Teacher guide · Creative Lab · Medium · about 35 min
📚 Poetry Potion Lab
Pupils practise confidence and creativity through "Poetry Potion Lab": Mix similes, sound words and alliteration.
Lesson guide
1. Hook · 5 min
Show the 📚 mission title and read the opening: "Which is a simile?". 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 5 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 confidence today.
Discussion questions
- What was the hardest choice in "Poetry Potion Lab", and why?
- Which is a simile — explain your reasoning to a partner.
- Which uses alliteration — explain your reasoning to a partner.
- Which word imitates a sound — explain your reasoning to a partner.
- Where could you use confidence 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 Potion Lab
Name: ____________________ Date: __________
1. Which is a simile?
☐ A star is far away
☐ As bright as a star
☐ The star shines
2. Which uses alliteration?
☐ A large red snake
☐ Seven slippery snakes
☐ Snakes are long
3. Which word imitates a sound?
☐ Beautiful
☐ Blue
☐ Buzz
4. Connect the clues to their meanings.
Like a feather → ________________
Crackle → ________________
Wild windy weather → ________________
5. Write a short weather poem using one simile, a sound word and alliteration.