Exploring Classic Poetry

Overview

This 60-minute guided reading session is designed for Year 2 students, split into three reading groups based on their phonics and reading levels: Turquoise, Purple, and emergent phonics learners. The focus is on experiencing and understanding classic poetry, supporting the national curriculum goals for reading comprehension, vocabulary development, and phonics application.

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National Curriculum Links

Key stage 1 English – Years 1 and 2:

• Reading – Word Reading: Continue to apply phonic knowledge and skills as the route to decode words. (English programme of study: Reading - word reading)
• Reading – Comprehension: Develop pleasure in reading, motivation to read, vocabulary and understanding by listening to and discussing a wide range of poems (including classic poetry), stories and non-fiction. (English programme of study: Reading - comprehension)
• Use discussion to build familiarity with texts, enabling retelling and prediction. (English programme of study: Reading - comprehension)
• Recognise and use some features of poetry such as rhyme and rhythm. (Poetry comprehension KS1)

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WALT (We Are Learning To)

• WALT listen carefully to classic poems and identify rhymes and rhythm.
• WALT practise decoding and fluency at different phonics levels.
• WALT understand vocabulary and express preferences about poems.
• WALT develop confidence in reading poems aloud with expression.

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Success Criteria

• I can listen and join in when reading poems.
• I can recognise rhyming words and rhythm in poems.
• I can read my group’s poem with fluency and expression.
• I can talk about what I liked in the poem using new words.

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Resources

• Classic poems split by group level:
  • Turquoise Level: simplified poem with clear rhyming couplets (e.g., abridged “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” or simple verses of “The Owl and the Pussycat”).
  • Purple Level: full poem with more complex vocabulary (e.g., “The Owl and the Pussycat” original).
  • Phonics learners: poem with strong phoneme-grapheme links, highlighted decodable words (e.g., “Five Little Speckled Frogs” or a simple adapted poem with CVC words).
• Dyslexia-friendly printed copies on pastel-coloured paper, with large font and spacing.
• Whiteboards and pens for shared writing.
• Audio recordings of poems for listening support.
• Flashcards of key vocabulary and rhyming words.

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Lesson Breakdown

Introduction (10 minutes)

• Gather all children on the carpet. Introduce the concept of poetry, emphasising fun with words, rhyme and rhythm.
• Play an audio recording of a rhythmic classic poem the whole class will explore briefly (e.g., “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”).
• Discuss together what rhymes they heard and choose a couple of rhyming pairs to write on the board.

Dyslexia-friendly strategies: Use clear, large font; pastel background on board text; say words clearly and slowly; reinforce vocabulary with pictures.

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Group Reading Sessions (35 minutes - 12 min per group plus transition)

Children split into three groups by reading level and rotate:

Group 1: Phonics (Emergent readers)

• Use decodable poem focusing on phoneme-grapheme correspondence (e.g., repeated CVC words).
• Teacher models segmenting and blending unfamiliar words from the poem.
• Children read aloud with support, practising rhythm and rhyme.
• Use flashcards to reinforce rhyming words from the poem.

Differentiation: Provide word mats with phonics teams from their phase; partner reading with higher-level peers; use audio support.

Group 2: Turquoise level readers

• Read an abridged, simplified version of a classic poem.
• Focus on identifying rhyming couplets, reading fluently with teacher modelling expression.
• Highlight and discuss new vocabulary words using flashcards and context clues.
• Children take turns to practise reading aloud with peers.

Differentiation: Use sentence starters for discussing meaning, allow paired reading; offer picture clues for new vocabulary.

Group 3: Purple level readers

• Read the full original classic poem (e.g., The Owl and the Pussycat).
• Teacher models reading with expression, emphasising rhythm and rhyme.
• Discuss meaning, vocabulary, and imagination sparked by the poem.
• Children answer comprehension questions verbally or on whiteboards.

Extension: Challenge with identifying alliteration and metaphors, suggest alternative endings or compose a short stanza inspired by the poem.

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Plenary (15 minutes)

• Bring the class back together and ask each group to share one favourite line or word from their poem.
• Use a ‘Poetry Circle’: pass a soft ball and each child says a rhyming word or repeats a line with expression.
• Recap the success criteria and reflect on what they learned about poetry, rhymes, and reading.
• Praise all efforts and encourage children to choose and read more poetry books at home or school.

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Assessment

• Observe fluency and expression during group reading sessions using a simple checklist.
• Question and answer to check comprehension of vocabulary and rhyme.
• Check participation and confidence during plenary ‘Poetry Circle’.
• Use formative assessment to plan next phonics or reading group steps.

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Extension Ideas for Advanced Learners

• Compose their own short rhyming couplets or quatrains based on themes from the poems.
• Explore simple poetic devices such as similes or onomatopoeia relating to the poem content.
• Perform a small drama or puppet show using words from the poems to demonstrate comprehension and expression.

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Differentiation Summary

Group	Focus	Support Strategies	Challenge
Phonics learners	Decoding, blending, phoneme-grapheme links	Word mats, audio support, paired reading	Read with expression
Turquoise level	Fluency, simple vocabulary, rhyme recognition	Picture clues, sentence stems, paired reading	Vocabulary discussion
Purple level	Fluency, comprehension, poetic devices	Comprehension Q&A, whiteboard writing	Poetic device identification, creative writing

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This innovative, multi-level lesson taps into auditory, visual, and kinaesthetic learning styles, making classic poetry accessible, engaging, and memorable for all Year 2 learners. It celebrates diversity in reading while promoting National Curriculum standards in an inspiring and inclusive way.