What a busy few weeks! Over the last couple of weeks I've taught 120 children poetry! Invaders and Settlers is obviously the theme of the moment as I've been doing Viking poetry in Year 2 and Roman poetry in Year 4. The children have been fabulous and some of the results are extraordinary.
Are you a poetry fan? Like anything, it's a matter of opinion. I, personally, adore poetry. But that doesn't mean to say that I like all poetry. When trying to get young children interested and excited by poetry you have to capture their imagination. Rhymes are always catchy, but I rarely use them. This is because children can often feel like they have to produce rhyming poetry and as I'm sure you know, that's not always easy!
One of the Year 2 classes didn't worry about that and threw themselves in to the more gory side to the Vikings. We had fabulous lines such as "The blood spurted all around" and "Daggers plunged in to stomachs" Very dramatic!
Across London in Year 4 they also liked the dramatic side and we had emotive lines such as:
Blood shooting out
Horror in their minds
Sent to an early grave as a consequence
Seeing your life coming to an end
Some great lines from Seraia there. The children in Year 4 were very keen on using alliteration. Bailey and Libby collaborated and decided that they would write a poem including alliteration and rhyme. Superstars. Here's their poem reproduced in full.
Fighting to their death
Catapults cut shields
Guts squirting blood
Stabbed sorely in stomachs
Dangerous daggers cause death
Swords and shields make great protection
Swords stabbing slaves
Blood pouring from their bodies
Brave soldiers sent to their graves
Dangerous weapons all over the place
Shields cracking skulls
Just fighting there's no grace
Crucifying as a consequence
All shields bashing
Lots of blood on the bodies
Long swords clashing
Deadly injuries to the head
Now they're dead!
I'm sure you'll agree that was a fabulous effort, especially as the children had yet to start studying the Romans - this was their introduction. Superb. I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the schools and working with all the children. I feel inspired and I'm off to write my own poem now. How about you?
Are you a poetry fan? Like anything, it's a matter of opinion. I, personally, adore poetry. But that doesn't mean to say that I like all poetry. When trying to get young children interested and excited by poetry you have to capture their imagination. Rhymes are always catchy, but I rarely use them. This is because children can often feel like they have to produce rhyming poetry and as I'm sure you know, that's not always easy!
One of the Year 2 classes didn't worry about that and threw themselves in to the more gory side to the Vikings. We had fabulous lines such as "The blood spurted all around" and "Daggers plunged in to stomachs" Very dramatic!
Across London in Year 4 they also liked the dramatic side and we had emotive lines such as:
Blood shooting out
Horror in their minds
Sent to an early grave as a consequence
Seeing your life coming to an end
Some great lines from Seraia there. The children in Year 4 were very keen on using alliteration. Bailey and Libby collaborated and decided that they would write a poem including alliteration and rhyme. Superstars. Here's their poem reproduced in full.
Fighting to their death
Catapults cut shields
Guts squirting blood
Stabbed sorely in stomachs
Dangerous daggers cause death
Swords and shields make great protection
Swords stabbing slaves
Blood pouring from their bodies
Brave soldiers sent to their graves
Dangerous weapons all over the place
Shields cracking skulls
Just fighting there's no grace
Crucifying as a consequence
All shields bashing
Lots of blood on the bodies
Long swords clashing
Deadly injuries to the head
Now they're dead!
I'm sure you'll agree that was a fabulous effort, especially as the children had yet to start studying the Romans - this was their introduction. Superb. I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the schools and working with all the children. I feel inspired and I'm off to write my own poem now. How about you?
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