriculum objectives.

📅 You can book me for:
In-person Poetry Days across the UK
Online Poetry Workshops – affordable, interactive and fun

➡ Secure your date here: Poets in Schools – Ian Bland