Poetry has often been used to express feelings that are too difficult to describe in full sentences and there are many famous war poets who used words to paint a picture of their experiences in the trenches during the two World Wars.

In this one time class, students will learn how to write a free-verse poem based on how a soldier may have felt during the war, surviving in the trenches. It could be a poem about despair, confusion, hope, anger, peace, or a myriad of other emotions.

Without the constraints of a set structure or the need to rhyme, we’ll explore how we can use language creatively to paint our own ‘word picture’.

We’ll start by briefly looking at some of the aspects of life in the trenches in World Wars I and II, looking at a few photos to help visualise the setting, and thinking about the conditions and what sounds, sights, smells, tastes, physical sensations and emotions those serving there may have encountered.

Next, students will choose an emotion that they want to create their poem around, which they think a soldier may have felt.
We’ll go on to build some creative language and consider techniques such as alliteration, personification, metaphors and similes, etc. 

An example poem will be written during class by myself with help from students so that we build ideas together.

Students will be given writing time to work on constructing their poems and will be given some guidance on adding descriptions, etc.

Time permitting, students who would like to share their poems may do so. This can be reading them aloud or sharing them via the chat function. If they prefer, or would like to finish after class, students may upload their work to the classroom or send it to me directly. There is no pressure to share at all, however, if students would prefer not to.