As part of our Hot and Cold Places topic, Year 1 have been exploring one of the coldest places on Earth—Antarctica! We learned about icy landscapes, blizzards, penguins, and how animals survive in freezing temperatures. Using everything we’ve discovered, the children created their very own acrostic poems inspired by the word ANTARCTICA.

Step 1 – Planning Our Ideas

We began by brainstorming exciting vocabulary and phrases for each letter of ANTARCTICA. The children came up with some fantastic descriptive words such as “arctic winds,” “tall icy mountains,” “coldest place on Earth,” and “amazing penguins.” Everyone added their ideas to a shared class plan, helping each other build a bank of imaginative words.

Step 2 – Drafting Our Poems

Next, the children used whiteboards to draft their own poems. They reread their planning sheet and chose their favourite words and phrases, experimenting with different combinations.
It was wonderful to see the children thinking carefully about language, rhythm, and how to create vivid pictures in the reader’s mind.

Step 3 – Publishing Our Final Poems

Finally, the children carefully wrote up their neat versions of their Antarctica acrostic poems. They took great pride in their presentation, making sure each letter down the side was clear and that their writing was their very best.