In this Pie Corbett poetry activities resource pack, KS2 children will explore three very different writing styles – news report, survey and reflective verse – all tied together with a magical theme.
The unit begins with Goblin Attack News Appeal, a playful text in the form of a breaking news broadcast. The goblins’ silly but destructive pranks provide the perfect hook for persuasive writing.
Poetry activities include challenging pupils to write their own appeal for a “dragon whisperer”. You can follow this up with role-play or letters of application, persuading the council to give pupils the job.
The second poem, The Dragon Survey, takes the form of a questionnaire full of funny, imaginative questions. Children will enjoy inventing their own, building confidence with question words (would, should, could, when, where, why, what, how) and surprising the reader with unexpected twists.
A fun extension is to swap surveys and write in-character responses.
The final poem, What My Pet Frost Dragon Knows, changes the tone completely. Here the dragon is wise and mysterious, full of knowledge about nature, myth and life’s mysteries.
Pupils can use the WAGOLL as inspiration for their own thoughtful poems, experimenting with imagery, mood and questioning structures.
Learning sequence
Each part of the sequence follows the same practical approach:
- Read and discuss the model text
- Identify the form or technique being used
- Brainstorm ideas as a class
- Draft a shared version together
- Ask children to create their own independently
This structure helps pupils see how one theme – dragons – can be expressed in different genres. It also builds stamina for writing, moving from playful exaggeration to imaginative questioning and finally to more reflective, poetic expression.
More Pie Corbett poetry activities
Inspire KS2 pupils to be creative and express themselves with this exclusive collection of Pie Corbett poetry resources.
The Book of Dragons by Pie Corbett and Melanie Corbett is on sale now. Browse more ideas and resources for teaching KS2 poems.
