1. National Poetry Day is an annual celebration that inspires people throughout the UK to enjoy, discover and share poems. This year is the 25th anniversary of National Poetry Day!
Schools and community groups across the UK will be sharing poetry and celebrating the power of poetry.

2. The theme of this year’s National Poetry Day is ‘truth’.
Each year National Poetry Day pick a different theme for people to read poems about.
The theme of this year’s National Poetry Day is ‘truth’.

3. What does the word ‘truth’ mean?

4. Do you always tell the ‘truth’?

5. Why might someone tell a lie?

6. The poem you are going to read is called ‘Lies’.
It’s by a poet named Joshua Seigal.
Follow the link to the poem. Read it aloud to the children.

7. Why does the person in the poem lie about feeling sick when they cry?
Is this a good thing to do?
What should they do instead?

8. What should the person in the poem say when people ask them what is wrong?
The truth is…
Work together to create a poem of statements that the person in Joshua Seigal’s poem could say to explain how they feel.
e.g.
The truth is
I am sad.
My friend fell out with me.
I fell over.
I miss my mum etc….
Talk about the importance of the truth and talking about feelings.

9. How can you get involved with National Poetry Day?
Read some poetry and talk about your favourites
Make an anthology of your favourite poems with your friends
Choose a favourite poem and illustrate it
Rehearse and perform a piece of poetry
Write a poem about truth

10. #NationalPoetryDay @PoetryDayUK @ReadingatLLP
If teachers want to share their work with either LLP or National Poetry Day, these are the hashtags and handles on twitter to use.