Preparation Prior to the first lesson, ask your class to suggest their favourite bands or singers. Make a short list of 10 of their chosen artists or bands, and then select one song from each, varying in content and style. Compile a handout for the pupils containing a section of each of their chosen songs, and attach a copy of the Poetry Techniques Sheet that we have provided for you. Introduction Explain to your class that they will be writing a poem for the Poetry Rivals competition, which could see them performing their poem as a spoken word artist. Explain that the music they love can teach them basic poetry techniques, and that essentially, music is another form of performance poetry. Main Teaching Activity Discuss the examples of poetry techniques on the Poetry Techniques Sheet as a class, and ask pupils to identify where these techniques have been used within their chosen example songs. Also help them to identify the chorus and verses of the song, so that they will be able to see the structure of the song, and how it was constructed. Make notes on the board. Ask pupils to choose a topic that will form the basis of their poem. This can be anything: something they care about, a place they’ve visited or a topic they are learning about in class. Brainstorm with the class on ideas and words associated with their chosen topic. This list should be as varied as possible. Include sights, smells, sounds, actions, feelings, people and places. Now that they have plenty of ideas and an understanding of poetic terms, it’s time for them to write their own poem. Ask them to include at least three different poetic techniques, and to think about how the poem will be structured. Plenary This is a 5 to 10 minute activity. Once pupils have written their own poems ask them to work in pairs. They are to read their poem to their partner. The partner is to provide feedback: something they like about the poem, and a suggestion of how it could be improved. To extend the activity to a second lesson, ask pupils to redraft, copy up and illustrate their poem. Differentiation • For less advanced pupils, provide them with the subject of their poem, and three techniques that you would like them to use. You could also suggest a list of words that you think would fit into their poem. If necessary, ask less advanced pupils to work in pairs or small groups to write their poem. • To challenge more advanced pupils, assign a rhyming scheme for them to follow, give them more poetic tech- niques to use, or suggest a poetic form (please see the attached sheet). Notes This is a one-hour activity. Alternatively, the introductory work can be done in class (20 to 30 minutes) and the poem can be written as homework. Poetry Rivals Poetry Techniques – Key Stage 3 Lesson Plan