World Poetry Day
From UNESCO
Resource type: Event
Price band: Free
Key stage: KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5, EYFS
Region(s): All of UK
World Poetry Day is celebrated on 21st March. The date was adopted by UNESCO in 1999 with the aim of recognising and celebrating one of our oldest and most treasured forms of cultural and linguistic expression.
World Poetry Day provides an opportunity to honour poets around the world and to promote the reading, writing and teaching of poetry in all its forms.
Cost: Free.
About UNESCO: UNESCO is the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation. Its aim is to build peace, eradicate poverty and drive sustainable development through international cooperation in the key areas of Education, Science and Culture.
Further resources:
- Registration is now open for this year’s CLiPPA Shadowing Scheme. Explore and perform the work of poets shortlisted for the annual Centre for Literacy in Primary Poetry Award with the free teaching resources provided.
- Former Waterstones Children’s Laureate Joseph Coelho created a year’s worth of Poetry Prompts, weekly bitesize videos designed to celebrate and demystify the reading and writing of poetry.
- Watch Michael Rosen perform his poems and stories on the Michael Rosen Video Channel.
- Listen to recordings of poets reading their poems aloud and explore the teaching resources provided on the Children’s Poetry Archive.
- Apples and Snakes can suggest poets and provide expert advice to help schools run spoken-word events.
- Find a comprehensive bank of free resources to support the teaching of poetry in the primary classroom at the National Poetry Centre for Primary Schools.
- Find primary poetry recommendations and reviews on the Books for Topics website.
- Explore the bank of poems for students of all ages on the Poetry by Heart website.
- Celebrate the wonders of nature with the Wild Wonders poetry competition from Young Writers. Open to young poets aged 4-18 with a closing date of 29th May 2026.
- Generate ideas for poetry writing with a jar of Poetry Stones.
- Find more resources to support poetry all through the year here.
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