Bring poetry into your classroom and help pupils turn daydreams and personal experiences into powerful, meaningful poems.
In this episode of Author In Your Classroom, Michael Rosen explores where writing ideas really come from – drifting thoughts, lived experiences and allowing the mind to wander. He explains why daydreaming is a vital part of the writing process and shares the advice passed down from his father: make it personal. Drawing on poems from On the Move, Michael shows how memory, emotion and reflection can be transformed into poetry that resonates with readers.
This teaching sequence gives pupils the opportunity to write their own poems inspired by daydreams and real-life experiences. It supports children in generating ideas, creating vivid images through figurative language and shaping poems that invite the reader to think and interpret, while building confidence and enjoyment in poetry writing.
Short extracts from the podcast are suggested throughout the unit to introduce each stage of learning. These are optional but highly engaging, helping pupils link their classroom writing to the creative choices of a professional poet.
Resource pack contents
This free classroom pack supports a complete poetry writing unit and includes:
- A ready-to-use PowerPoint
- An extract from On the Move (The Migrants in Me)
- Poetry idea cards
- Planning sheets for idea generation and development
- Working wall images and author quotes
- Themed writing paper
Teaching overview
Across four sessions, pupils will:
- Explore daydreaming and personal experience: Listen to and discuss Michael Rosen’s poetry and podcast extracts, exploring how daydreaming and lived experiences can inspire writing.
- Develop imagery: Use figurative language – including metaphor, simile, personification and idiom – to create clear pictures for the reader and encourage different interpretations.
- Write a poem: Plan and write an original poem based on a chosen idea, theme or experience, using notes from daydreaming and planning activities.
- Share and refine: Read poems aloud, give peer feedback and improve work, focusing on imagery, language choices and impact on the reader.
The unit also includes guidance on using a working wall to capture ideas, language and examples of effective poetry, as well as suggestions for extending learning through performance, discussion and further writing.
How to listen
Search for Author In Your Classroom wherever you get your podcasts. A free resources pack is available with every episode.
Subscribe to hear more authors share creative approaches that help pupils write with confidence, curiosity and imagination.
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