Support your students in exploring figurative language and poetic form with our engaging Mother’s Day: Kenning Poem Templates! This writing activity invites students to celebrate their mums, mother figures or special people in a unique and imaginative way – through the clever structure of a kenning poem.

A kenning poem describes someone or something using a series of two-word phrases – typically noun–noun or noun–verb pairs – without naming the subject directly. This approach encourages students to think deeply about the roles, actions and qualities that define their chosen person, using metaphor and inference to build meaning. The result is a poem that’s both creative and heartfelt – perfect for classroom displays or take-home gifts.

Mother’s Day: Kenning Poem Templates include editable versions in both 12mm and 9mm line widths, making them easy to differentiate for a range of year levels. Students can illustrate their poem and personalise it with one of the optional toppers to create a keepsake-quality presentation. Whether used during a poetry unit, in literacy rotations or as a special Mother’s Day task, this resource helps students build language skills while celebrating someone important in their lives.

This activity is part of our Mother’s Day: Poetry Templates PACKAGE. Don’t forget to explore our full collection of Mother’s Day resources for even more creative celebration ideas!

Key Learning Outcomes:

• ✅ Create a kenning poem using metaphor and inference
• ✅ Develop descriptive language and poetic awareness
• ✅ Express ideas creatively without directly stating the subject
• ✅ Present polished written work for display or gifting
• ✅ Celebrate important people through thoughtful writing

What’s Included:

• Editable kenning poem templates in 12mm and 9mm line widths
• Optional drawing space to accompany the final poem
• Printable toppers for a complete, decorative finish

Materials Needed:

• Printed templates (on paper or card)
• Pencils, pens, coloured pencils or markers
• Optional: scissors, glue and embellishments

How to Use:

1. Introduce the structure of a kenning poem and read examples together.
2. Brainstorm words or ideas related to mums, caregivers or family roles.
3. Guide students in writing a poem using two-word descriptive lines that suggest who the poem is about.
4. Invite students to add drawings or decorative elements to complete the page.
5. Display completed poems in the classroom or send them home as gifts.

Ideas for Classroom Use:

• 💡 Use as part of a figurative language or poetry writing focus
• 💡 Pair with a craft project or card for a creative Mother’s Day gift
• 💡 Display with student illustrations for a class poetry wall

Teacher Tips:

• 💛 Encourage students to include a mix of roles, actions and personality traits in their kennings
• 💛 Use shared writing to create a class kenning poem before students write independently
• 💛 Adapt the format for younger students by using sentence stems or structured brainstorms
• 💛 Add glitter, sequins or photo cut-outs for an extra special finish

Mother’s Day: Kenning Poem Templates are a playful and powerful way for students to reflect, write and celebrate – turning thoughtful words into treasured gifts.