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National Poetry Day | EYFS & KS1 Activity Ideas

July 3, 2025 Stuart Murphy

**Note: This page is for educational inspiration and is not officially affiliated with National Poetry Day. National Poetry Day is an initiative of the Forward Arts Foundation (a registered charity) in the UK. For official information and to find out more, please visit their website (www.nationalpoetryday.co.uk).

Understanding National Poetry Day in EYFS & KS1

Let's make some rhymes! National Poetry Day is a much-loved annual celebration of poetry and all things verse in the UK. Organised by the Forward Arts Foundation, it takes place on the first Thursday of October (which this year falls on October 2nd, 2025). The day encourages everyone to enjoy, discover, and share poetry in all its forms. Each year features a new theme, providing fresh inspiration for poets and poetry lovers alike.

For early years settings, nurseries, preschools, childminders, and Year 1 and Year 2 classrooms, this day provides a wonderfully rhythmic and expressive theme for exploring language, creativity, sounds, and emotions. It's about introducing children to the beauty of words, the joy of rhyme, and the power of expressing themselves through verse. This day offers fantastic planning ideas and inspiration for engaging activities that truly resonate with young minds, making learning about literacy and self-expression both enchanting and rewarding.

Why Is Teaching About Poetry & Rhyme Important for Young Children?

Integrating lessons about poetry and rhyme into your practice with young children (aged 0-7) develops their language development, literacy skills, and creative thinking. Before children learn to read and write formally, rhythm and rhyme are powerful tools for building phonological awareness.

  • Phonological Awareness: Exposure to rhymes, alliteration, and repetitive sounds helps children develop crucial pre-reading skills, making it easier to hear and manipulate sounds in words.

  • Vocabulary Expansion: Poetry often introduces new words in a memorable and engaging context, boosting a child's vocabulary.

  • Language Development: Listening to and reciting poetry enhances listening skills, rhythm, and intonation, which are vital for clear communication.

  • Creativity & Imagination: Poetry encourages children to play with words, express their imaginations, and explore emotions in a structured yet expressive way.

  • Memory Skills: The repetitive nature and rhythm of poetry make it easy and fun for children to memorize, which strengthens their memory.

  • Emotional Expression: Poetry can be a gentle way for children to understand and express feelings, whether through listening to a poem about sadness or creating one about joy.

Engaging Poetry & Rhyme Activities for National Poetry Day (0-7 Year Olds)

Make National Poetry Day a truly lyrical and imaginative experience with these planning ideas and activities perfect for EYFS and KS1 children. The focus is on playing with words, listening to sounds, and celebrating the joy of verse! To browse more 'Drawing Activities for EYFS & KS1 Children', please visit our dedicated 'EYFS & KS1 poetry & rhyme' page.

Here's some inspiration for bringing poetry to life in your setting: (Please use your own discretion and knowledge of your children to ensure appropriateness of each activity and safety concerning any materials given and activity undertaken.)

  • Rhyming Word Games: Play simple games where children identify rhyming words (e.g., "cat, hat, mat"). You can use picture cards or objects. Challenge them to come up with their own rhyming pairs.

  • Poetry Walk/Scavenger Hunt: Go on a "poetry walk" around your setting or outdoor area. Encourage children to observe what they see, hear, smell, and feel, and then use those observations to inspire simple poems or rhyming phrases (e.g., "A green leaf, a brown tree, what a wonderful sight to see!").

  • Read Aloud a Variety of Poems: Share different types of poems with the children – funny poems, short poems, poems with strong rhythms, and poems that tell a story. Emphasize the sound and feel of the words as you read.

  • Create a Class Poem: As a group, brainstorm ideas around a chosen theme (e.g., "Our favourite animals," "What we see in our garden"). Write down their words and try to arrange them into a simple poem, perhaps with repeating lines or a clear rhythm.

  • Acrostic Name Poems: For children in Reception and KS1, help them write simple acrostic poems using their names, where each letter of their name starts a word or phrase that describes them.

  • Movement to Poetry: Read a poem with strong rhythm and encourage children to move or clap along to the beat. They could also act out poems with actions.

  • Poetry Performance: Encourage children to perform their favourite poems or ones they've created. This can be as simple as reciting it or using puppets to act it out.

  • "Sense" Poems: Focus on senses. For example, a "Taste Poem" about their favourite foods (e.g., "Sweet apple, juicy pear, yummy treats everywhere!").

  • Display Poetry: Create a "Poetry Wall" or "Poetry Corner" where children's poems, or copies of favourite poems, are displayed. This celebrates their work and keeps poetry visible.

  • Explore Our 'EYFS & KS1 Poetry & Rhyme' Page: For more comprehensive resources and ideas on incorporating poetry and rhyme into your curriculum, please visit our dedicated 'EYFS & KS1 poetry & rhyme' page.

These activities offer great inspiration for making National Poetry Day a memorable and impactful experience in your early years and Key Stage One setting, fostering language development, creativity, and a lifelong love for poetry.

To explore ideas surrounding additional early years events, please visit our 'Special Dates Calendar' page.


Printable resources to support teaching & learning surrounding: ‘National Poetry Day’

Featured
BINGO SONG WORDS - COLOURING (FREE SAMPLE)
BINGO SONG WORDS - COLOURING (FREE SAMPLE)
WORLD POETRY DAY - COLOURING POSTERS (FREE SAMPLE)
WORLD POETRY DAY - COLOURING POSTERS (FREE SAMPLE)
'IN THE GARDEN' POEM SHEET (FREE SAMPLE)
'IN THE GARDEN' POEM SHEET (FREE SAMPLE)
'WORLD NURSERY RHYME WEEK' COLOURING POSTERS (FREE SAMPLE)
'WORLD NURSERY RHYME WEEK' COLOURING POSTERS (FREE SAMPLE)
FIVE LITTLE SPECKLED FROGS - WORDS/LYRICS POSTER - COLOURING (FREE SAMPLE)
FIVE LITTLE SPECKLED FROGS - WORDS/LYRICS POSTER - COLOURING (FREE SAMPLE)
THE WHEELS ON THE BUS - WORDS/LYRICS POSTER - COLOURING (FREE SAMPLE)
THE WHEELS ON THE BUS - WORDS/LYRICS POSTER - COLOURING (FREE SAMPLE)

To explore our full catalogue of Poetry resources, please visit our ‘EYFS & KS1 Poetry & Rhyme’ page.

For additional ‘Literacy’ resources, visit the following ‘Area of Learning’ pages:

(Dedicated KS1 ‘English’ Curriculum pages coming very soon!)

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Communication & Language
Communication & Language
Literacy
Literacy
 

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Explore special dates (including awareness dates, festivals, celebrations & events) relevant to your EYFS & KS1 children

Browse our ‘Special Dates Calendar’ page using the link below. You’ll find calendars for every month of the year to aid your planning!

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  CLICK HERE  to visit ‘SPECIAL DATES CALENDAR’ PAGE.

CLICK HERE to visit ‘SPECIAL DATES CALENDAR’ PAGE.

 

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Disclaimer:
This page is for educational purposes only and is intended to support early years and primary practitioners with ideas and resources related to 'National Poetry Day'. We are not officially affiliated with or endorsed by the Forward Arts Foundation, which organises this day. We do not claim any rights to specific trademarks or official materials associated with this event. For official information and to find out more, please visit their website at www.nationalpoetryday.co.uk.

In Awareness Dates, Awareness Day, National Poetry Day, October Tags National Poetry Day, October
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