Fireworks Poetry – Lesson 2
Lesson Summary
Using an interactive shape or “concrete” poem activity, pupils enter words that
describe the sight and sound of fireworks. They change position, orientation, size,
font and colour and apply animation effects to create a visual, animated, shape
poem.
Learning Objectives
To make adventurous word and language choices appropriate to the style and purpose of the text
To select from different presentational features to suit particular writing purposes on paper and on
screen
Interactive Resources
Firework Display Video
Shape Poem Maker - Fireworks
Documents
Firework Onomatopoeia Words
Firework Pre-made Words
Learning Outcomes
I can make good word choices that convey the sounds and sights of a firework display
I can make appropriate presentational choices to create an effective shape poem
Fireworks Poetry – Lesson 2
Introduction
Watch the Firework Display Video. Ask all pupils to write down on a mini-whiteboard a word that
they think of during the video; perhaps a word to do with what they can see or hear. BUT with a rule:
they can’t write “firework”.
See if there are any examples of onomatopoeia. If not, introduce some, asking pupils whether they
think they are good words and why?
Show pupils the Shape Poem Maker - Fireworks interactive and work through the activity, using a
couple of contrasting words, e.g. shimmer and bang. Discuss how some fonts, word shapes and sizes
suit words better. Don’t follow the activity right through; just explain that on the final screens you can
make the words become fireworks but first everyone needs to come up with a list of words that
represent sounds of a firework display.
Main Learning Activity
Join pupils into pairs and hand out to each pair a cut-out word from the Firework Onomatopoeia
Words sheet, checking that pupils can read them. Tell pupils that each word is something to do with
sound, sight or movement. Ask pupils to move to one of 3 corners of the classroom to form 3 groups
based on what they think their word is. Explain that a word may fit in more than one corner so they
need to choose the one they think is best. Go to each corner and ask pupils to say their word. Ask if
anyone felt their word could fit more than one corner.
Still working in pairs ask pupils to list 6 of their favourite firework words on paper, checking spelling as
they go.
Using as wide a range of felt tips as you can provide, pupils can experiment with writing their words
onto paper of different dimensions. Encourage a mixture of writing styles including capitals and lower
case. If you have italic pens then pupils can get a wider range of effects.
Additional Notes:
After listing their words, as above, pupils can explore the Shape Poem Maker - Fireworks interactive
directly.
Some pupils can be given the Firework Pre-made Words sheet. They can copy or cut out the words
they feel most appropriate and arrange them onto a page. Some pupils could use a thesaurus to look
up alternative words using the base list as a starting point.
Plenary
Ask pupils to volunteer a word and build a class animation using the Shape Poem Maker - Fireworks
interactive tool. Involve all the pupils in the decision making.
Additional Notes:
Design Technology – this activity would fit well with DT. Children could apply fixing techniques to
paper poem to let words stand out, rotate, slide up and down, etc.
Music – instruments to represent the firework sounds could be explored and played when reading the
poem aloud.