POEMS ARRANGED BY EVENT OR TOPIC

I am aware that poetry is often difficult to ‘fit in’ to the teaching curriculum when there are so many other priorities, and I have found that a good way to address it is to combine it with a topic that is being taught. The right poems can therefore educate on a topical level as well as a figurative language level, so when I find the inspiration I research subjects and write poems specifically for this purpose. I have therefore listed many of my poems into categories according to the subject, event or topic that they relate to, and have included any research that I have found useful where appropriate. All of my poems which fit into topicwork are listed below, but I have separated them further into specific topics of ENCOURAGEMENT AND INSPIRATION, FOOD, HISTORY AND EVENTS, (PEOPLE & HISTORIC EVENTS, TUDORS, VICTORIAN MINING, WORLD WAR TWO), NATURE, CREATION & THE WORLD ABOUT US (ANIMALS, FLOWERS PLANTS AND TREES, INSECTS/ MINIBEASTS/ SPIDERS, SEASIDE, SEASONS, WEATHER), SEASONAL POEMS (BONFIRE NIGHT POEMS, CHRISTMAS POEMS, HARVEST/ THANKSGIVING POEMS AND SONGS, MOTHERS DAY PERFORMANCE POEMS AND SONGS), and finally SENSES POEMS. Each of these are listed in the drop down menu from the TOPIC POEMS, and will therefore provide a smaller, more specific list of the poems which will interest you.

Rotherham Ambassador Award

30 January 2012

This rhyming, rhythmic letter poem is full of genuine and personal emotion as I wrote it on the day that I received an award at the Rotherham Learning Ambassadors Celebration in June 2010.  It also includes metaphors, hyperbole, and a simile.

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Poor Little Pit Pony

30 January 2012

This acrostic poem includes alliteration and is inspired by a visit to Wakefield Coal Mining Museum where a visit underground helps to build up some empathy for the kind of life the pit ponies had.

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Picturing Autumn Thoughts

30 January 2012

  This shape poem uses lots of random, independent thoughts about autumn which have then been placed on the page as a picture, creating what is otherwise known as a calligram. It includes lots of metaphors, personification and imagery with some alliteration.

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Our Safe Place

30 January 2012

This poem is intended to be placed somewhere in the home, identifying that place as somewhere to speak freely and openly about the things we find it hard to discuss.  My hope is that it will encourage the development of a feeling of safety, openness and honesty within families, so that feelings aren’t left buried […]

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My Mum’s Menagerie

29 January 2012

This silly word play poem is full of lots of animal sayings that have double meanings.

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Ministry of Defence Calling!

28 January 2012

VROOP VROOP! Red alert! Aliens have landed. Their spaceship is on fire…. It looks like they are stranded.

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Minibeasts

28 January 2012

This rhyming list poem, includes a variety of minibeasts and includes lots of small references to their habitats and behaviour.

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Laughter and Progress : Best Friends Forever

28 January 2012

This story poem uses word play to make the case  that it’s good for education to be fun and that laughter helps us to make progress, whilst remembering that we must get the balance right too.  Read it, first of all as a story about Laughter and Progress as two living beings.  Then read it […]

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Horse: A Champion in His Field

28 January 2012

This descriptive ‘story’ poem uses rhythm to give emphasis to the subject, and is FULL of figurative language.  It includes an enormous amount of alliteration, imagery and metaphors, with a small amount of personification and word play.

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Healthy Food

28 January 2012

The humour in this silly healthy food poem is in the use of lots of word play and hyperbole (exaggeration for effect), with the occasional metaphor, and a tiny amount of alliteration.

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