Kate Williams

Picture: Yr 2 exploring autumn leaves before writing about them.

Late autumn is a wonderfully eloquent time of year – ideal for poetry-writing. I’m taking bookings now for after half term, with exciting topics to choose from (see below). Here’s a quick summary of what’s been happening in my poetry sessions so far this term, in various primary schools in England and Wales.

Autumn leaves have come alive in our workshops this autumn, and I’ll be presenting some samples of the amazing poetry produced soon. Boys and girls off all ages have embraced the intriguing concept of fragile, flying leaves and their kaleidoscopic colours, the mysteries of where they all end up, and the wonders of how such flimsy little things can light up the darkening days with such dazzling, fiery arrays. There have been giggles, too, when leaves have landed on our heads – or friends’ heads, and squelches and crunches underfoot when we’ve trampled on them – all these observations and experiences pouring into the poems produced and highlighted by mind-stretching images.

Pictures: being leaves blowing off trees, then Halloween trees, with Yr 2, St Mary’s Primary, Newport:

Forests, too, have sprung to life in many of our workshops, with all sorts from slithering slugs to prancing deer making their way through the sparkly or spooky scene. In some sessions, we’ve provided recipes, or Halloween potions, for these wild and wonderful woods; in others, we’ve thought up weird landmark names – Tree of Trouble, Den of Dynamite, Gate of Ghouls – to help lost ramblers find their way out. 

Picture below: Reception class being hedgehogs, Rhos-y-Fedwen Primary School:

Firework verses ripped the air at one school recently, and more are due to take off and explode into fantasies at other schools soon. 

I’m offering extra topics from now until Christmas, so here’s the full list to choose from (one per day, please):

FIREWORKS, WILD WOODS & THEIR CREATURES, AUTUMN LEAVES, CHRISTMAS LIGHTS & COLOURS, SPACE and DRAGONS.

I’ll be offering new topics for the spring term, with Space and Dragons now available year-round.

Kate Williams
Email: katewilliams.poetry@gmail.com
More details on my Workshops page