During Key Stage 2, pupils should read and write a variety of styles of poetry. This resource focuses on acrostic poems, using abstract nouns which show feelings and emotions to create the themes for writing. There are opportunities to teach or revisit abstract nouns before pupils write their own poems. The use of emotive language in KS2 could also be explored, investigating how this can be used to describe the emotions in the acrostic poems.
Pupils can discuss feelings and emotions, and how it is normal to feel a range of these, covering aspects of primary statutory guidance for Health Education.
What is included in this Acrostic poems resource pack?
- Abstract nouns word mat
A selection of words like ‘beauty’, ‘truth’, ‘freedom’ and ‘love’ to help children with their poems
- Acrostic poem examples
Three examples of acrostic poems based on feelings and emotions
- Planning sheet
For children to write down ideas for their poems
- Acrostic poem writing sheets
Templates for writing acrostic poems on things like ‘fear’ and ‘love’, as well as blank lined and unlined sheets
- Teacher’s notes
What is an acrostic poem?
An acrostic poem is a poem where the first letter of each line spells out a word or phrase, which is typically the subject of the poem.
Usually those letters would be bigger or bolder or coloured in some way so you can easily see the word and spot that it is an acrostic poem.
What is an abstract noun?
Abstract nouns name things that cannot be observed using the five senses. Abstract nouns are ideas, feelings or a state of being such as beauty or suffering.
- He had a dream while he slept.
National Curriculum English programme of study links
Year 3/4
- Pupils should recognise some different forms of poetry.
- Pupils should plan their writing by discussing similar writing similar to that which they are planning to write in order to learn from its structure, vocabulary and grammar.
Year 5 /6
- Pupils should discuss and evaluate how authors use language, including figurative language, considering the impact on the reader.
- Pupils should draft and write by selecting appropriate grammar and vocabulary, understanding how such choices can change and enhance meaning.