What’s the worst thing you’ve ever tasted? Be inspired by some Michael Rosen poems and use exaggeration to write your own hilarious versions…
Children benefit enormously from being able to write from their experience in a poetry classroom – putting things that matter to them down on paper, in curious and well-considered ways. But they often ask whether their poem needs to be true.
In this short lesson, children will explore what truth can look like in their creative writing. There are lots of shades of ambiguity between complete truths and complete lies, and poetry can allow children to play with that interesting space between the poles.
What they’ll learn
- Explore how writers can embed their truths and experiences in their writing
- Play with concepts of true, false and exaggeration
- Anecdotal storytelling techniques
- KS2 poems performance ideas, especially when performing to camera
- Watch and respond to the poetry of Michael Rosen
Starter activity
Authentic writing from children often grows from good conversation. The exchange of stories and anecdotes around a theme can support everybody to generate their own ideas.
Certain themes are universal components of our social lives. Food is a great example. Ask the children to tell stories to each other about the best and worst things that they’ve ever tasted.
Did they taste the bad stuff on purpose or accidentally? Let some children share with the whole class if they like. Let pupils know that poets ‘harness’ experiences like this. Watch Michael Rosen’s poem story Fridge from his YouTube channel.
This download contains
- Full PDF lesson plan
Jonny Walker is a teacher-writer, currently teaching poetry in primary schools across east London. He is the author of Michael Rosen’s Poetry Videos: How To Get Kids Writing And Performing Poems Too, written with Michael Rosen. Follow Jonny on Twitter at @jonnywalker_edu.
