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.

Autumn – The Prince of Change

9 June 2015

Season Poem   This illustrated season poem, from my “Picturing The Seasons” collection, is a lovely example of personification and imagery and includes masses of metaphors and alliteration.   Autumn is here!  The Prince canters by, His red chestnut stallion on show. His golden locks trail on the cool, gentle breeze As he waves, with […]

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A Poem With Purpose

9 June 2015

An Encouragement Poem This encouragement, list poem is creatively written to include a list of metaphors and is a lovely encouragement to someone who doesn’t recognise their own value and purpose……   What is a poem if no-body reads it? What is a favour if no-body needs it? What is a present, if no-body gives? […]

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An Easter Visitor

9 March 2015

Easter Poems   This is a fun Easter performance poem intended to be read by a teacher to the children at school on the morning when Easter bunny has visited!  It’s based on my memory of the paw prints left in our classroom each year when we found our Easter egg in class.   Last […]

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My Homebaked Mum

3 March 2014

  Full of amusing word play, this simple Mothers’ Day performance poem is very effective with just a few basic baking props, and a child dressed in an apron.  I have provided a downloadable picture sheet containing each of the ingredients that are added to the recipe to make “My Homebaked Mum”, so that they […]

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Someone Special

3 March 2014

This Mother’s Day Performance poem is deliberately non-exclusive to Mums, so that it can be used even if you have some children in your class or group who are cared for by someone other than Mum.  Maybe each child could draw a picture of their own Mum or carer, and the poem / song could […]

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You’re My Mum / You’re Special

3 March 2014

This Mother’s Day song is purpose written to be easily remembered, and has the ‘cute’ factor, so it’s great for younger children.  The alternative words “You’re Special”  make it possible to use without specifically referring to ‘Mum’ thereby accommodating a host of difficult circumstances by simply celebrating ‘Someone Special’  in general, rather than mums specifically, […]

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My Promise to Nelson Mandela

6 December 2013

I wept this morning for a man I never even met! I wept because I am afraid….lest the world forget! I realised that each of us has a part to play To keep what Nelson stood for alive from day to day.

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Grandpa’s Nativity Story Play Script

3 September 2013

This 25 minute nativity play  tells the traditional, bible based nativity and blends the story with a modern Christmas Eve in a fun way using rhyming narration and including… the nativity story for Grandpa to READ (no script to learn) 22 short rhyming speaking parts (averaging 2 to 4 lines) (Can easily be shared differently for a […]

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The Day that Baby Jesus Came to Town Nativity Play

2 September 2013

Perfect for a mixed age or all school performance, this fun bible based 25 minute nativity play is told…. through a rhyming narration by the innkeeper’s wife with lots of humour, attitude and sarcasm Using her pre-printed ‘diary’ so her story can be told by reading, (NO NEED TO LEARN) Including 24 short rhyming speaking parts  (can easily […]

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Children’s Nativity Story Play script

1 September 2013

This traditional, bible based 25 minute nativity play is told through a rhyming narration, with lots of gentle humour and includes lots of short rhyming speaking parts for actors which are written to be easily adapted to your cast size. It is flexible and adaptable for ANY CAST SIZE (customer feedback has the smallest to date as […]

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