National Poetry Day: Hot Poet Workshop

Jonny Fluffypunk Poem Workshops

National Poetry Day on Thursday 1^st October took ‘Wonder’ as its theme this year, with a celebration of the natural world and our own role in fostering and protecting it. Children in Years 5 to 8 took part in an interactive Assembly by Hot Poet, Jonny Fluffypunk, who then led workshops for Years 6 and 7 in Old Barn throughout the day. Jonny grew up in Great Missenden and shared memories of some of his favourite places of natural wonder in the Chilterns, such as Coombe Hill in Wendover. Working in pairs or independently, the boys were encouraged to use all five senses to identify why they find certain places special and gradually build up a nature poem, using rhyme, rhythm, alliteration, repetition and personification. The results were impressive and many of the boys chose to perform their poems at the end of the workshop.

The Hot Poets are an award-winning, internationally focused arts organisation working to communicate climate change science and action through spoken word poetry. They work in partnership with top climate change organisations and artists, exploring the issue of the climate crisis by looking at the science and imagination needed to protect our world. For this year’s National Poetry Day, the Hot Poets teamed up with former Children’s Laureate and National Treasure Michael Rosen to roll out a host of workshops across Britain.

Here are a few poems/ excerpts created by our pupils throughout the workshops:

I am the cat who climbs the Christmas tree,

I am the soothing smell of the salty sea,

I am the newt who is never there,

I am the sunset merging into a coral blur,

I am Nature

By Neo and Arjun (Year 6)

I am the tiger, the leader of cats.

I am the wolf, the symbol of grace,

The one with the brave face.

I am nature and nature is me

And I fought for you to stick with me.