The Ultimate Guide to Teaching Poetry in KS2

Poetry has a unique power in the classroom. It can make children laugh, spark their imagination, and build confidence in reading, writing, and performance. In Key Stage 2, poetry isn’t just a fun extra — it’s a vital part of the curriculum. From learning poems by heart to writing their own verses, pupils are expected to engage with poetry regularly.

This guide will give you everything you need to know about teaching poetry in KS2 — from curriculum aims to fun classroom activities, recommended poems, and tips for making poetry lessons enjoyable and memorable.

Poetry in the KS2 Curriculum

The National Curriculum requires pupils in KS2 to:

• Read and discuss a wide range of poetry, including classic and modern texts.

• Recognise how structure, rhythm, and rhyme contribute to meaning.

• Learn poems by heart and perform them aloud with expression.

• Write their own poems using a range of forms and techniques.

👉 This means poetry lessons should go beyond reading — they should involve writing, performing, and enjoying poetry as a living art form.

Core Poetry Skills in KS2

1. Memorising and Reciting

Learning poems by heart helps children with memory, fluency, and performance skills. Short, rhythmic poems work best for beginners, while older pupils can tackle more complex verses.

2. Writing Poetry

Children should experiment with different forms: kennings, calligrams, shape poems, narrative poetry, and even rap. These structures provide a scaffold that makes creative writing less intimidating.

3. Performing Poetry

Performance develops confidence, teamwork, and expressive language. Choral poetry, echo reading, and poetry slams are all brilliant ways to bring poems alive.

4. Analysing Poetry

Encourage pupils to think about why a poet chose certain words, rhythms, or images. Analysis in KS2 should be light-touch — more about sparking discussion than deep literary critique.

10 Fun Poetry Activities for KS2

Here are ten tried-and-tested activities to make poetry lessons engaging:

1. Blackout Poems – Create new poems by blacking out words from existing texts. [Read more here.]

2. Kennings – Two-word descriptive phrases that turn into riddles. [Explore kennings here.]

3. Calligrams – Words arranged in shapes to show meaning visually. [Try calligrams here.]

4. Narrative Poems – Retelling stories in verse form. [Learn more here.]

5. Rhyme & Rhythm Games – Clap out syllables and play rhyme races. [Activities here.]

6. Tongue Twisters – Fun warm-ups to build fluency. [Ideas here.]

7. Poetry Warm-Ups – Quick five-minute activities to spark creativity. [Read more here.]

8. Rap Poetry – Write and perform raps about school life. [Read more here.]

9. Shape Poems – Festive or seasonal shapes like snowmen, trees, or animals. [Read more here.]

10. Performance Slam – Pupils perform their own work in a fun, supportive setting. [Read more here.]

👉 Each of these activities supports National Curriculum objectives while keeping lessons lively and creative.

Poems to Try with KS2

Here are a few brilliant poems that work well for performance and analysis:

• Gran Can You Rap? – Jack Ousbey

• Walking With My Iguana – Brian Moses

• Please Mrs Butler – Allan Ahlberg

• The Ning Nang Nong – Spike Milligan

• The New Kid on the Block – Jack Prelutsky

• The Dinner Lady Dance – Ian Bland

Teacher Tips for Teaching Poetry in KS2

• Use poetry regularly, not just for a one-off unit.

• Keep lessons playful — let children experiment with rhythm, rhyme, and performance.

• Encourage group work to build confidence before moving to solo performances.

• Link poetry to themes across the curriculum (friendship, history, celebrations).

• Celebrate effort as much as accuracy — creativity thrives in a supportive environment.

FAQs About Teaching Poetry in KS2

How often should poetry be taught in KS2?
Ideally, poetry should appear throughout the year — both in dedicated units and as warm-ups in literacy lessons.

What types of poems work best?
Start with short, humorous, and rhythmic poems. Performance poems and playful verse often hook reluctant learners.

Can poetry improve children’s writing?
Yes — poetry builds vocabulary, sentence fluency, and confidence. It encourages risk-taking with language that transfers into all areas of writing.

Can a visiting poet support teaching?
Absolutely. A poet visit can combine performance, writing, and curriculum-linked activities in one day, leaving teachers with fresh ideas and children with unforgettable experiences.

Conclusion

Teaching poetry in KS2 should be joyful, engaging, and creative. By exploring a range of forms, encouraging performance, and weaving poetry into regular lessons, you can meet curriculum aims while helping children discover a lifelong love of language.

Poems to Try

If you’d like to see poetry come alive in your classroom, book a poetry day with me. My workshops are packed with performance, creativity, and writing activities that inspire pupils and support teachers in delivering the curriculum. Looking for staff training? Explore my Poetry CPD for primary teachers here.