Here is an interesting idea for a poetry workshop. Ask each student to write down an activity that they enjoy doing. Next, ask them to write down a list of adverbs associated with that activity. They could be as wacky and imaginative as they like. Finally, each student can use their adverbs as the starters for each line in their poem. You can model this first, encouraging poetic and imaginative language. Here are some lovely examples, written by Year 5 pupils during my recent visit to Aberdour School, Surrey. Check em out!
How To Ride a Horse by Brooke
Bravely,
Jumping higher than I have ever jumped before
Quickly,
Speeding around as fast as I can
Elegantly,
Trotting around the woods going nice and slow
Happily,
Walking around to finish the ride
Badly,
Falling off after refusing to do a jump
Sadly,
Being eliminated from a big competition
Crazily,
Standing up on the horse’s saddle
How To Do Gymnastics by Fay
Gracefully,
Flipping and tumbling across the floor
Excitedly,
Letting the adrenaline whoosh over you
Joyfully,
Dancing across the floor witha wide grin on your face
How To Dance by Isabelle
Gracefully, I dance like a beautiful swan on the lake
Angrily, stomping around when you are meant to be light on your feet
Stupidly, messing about when everyone else is doing the right thing
Sadly, hurting your head when you are in a competition
Happily, doing the right thing and smiling
What It’s Like To Sketch name omitted
Carefully,
With gentle movements
of the pencil
Calmly,
Forgetting about all worries
and everything around you
Happily,
Shaping the fragments of the picture,
bringing everything together
Judgefully,
Correcting the mistakes
How To Annoy Your Little Brother by Lia
Slyly, carefully making sure
No one can see
The horrid trick you’re playing
Happily, tickling him
Until his tummy
Is sore
Loudly and mischievously,
Helping everyone
To release the tension
