This pack helps you show pupils a WAGOLL – what a good one looks like – when writing alphabet poems. Alphabet poems are a simple, engaging way for KS1 pupils to explore language.
Each line starts with a new letter of the alphabet, in order, just like an acrostic poem. Pupils enjoy the freedom of writing without rhyme or rhythm rules while still learning to organise ideas, use descriptive language and build confidence with poetry.
The model text in this pack, At the Zoo, gives pupils a complete example to read and discuss. The poem uses every letter of the alphabet to describe animals and their actions, such as “Bats sleeping” and “Giraffes running”.
Pupils can see how the writer uses plural nouns to name groups of animals and verbs in the progressive tense to describe actions. A feature checklist at the end highlights key points for pupils to identify: alphabetical order, theme consistency, action verbs and descriptive detail.
The pack includes:
- Alphabet poem model text: At the Zoo – a full WAGOLL showing how to write about animals in a zoo using alphabetical order.
- Alphabet poem writing sheet – with success criteria, examples of plural nouns, and verbs in the progressive tense.
- Alphabet poem inspiration cards – image prompts for themes such as In the Garden, At School or Under the Sea. Pupils can use them to spark ideas and choose their own topic.
- Alphabet poem planning sheet – a scaffold for pupils to jot or draw ideas for each letter.
- Themed writing paper – bordered paper, with versions including an alphabet acrostic frame and a decorative border, for presenting finished poems.
- Teacher notes – guidance on using the pack in class.
Curriculum links
This WAGOLL supports KS1 English writing aims.
- In Year 1, pupils rehearse sentences out loud before writing them. They compose simple sentences orally and practise adding suffixes such as –s or –es for plurals and the third person singular verb form.
- In Year 2, pupils write for different purposes, including poetry, and begin to develop stamina through longer pieces. They use both present and past tenses correctly and consistently, including progressive forms like “sleeping” or “grooming”.
By working with this pack, you can guide pupils step by step through reading a WAGOLL, identifying its features, planning their own alphabet poem and presenting it clearly. The model text gives pupils a clear benchmark so they know what a successful poem looks and sounds like.