Teacher guide · Creative Lab · Harder · about 35 min
🖋️ Poetry Lab
Pupils practise creativity through "Poetry Lab": Haiku, acrostic and rhythm.
Lesson guide
1. Hook · 5 min
Show the 🖋️ mission title and read the opening: "A haiku has syllables of…". Take three quick guesses.
2. Model · 5 min
Think aloud through the first step together. Use Pixel the Fox's line as your prompt: "Nice! That's an idea nobody else had."
3. Do · 10 min
Pairs work through the 4 steps on screen or on the printed sheet. Circulate and ask "why?"
4. Discuss · 10 min
Use two or three of the discussion questions. Ask pairs to share different answers, not just correct ones.
5. Reflect · 5 min
Exit ticket: one sentence on how they used creativity today.
Discussion questions
- What was the hardest choice in "Poetry Lab", and why?
- A haiku has syllables of… — explain your reasoning to a partner.
- An acrostic poem… — explain your reasoning to a partner.
- Write a haiku about the sea — explain your reasoning to a partner.
- Where could you use creativity outside school this week?
- If you did this again, what would you change?
Adapting it
Support: Read prompts aloud, pair with a confident partner, and accept spoken or drawn answers for writing steps.
Stretch: Ask pupils to create their own extra step for a partner and explain the correct answer.
Curriculum links
- National Curriculum: English: reading comprehension, vocabulary, grammar and writing
- National Curriculum: English: composition — planning and drafting ideas (KS1/KS2)
- National Curriculum: Design & Technology: generate, develop and communicate ideas
- PSHE: Health & wellbeing: self-concept, strengths and interests
Pupil sheet
🖋️ Poetry Lab
Name: ____________________ Date: __________
1. A haiku has syllables of…
☐ 4, 4, 4
☐ 5, 7, 5
☐ 7, 5, 7
2. An acrostic poem…
☐ Has no lines
☐ Must rhyme
☐ Spells a word with the first letters
3. Write a haiku about the sea.
4. Write an acrostic poem for your name.