Celebrate all mother figures on Mother’s Day using this poetry resource pack. Pupils will write a kenning, a type of poem written as a list that describes, to describe their mum or another mother figure in their lives.
A model kenning is provided to explore the features of this form of poetry, with ideas to support pupils to write their own versions. The resources could be adapted for use across the primary age range.
This Mother’s Day resource pack includes
- Teacher’s notes with lesson ideas
- Model poem - Mothers
- Kenning planning sheet
- Writing paper with a selection of Mother’s Day themed page borders
When is Mother’s Day 2023?
In the UK, Mother’s Day 2023 takes place on Sunday 19th March.
What is a kenning?
A kenning is a figure of speech used in poetry, especially in Anglo-Saxon and Norse poems. It describes something familiar, without mentioning its name. A kenning poem is usually written as a list, with each line containing two words that are usually joined by a hyphen (e.g., bone-cruncher, noise-maker).
National Curriculum Links
English
Year 1
- Pupils should develop a pleasure in reading, motivation to read, vocabulary and understanding by listening to and discussing a wide range of poems…
- Pupils should be taught to write sentences by saying out loud what they will write about and composing sentences orally before writing.
- Pupils should be taught to add prefixes and suffixes: -er
Year 2
- Pupils should develop a pleasure in reading, motivation to read, vocabulary and understanding by listening to, discussing and expressing views about a wide range of classic and contemporary poetry…
- Pupils should be taught to develop positive attitudes and stamina for writing, by writing poetry.
- Pupils should apply spelling rules and guidance, as listed in Appendix 1 (-er)
Year 3/4
- Pupils should recognise some different forms of poetry.
- Pupils should plan their writing by discussing similar writing similar to that which they are planning to write in order to learn from its structure, vocabulary and grammar.
Year 5/6
- Pupils should discuss and evaluate how authors use language, including figurative language, considering the impact on the reader.
- Pupils should draft and write by selecting appropriate grammar and vocabulary, understanding how such choices can change and enhance meaning.
- Pupils should know how hyphens can be used to avoid ambiguity.
Relationships Education
Families and people who care for me
Pupils should know (by the end of primary school)
- the characteristics of healthy family life, commitment to each other, including in times of difficulty, protection and care for children and other family members, the importance of spending time together and sharing each other’s lives.
- that others’ families, either in school or in the wider world, sometimes look different from their family, but that they should respect those differences and know that other children’s families are also characterised by love and care.
- that stable, caring relationships, which may be of different types, are at the heart of happy families, and are important for children’s security as they grow up.