Today you are going to write
a poem for Young Writers’
Wonderverse
poetry competition.
Grab a pen or open
Word, etc. to make your
notes…
Let’s get started!
Watch this video which introduces the activity:
https://youtu.be/ZMuWC3WQu2o
What Is A Poem?
Hands up if you have any ideas
about what makes a poem.
Here are our ideas:
A poem…
• Is a piece of writing
• Shares ideas or emotions
• Uses creative language
• Can include poetic techniques such as
simile, alliteration, repetition, etc.
• Can rhyme, but doesn’t have to!
• Could be in one verse, multiple verses or
in a specific style like an acrostic or
riddle.
Identifying Poetic Styles
Can you match these poems to the type of
poem they are?
sense poem
acrostic
riddle
kennings
Poetic Styles Answers
acrostic kennings
riddle
sense poem
Choose A Poetic Style
Which poetic style will you use for
your poem?
Tick the one you will use on your
planning sheet.
If you’re not sure, free verse is a good option
because it has no set rules!
Choose A Topic
Your teacher may give you a topic to write
your poem about.
If not, choose your own. There are ideas on
your planning sheet to help you if you’re
not sure what to write about.
Remember, in Wonderverse you can write
about ANYTHING.
Poem Ideas
Draw a picture of your subject, then write
down words and phrases connected to it.
TOP TIP: Use the senses to help you
describe your topic.
Sight
Smell
Touch
Sound
Taste
Start to write some lines for your
poem using the words and phrases
you have written.
Poetic Techniques
Using these techniques can help to
make your lines more poetic.
You don’t have to use all of them,
just including 1 or 2 can help to
improve your writing.
Alliteration
When multiple words begin with the
same sound or letter.
Original line:
The dragon breathed fire.
With alliteration:
Fierce flames fired from the dragon’s
mouth.
Repetition
Repeating a word or phrase.
Original lines:
Fierce flames fired from the dragon’s mouth,
The trees set on fire,
People were running.
With repetition:
Fierce flames fired from the dragon’s mouth,
Fierce flames set the trees on fire,
Fierce flames chased people from their homes.
Metaphor
Directly describing something as
something else.
Original line:
The dragon was really big.
With metaphor:
The dragon was a mountain.
Onomatopoeia
Words that sound like what they are
describing.
Original line:
Steam came out of the dragon’s nose.
With onomatopoeia:
Steam hissed from the dragon’s nose.
Simile
Describing something ‘like’ or
‘similar to’ something else.
Original line:
The dragon was really big.
With simile:
The dragon was as big as a mountain.
Rhyme
Words with the same sound, usually
at the end of lines (can also be within
lines too).
Original line:
The dragon flew through the skies,
Looking around for more food.
With rhyme:
The dragon flew through the skies,
Searching for food with glowing red eyes.
Tick which poetic technique(s) you
will use on your planning sheet.
See if you can add your chosen
technique(s) into your lines.
Time To Write
Now it’s time to write your poem!
Use your ideas along with what you have
learnt about poetic techniques.
It’s Peer Assessment Time
Share your work with a partner.
They will let you know what they liked about
your poem and give you a suggestion on how
it could be improved.
Then you do the same for them.
Submit Your Work
Make sure your name is on your work!
Then do one of the following:
• Hand in your form if you’ve written it on paper
• Submit your work if using the Online Writing Portal
