Primary Poetry

Understanding Poetry With Joseph Coelho

Joseph Coelho explains how poetry is fun, achievable and can open up new ways of expressing your own emotions and thoughts.

Poetry | Zig & Zag's Zogcasts

Zig and Zag report to back to Zog about what poetry is to Earthlings. Zag explains that anyone can be a poet; you write words down and they don...

Winter : It's Time for Poetry | JoJo & Gran Gran

JoJo and Gran Gran read poetry at the library and are inspired to write their own.

Poetry in Motion | Apple Tree House

David is super-excited at the prospect of writing a poem for the Apple Tree community poetry event. As David tries to write about his tra...

Pond Prose | Sarah & Duck

Sarah is inspired by listening to a poetry record and decides to make up some poetry of her own.

Writing and Performance Poetry | BBC Teach Live Lessons

This Live Lesson explores the theme of change and includes reading, performance and critical analysis of similes and ...

KS1/First Level - Michael Rosen Poetry | BBC Teach Live Lessons

After hearing poems from Michael Rosen's A Great Big Cuddle collection, Rhys Stephenson and Mr Smith learn ab...

KS2/Second Level - Poetry | BBC Teach Live Lessons

Presenter and journalist Ayshah Tull and professional poet Mark Grist explore the world of poetry. Together with special g...

National Poetry Day 2022 | BBC Teach Live Lessons

Katie Thistleton joins new children's laureate Joseph Coelho live from Newstead Abbey for a fantastic Live Lesson to celebr...

3: Imaginary Words | Let's Write Poetry: The Big Slam

Four children go on a week-long course in poetry writing. With help from poet Paul Lyalls, they must write their own im...

2: Memories | Let's Write Poetry: The Big Slam

Four children are taken to Devon for a crash course in poetry. Sunesh, Corey, Aziza and Frandella must write a free verse poem...

1: Observation | Let's Write Poetry: The Big Slam

Series exploring reading and writing poetry in all its diversity. The children are challenged to write a free verse poem on...

4: Rhythm, Rap and Rhyme | Let's Write Poetry: The Big Slam

A series exploring reading and writing poetry in all its diversity. Ben, Carys, Abigail and Leon are challenged t...

Bits of Early Days (poem) | Let's Write Poetry: The Big Slam

James Berry reads his poem "Bits of Early Days" and Sunesh reveals what he thought of it.

Fishbones Dreaming (poem) | Let's Write Poetry: The Big Slam

The kids listen to Matthew Sweeney's poem, which informs them they can write about a memory that isn't theirs.

Objects and hearing for inspiration | Let's Write Poetry: The Big Slam

The kids blindfold themselves and hone their hearing skills as well as pick objects as inspiration for...

Jabberwocky | Let's Write Poetry: The Big Slam

Zoe Wanamaker performs "Jabberwocky" by Lewis Carroll and the kids give their thoughts on it.

Observing for poetry | Let's Write Poetry: The Big Slam

The kids explore the farm and are told to be wary of their senses, and use what they discover for their inspiration.

Poet Brian Pattern | Let's Write Poetry: The Big Slam

Famous poet Brian Pattern reads the children one of his poems and gives them advice for theirs.

Poet Kit Wright | Let's Write Poetry: The Big Slam

Kit Wright performs his poem "The Magic Box" and gives the kids advice on using their imagination for their poems.

Poet Michael Rosen | Let's Write Poetry: The Big Slam

Michael Rosen comes to perform his routine about chocolate cake and the kids have some questions for him.

Poet Valerie Bloom | Let's Write Poetry: The Big Slam

Valerie Bloom gets the kids to help her perform her rhyming poem "Pinda Cake".

Similes in poetry | Let's Write Poetry: The Big Slam

With locusts let loose in the room, the children are asked to use similes in their poems to describe them.

The Door | Let's Write Poetry: The Big Slam

After a performance of "The Door" by Miroslav Holub, the kids have a go at creating a similar poem.

The Dragon Who Ate Our School (poem) | Let's Write Poetry: The Big Slam

Nick Toczek performs his rhyming poem with the help of some schoolchildren.

The Magnificent Bull (poem) | Let's Write Poetry: The Big Slam

The children listen and watch a filmed traditional poem from the Dinka tribe, then reveal what they thought of...

The Sound Collector (poem) | Let's Write Poetry: The Big Slam

Roger McGough performs his poem "The Sound Collector".

The Visitor | Let's Write Poetry: The Big Slam

Ian Serraillier's poem "The Visitor" is performed and the kids explain what they like about it.

Using memory and object | Let's Write Poetry: The Big Slam

The kids use objects they find and create memories for them through poetry.

We Are Not Alone | Let's Write Poetry: The Big Slam

Paul Cookson performs his rhyming poem "We Are Not Alone".

Final performance | Let's Write Poetry: The Big Slam

The kids get to perform the final draft of their observational poems in front of the others.

Final performance 2 | Let's Write Poetry: The Big Slam

The kids get to perform the final draft of their poems about memory in front of the others.

Final performance 3 | Let's Write Poetry: The Big Slam

The kids get to perform the final draft of their imaginative poems in front of the others.

Final Performance 4 | Let's Write Poetry: The Big Slam

The kids get to perform the final draft of their rhyming and rhythmic poems.

Beats | Poetry Playtime

Michael Rosen has fun with words and sounds to create a beat within a poem.

Chorus And In-Between | Poetry Playtime

Michael Rosen tells us how to use a word at the start and the end of a poem.

Sound Bed | Poetry Playtime

Michael Rosen tells us about using words and noises to make a sound bed for a poem.

Here I Am | Poetry Playtime

Michael Rosen tells us how to make poems by saying what we can do and who we are.

Repetition | Poetry Playtime

Michael Rosen uses repeating words to make patterns and rhymes.

Riddles | Poetry Playtime

Michael Rosen describes everyday things in unusual and different ways to make riddles.

Wordplay | Poetry Playtime

Michael Rosen creates funny poems with wordplay.

Short And Long | Poetry Playtime

Michael Rosen looks at poems that have both long words and short words side by side.

Rhyme | Poetry Playtime

Michael Rosen looks at rhyming words in poems.

Question And Answer | Poetry Playtime

Michael Rosen makes up silly poems from questions and answers.

Bears and Other Animals | The Rhyme Rocket

The Rhyme Rocket passes a poem by Stewart Henderson and beams aboard an out-of-this-world performer, Grace Savage.

Colours | The Rhyme Rocket

First Officer Ditty and Professor Poet have decided to surprise Commander Rhyme-a-Lot by painting the rhyme rocket in a new colour scheme.

Food and Drink | The Rhyme Rocket

After receiving a signal of rhyme activity from children in Stockport, the team go on a journey through the universe of words to join them.

Holidays | The Rhyme Rocket

Professor Poet's holiday plans are put on hold when the team pick up a signal of rhyme activity from children in Edinburgh.

Space | The Rhyme Rocket

Professor Poet has a new telescope but his astronomy is interrupted when the team pick up a signal of rhyme activity from children in Edinburgh.

Games | The Rhyme Rocket

After picking up a signal of rhyme activity from children in Cardiff the team blast off on a journey through the universe of words to join them.

Music | The Rhyme Rocket

The team pick up a signal of rhyme activity from children in Belfast and blast off on a journey through the universe of words to join them.

Transport | The Rhyme Rocket

After receiving a signal of rhyme activity from children in Belfast the team blast off on a journey through the universe of words to join them.

Weather | The Rhyme Rocket

The team receive a signal of rhyme activity from children in Leicester and blast off on a journey through the universe of words to join them.

Body | The Rhyme Rocket

After receiving a signal of rhyme activity from children in Birmingham the team blast off on a journey through the universe of words to join them.

Numbers | The Rhyme Rocket

After receiving a signal from Rhyme Recruits about to perform a poem in Washington the crew blast off to join them.

Clothes | The Rhyme Rocket

After receiving a signal from Rhyme Recruits about to perform a poem in Armagh, the crew blast off to join them.

Plants | The Rhyme Rocket

When they receive a signal from Rhyme Recruits about to perform a poem in London, the crew blast off to join them.

Art | The Rhyme Rocket

After receiving a signal of rhyme activity from Rhyme Recruits in Salford, the team blast off to join them.

Family and Friends | The Rhyme Rocket

After receiving a signal of rhyme activity from Rhyme Recruits in London, the team blast off to join them and collect their poem.

Bugs | The Rhyme Rocket

When they receive a signal from Rhyme Recruits about to perform a poem in Glasgow, the crew blast off to join them.

Toys | The Rhyme Rocket

When they detect rhyming signals coming from Rhyme Recruits about to perform a poem in Salford, the team blast off to join them.

Jobs | The Rhyme Rocket

The crew detect a signal from Rhyme Recruits about to perform a poem in Armagh and blast off to join them.

Buildings | The Rhyme Rocket

After receiving a signal of rhyme activity from children in Washington, the crew blast off to join them.

Pets | The Rhyme Rocket

The crew receive a signal from Rhyme Recruits in Glasgow who are about to perform a poem and blast off to join them.

Episode 1 | Poetry Pie

Freda the flat-footed fairy is unhappy, and the animals find out what never to do with a potty.

Episode 2 | Poetry Pie

A hamster teaches her friends to dance and we find out what the naughty worms are up to today.

Episode 3 | Poetry Pie

Findlay the dragon and his friends battle with some wild weather and we meet an alien dog.

Episode 4 | Poetry Pie

We investigate a noise coming from the big cave and find out who has got magic feet.

Episode 5 | Poetry Pie

A cow is doing ballet, and the friends ask how all those kettles ended up under the sea.

Episode 6 | Poetry Pie

Featuring hiding fish and a hamster that may really be a dragonfly.

Episode 7 | Poetry Pie

Featuring poor old Pinkasaurus who can never play hide-and-seek, and a visit to the funniest zoo in the world.

Episode 8 | Poetry Pie

In this episode, a search for beetles, flying hovercrafts, and worms that are let loose in the playground.

Episode 9 | Poetry Pie

The dinosaurs are having a ball, and the worms have been naughty again.

Episode 10 | Poetry Pie

A tiger sneezes and loses all of his stripes.

Episode 11 | Poetry Pie

The giant has left his bath running and the worms are let loose in the kitchen bin.

Episode 12 | Poetry Pie

Featuring plastic bags that grow on trees and the worms are grooving on down.

Episode 13 | Poetry Pie

Featuring a kangaroo, a naughty bird and a dragon eating rhyme cakes, not to mention those cheeky worms.

Episode 14 | Poetry Pie

There are some new taps in a special poem from Ian McMillan. Also including a pig on a trampoline.

Episode 15 | Poetry Pie

Featuring an alien robot, a dancing hamster and with an inquisitive hermit crab thrown in.

Episode 16 | Poetry Pie

Featuring pirates, pancakes and a dangerous raison.

Episode 17 | Poetry Pie

Featuring a hamster with a secret to tell and some blue grass. Also, the worms are let loose in the kitchen.

Episode 18 | Poetry Pie

Featuring lessons on how to catch a star, hamster and friends celebrate Holi and the worms are at the ocean.

Episode 19 | Poetry Pie

Discover what the first football looked like and learn where not to put your potty. Also, the worms have a party.

Episode 20 | Poetry Pie

A cheeky little spider gives a puppy the run around.

Episode 21 | Poetry Pie

Newly baked and fresh today, eat while hot or take away! The Poetry Pie is ready for adventure and out pop a cast of animal friends who act, dance an...

Episode 22 | Poetry Pie

Newly baked and fresh today, eat while hot or take away! The Poetry Pie is ready for adventure and out pop a cast of animal friends who act, dance an...

Episode 23 | Poetry Pie

Newly baked and fresh today, eat while hot or take away! The Poetry Pie is ready for adventure and out pop a cast of animal friends who act, dance an...

Episode 24 | Poetry Pie

Newly baked and fresh today, eat while hot or take away! The Poetry Pie is ready for adventure and out pop a cast of animal friends who act, dance an...

Episode 25 | Poetry Pie

Newly baked and fresh today, eat while hot or take away! The Poetry Pie is ready for adventure and out pop a cast of animal friends who act, dance an...

Episode 26 | Poetry Pie

Join Freda the flat-footed fairy. Featuring poems by Roger McGough, Roger Stevens, Colin West, Mike Kivi and Wes Magee.

Episode 27 | Poetry Pie

A superfast mum and hamster bops to the beat.

Episode 28 | Poetry Pie

Hamster and friends go on a solar tour and the worms get catty at the seaside.

Episode 29 | Poetry Pie

Find out what is in grandad's shed, and the worms get close with some cows. Featuring poems by Roger McGough, Valerie Bloom and Coral Rumble.

Episode 30 | Poetry Pie

Farmer Brown's wellies run away and he tries his best to catch them. Featuring poems by Roger McGough and Mike Jubb.

I Don't Want to Go to Bed | Magic Hands

Ashley's toys spring to life in Robert Louis Stevenson's The Land of Counterpane.

Yum, Yum! | Magic Hands

Donna has a lot of messy fun with Gareth Lancaster's Chocolate Cake

My Mischievous Pup | Magic Hands

Ashley battles with his dog in Kenn Nesbitt's My Dog Ate My Homework.

Up, Up and Away | Magic Hands

Aimee sets about building a rocket to take her to some fantastic places in Gareth Lancaster's I'm Building a Rocket.

Home Sweet Home | Magic Hands

In James Carter's Home Maker, Donna looks at all the things that make up planet Earth.

Sleepy Head | Magic Hands

Ashley is transported to a faraway land in Robert Louis Stevenson's The Land of Nod.

A Trip to the Stars | Magic Hands

In Gareth Lancaster's Sailing out to Space, Simon explores the planets that make up the universe.

My Friends and Me | Magic Hands

Donna meets a princess who likes to make up her own rules in Roger Stevens's I Am a Princess.

What Are Girls Like? | Magic Hands

Aimee meets the famous little girl with a curl in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's There Was a Little Girl.

Surprise Surprise | Magic Hands

Simon receives a very big present and wonders what it could be in Michaela Morgan's A Big Surprise.

Starry Night | Magic Hands

Ashley meets a mysterious highwayman in Robert Louis Stevenson's Windy Nights.

My Favourite Toy | Magic Hands

Aimee loses her favourite doll in Charles Kingsley's Little Doll.

Spooky Spells | Magic Hands

Ashley meets frogs and newts in Shakespeare's Witches' Spell.

What a Splash! | Magic Hands

Donna has a lot of fun making bubbles in Gareth Lancaster's Bubble Bath. But will it go horribly wrong?

My Friendly Shadow | Magic Hands

Ashley has lots of fun with his shadow in Robert Louis Stevenson's My Shadow.

Fly, Fly Away | Magic Hands

Simon meets a rather nervous kite who is afraid of flying in Katharine Pyle's The Little Kite Who Learnt to Fly.

It's a Colourful World | Magic Hands

Ashley explores the many colours of the world in Christina Rossetti's What Is Pink?

Here Comes the Sun | Magic Hands

Donna wonders where the sun goes at night in Gareth Lancaster's The Sun.

The Garden Year | Magic Hands

Aimee explores all the things that happen in the garden over the seasons in Sara Coleridge's The Months.

Looking After Animals | Magic Hands

Ashley learns that animals need to be treated well in Kindness to Animals.

I Am Brave! | Magic Hands

In Maya Angelou's Life Doesn't Frighten Me, Donna stands up to things that are a little bit scary!

Sailing Down the Stream | Magic Hands

Simon launches some boats to see where they will go in Rabindranath Tagore's Paper Boats.

Growing Up | Magic Hands

Donna explores all the exciting jobs she could have in Grace Andreacchi's When I Grow Up.

What's the Time? | Magic Hands

Ashley oversleeps and hurries to catch the bus in Gareth Lancaster's I'm Late for School.

Another World! | Magic Hands

In Robert Louis Stevenson's The Land of Storybooks, Aimee is transported to a faraway land by her book.

Yo Ho Me Hearties! | Magic Hands

Ashley samples a pirate's life in Tony Bradman's I Wish I Was a Pirate.

Fruity Fun! | Magic Hands

Aimee makes a visit to the zoo where she meets a famous monkey in Judie Eberhardt's The Monkey at the Zoo.

Where's the Light? | Magic Hands

Aimee realises that there is nothing scary about the dark in James Carter's The Dark.

I Love Reading! | Magic Hands

Donna picks up a book and meets several magical characters in Grace Andreacchi's Books.

What's That Noise? | Magic Hands

In Phil Bowen's Sound Poem, Simon discovers what makes the exciting sounds that people hear every day!

Stargazing Special | Magic Hands

Ashley, Aimee and Donna take a telescope to the sky at night to bring Magic Hands mischief to a celebration of the stars.