PreparationPrior to the first lesson, ask your class to suggest their favourite bands or singers. Make a short list of 10 of their chosen artists or bands, and then select one song from each, varying in content and style.

Compile a handout for the pupils containing a section of each of their chosen songs, and attach a copy of the Poetry Techniques Sheet that we have provided for you.

IntroductionExplain to your class that they will be writing a poem for the Poetry Rivals competition, which could see them performing their poem as a spoken word artist. Explain that the music they love can teach them basic poetry techniques, and that essentially, music is another form of performance poetry.

Main Teaching ActivityDiscuss the examples of poetry techniques on the Poetry Techniques Sheet as a class, and ask pupils to identify where these techniques have been used within their chosen example songs. Also help them to identify the chorus and verses of the song, so that they will be able to see the structure of the song, and how it was constructed. Make notes on the board.

Ask pupils to choose a topic that will form the basis of their poem. This can be anything: something they care about, a place they’ve visited or a topic they are learning about in class. Brainstorm with the class on ideas and words associated with their chosen topic. This list should be as varied as possible. Include sights, smells, sounds, actions, feelings, people and places.

Now that they have plenty of ideas and an understanding of poetic terms, it’s time for them to write their own poem. Ask them to include at least three different poetic techniques, and to think about how the poem will be structured.

PlenaryThis is a 5 to 10 minute activity. Once pupils have written their own poems ask them to work in pairs. They are to read their poem to their partner. The partner is to provide feedback: something they like about the poem, and a suggestion of how it could be improved. To extend the activity to a second lesson, ask pupils to redraft, copy up and illustrate their poem.

Differentiation• For less advanced pupils, provide them with the subject of their poem, and three techniques that you would like

them to use. You could also suggest a list of words that you think would fit into their poem. If necessary, ask less advanced pupils to work in pairs or small groups to write their poem.

• To challenge more advanced pupils, assign a rhyming scheme for them to follow, give them more poetic tech-niques to use, or suggest a poetic form (please see the attached sheet).

NotesThis is a one-hour activity. Alternatively, the introductory work can be done in class (20 to 30 minutes) and the poem can be written as homework.

Poetry Rivals Poetry Techniques – Key Stage 3 Lesson Plan

Technique What is it? Example

SimileA direct comparison of two things using the

words ‘like’ or ‘as’Busy as a bee

MetaphorA way to describe something by comparing it

to something dissimilarYou are my sunshine

PersonificationWhen an inanimate object is given human-

like qualities or characteristicsThe light danced through the window

Hyperbole A great exaggeration I’ve told you a million times!

AlliterationUsing several words in a sentence that begin

with the same letter or soundAll the apples along the alleyway were

alright

Assonance Using a repetition of a vowel sound I will bake you a date cake

Consonance Using a repetition of a consonant sound Write a great paper by the due date

OnomatopoeiaWords that are noises, and sound like the

name of the wordPop, bang, sizzle, kapow

Repetition Repeating words or phrasesThere was no sound, there was no light,

there was no hope

Rhyme – End RhymeUsing words that sound alike, at the end of

lines

At the end of the lane,I felt some pain.

It was in my back,From carrying a sack.

Rhyme – Internal Rhyme

Using words that sound alike, within the middle of the line

In my pocket, I held a locket. In my pants, I had ants.

Poetry Techniques Sheet

Poetic Forms

AcrosticsThese are poems where the 1st letter of each line spells something out.

HaikusThese are 3 line poems of 17 syllables. The 1st line has 5 syllables, the 2nd line has 7 and the 3rd

line has 5 again.

TankasThese are 5 line poems with the 1st three lines as per a haiku, then a further 2 lines of 7 syllables.

CinquainsThese a 5 line poems where the 1st line is 2 syllables, the 2nd line 4, the 3rd line 6, the 4th line 8

and the last line 2 again.

LimericksThese are 5 line poems that tell a funny story. The 1st, 2nd and 5th line should rhyme and the 3rd

and 3th lines rhyme with each other.

KenningsThese poems are a set of descriptive words about a noun’s features. The words generally end in ‘er’. For example Dog Kennings could be tail wagger, food slobberer, cuddle lover. You either

have all the words hyphenated or leave all the hyphens out (except where a word is hyphenated according to the dictionary).

DiamanteThese are 7 line poems where the 1st and 7th line are single contradictory nouns. The 2nd and 6th lines have 2 adjectives each and describe the 1st and 7th lines respectively. The 3rd and 5th

lines should consist of 3 ‘ing’ adjectives describing the 1st and 7th lines respectively.

The central line consists of four words, the 1st two describing the word in the 1st line, the 2nd two describing the word in the 7th line.