Simple Poetry Warm-Ups to Start Your Literacy Lessons
Sometimes the hardest part of writing is simply getting started. A quick poetry warm-up at the beginning of a literacy lesson can help children switch on their creativity, build confidence, and have fun with language before tackling longer writing tasks.
These simple poetry warm-ups for KS2 are quick, engaging, and easy to run. They work brilliantly as lesson starters, transition activities, or even five-minute fillers that keep literacy fresh and exciting.
1. Tongue Twister Challenge
Give pupils a classic tongue twister (or let them invent their own!) and see who can perform it the fastest without stumbling.
👉 Why it works: Builds fluency, rhythm, and confidence in speaking aloud.
2. Words Within Words
Write a long word on the board (e.g. celebration). Challenge pupils to find as many smaller words hidden inside as they can, then turn them into a short poem.
👉 Why it works: Sharpens spelling, vocabulary, and lateral thinking.
3. Calligram Quick-Fire
Ask pupils to take one word (like fireworks or storm) and sketch it out in a shape that matches its meaning. This is perfect as a five-minute creative starter.
👉 Why it works: Combines visual and verbal creativity, helping children see words in new ways.
4. Rhyme Race
Give the class a starter word (like cat). In one minute, groups must come up with as many rhyming words as possible. Bonus points if they can string some into a silly two-line rhyme.
👉 Why it works: Gets children thinking about rhyme and rhythm quickly.
5. Performance Echo
Choose a short poem or stanza. Read a line aloud and have the class echo it back in different voices — whispering, shouting, robot, opera singer!
👉 Why it works: Builds memory, rhythm, and expressive performance skills.
6. Simile Sprint
Challenge pupils to create as many similes as possible in three minutes, e.g. as fast as lightning, as grumpy as a Monday morning. Share the best ones aloud.
👉 Why it works: Expands descriptive vocabulary and sparks imaginative thinking.
Teacher Tips
Keep warm-ups short (5 minutes max) so they energise without eating into lesson time.
Use them regularly — consistency helps pupils build confidence with language.
Celebrate creativity, not just accuracy. Mistakes often lead to the funniest or most original ideas!
Conclusion
Poetry warm-ups are a simple but powerful way to kickstart literacy lessons. They energise the classroom, break down barriers to writing, and remind children that poetry is playful as well as purposeful.
Looking for writing prompts instead? Try these 7 poetry starters for KS2.
If you’d like to give your pupils even more inspiration, book a poetry day with me. My workshops are packed with creative activities designed to build confidence, imagination, and a love of poetry in every child.
