I have written many of my topic poems specifically for use in schools, so they are often about, or influenced by specific topics on the curriculum. Having been on a school trip to Murton Park, when the whole class ‘experienced’ the day as evacuees, I was inspired to write the following poems on the topic of World War Two. I deliberately wrote examples using different poem forms knowing that the national curriculum requires that children look at a range of poem forms, so these are all listed below, together with a brief description of what figurative writing or poetry techniques are used in each one.
Having done a World War Two workshop with year five children at Queen Primary, they produced some fantastic poems of different forms, including acrostic & shape poems, using lots of figurative language, such as alliteration and metaphors. Click here to go to the page of World War Two poems that the children wrote.
An evacuee’s luggage label, courtesy of St Albans museum
This rhyming, rhythmical shape poem is written in a list format but in the shape of a suitcase and includes a metaphor and a couple of moments of alliteration. Thinking of the moment during World War Two when a child was evacuated to the country, I tried to put all of the thoughts and feelings that I imagined into this shape poem.
This thought-provoking alphabet / list poem is filled with emotional realities which the city children of world war two were faced with during evacuation, and is all told in rhyme and rhythm, with lots of alliteration for effect. It has been selected for use by museums, exhibitions, and publishers as an example of world war poetry for children.
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This creative shape poem hints at the stiff upper lip attitude, as well as the boy’s eagerness to reassure Mum. It includes lots of emotion, plus creative word play in the address. [click to continue…]