Words and Phrases in Poetry

Year 3 EnglishReading Comprehension3 pages

About this worksheet

Five word cards fill these three pages of Year 3 poetry vocabulary. Pupils work through them in order: simile, prowl, glistening, thunderous and slither. For each word they look up a dictionary definition, write a synonym, use it in a line of poetry and draw a picture. The simile card is filled in as a model. The answer key gives sample definitions, synonyms and poetry lines, and notes that definitions will vary with the dictionary used. It links to two England National Curriculum objectives.

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Curriculum objectives covered

Reading - comprehension

โ€œUsing dictionaries to check the meaning of words that they have readโ€

Each of the four blank cards starts with a dictionary definition box.

Reading - comprehension

โ€œDiscussing words and phrases that capture the reader's interest and imaginationโ€

The synonym and poetry line boxes make pupils compare words such as prowl with sneak and creep, then use the word in a line of their own.

What's inside this worksheet

Simile

A worked example card with the definition, the examples "As cold as ice" and "The stars sparkled like diamonds", and a poetry line about the wind howling like a hungry wolf.

Prowl

A blank card with the hint "Think of how a sneaky cat moves". Pupils fill in a definition, a synonym, a poetry line and a picture.

Glistening

The same four boxes, with a hint that points pupils to fresh snow in the bright sun.

Thunderous

The hint here is "Something that is very, very loud". The answer key suggests synonyms such as booming and deafening.

Slither

The last card, with the hint "Moving smoothly over a surface". The sample poetry line has a green snake in tall, whispering grass.

How teachers use it

Before poetry writing

Complete the cards before pupils write an animal poem. Prowl and slither sit well in a poem about a fox or a snake.

Dictionary practice

Give each table a set of dictionaries and one word. Groups share their definitions before everyone fills in their own card.

Word wall

Pin the best card for each word next to your poetry display, so pupils can borrow the synonyms later.

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