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Resources
Poetry-writing activity sheets, downloadable templates, recommended poetry books, useful links, articles and more!
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Resources
Why poetry? Poet Mandy Coe explains why poetry is perfect for schools.
Out Loud: Poet Andy Croft, who works extensively in schools, explains how to get started with teaching poetry
Activity sheets
Click on the book covers to download free poetry-writing activity sheets based on Michael Rosen's books
Download a poetry activity sheet for Key Stage 1
Download a poetry activity sheet for Key Stage 2
Downloadable templates
Shape poem templates: download these templates to help pupils create their own concrete poems
Display templates: great ideas for displaying and publishing pupils' work including templates for bookmarks and an origami starbook
Poets in schools
Rhymery Primary: Poet Andy Croft tells us what bringing a poet into the classroom can do
A Visit from the Laureate: read about a school visit from Michael Rosen
Find out how to book a writer for a visit to your school
Useful links
Poetry organisations with resources for the classroom:
BBC Schools site for teachersThe Poetry Archive holds the most comprehensive collection of contemporary poets reading their own work in the UK. It includes areas for pupils, teachers as well as activities for the classroom
The Poetry Society features all things to do with poetry in the UK, including Poetryclass, the Poetry Society's 'online poetry classroom'.
The Poetry Library: a comprehensive source of information for poetry publications and poetry related activities.
The Children’s Poetry Bookshelf is a not-for-profit registered charity that allows schools to buy discount poetry books and provides practical poetry activities for the classroom.
The Scottish Poetry Library features an idea-bank, resources for teachers, information on competitions and programmes of live events.
Poems for… supplies small poem-posters for public display – in waiting rooms, classrooms and libraries
Teachers TV features thousands of TV shows for teachers, including a number featuring poetry.
Arts Council England: a site for teachers to explore funding for arts projects.
Arts Council Wales: a site to explore funding for arts projects.
Poetry 180 was created by Billy Collins (when he was the US poet Laureate) It is based at the Library of Congress and is designed specifically for high schools. It contains an excellent list of poems designed to be read every day of the school year (hence the 180).Stimulus for poetry activities in the classroom:
When writing, children relish images, music and ideas that stimulate the imagination. Here are a few classic sites:
NASSA, site for educators, teaching ideas and a wealth of images of the planets and outer space.
National Geographic, for stunning pictures of wildlife and the world around us.
The BBC’s online music clips library for schools.
The Tate’s online section for schools featuring a range of modern art.
The National Gallery’s resources for schools, including images from its collectionMore ideas:
Watch the world's first video poetry book on Michael Rosen's website. Michael performs all the poems from his book The Hypnotiser in individual video clips
Books
Visit our list of recommended books for the poetry friendly classroom
