Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Fathers Day Poem Template: Free Printable Worksheet for Year 2
- ForYear 2
- StageKey Stage 1
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Fathers Day Poem Template is a free printable English worksheet for Year 2 (ages 6 to 7). Children fill in the gaps to build a short poem for someone special, using describing words and a rhyming word. It needs only a pencil, and page 2 gives the adult notes, help ideas and a stretch task.
It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages, give page 1 to your child and keep page 2 for yourself. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
Children complete sentence starters such as "My dad is as strong as", "He makes me laugh when he" and "I love him because". Each one has space to answer, and there are lines for writing. Children choose their own words, so every poem is different. They think about what makes the person special, pick describing words and try a rhyme. The poem ends with a greeting, "Happy Fathers Day to you".
- My dad is as strong as ...
- He makes me laugh when he ...
- My favourite thing we do is ...
- He is kind because he ...
- I love him because ...
- Happy Fathers Day to you, ...
How the poem comes together
Talk first
Before any writing, chat about the person. What do they do, say or make? Saying ideas out loud helps children find words they can then write down.
Choose describing words
Describing words tell us more about a person or thing. Ask for words that are exact and surprising, not only "nice" or "good".
Listen for a rhyme
Say a word, then think of words that end with the same sound. Children can try this out loud before they write anything on the lines.
Write it out for giving
Once the poem is finished, copy it neatly onto a card. A real reader makes children want to take care over their handwriting.
Why write a poem for someone special?
A poem is a short piece of writing that plays with words. It can be funny, warm or thoughtful, and it does not have to be long. That makes it a gentle way into writing for children in Year 2. They only need a few lines, but they still have to choose words with care and think about how those words sound.
Writing for a real person gives the task a purpose. Children know who will read the poem, so they think about what that person would like to hear. The sheet gives sentence starters to hold the shape of the poem. This lets children put their effort into ideas, describing words and rhyme, rather than worrying about where to begin.
Quick facts about poems and Fathers Day
- A poem does not have to rhyme. Many poems use no rhyme at all.
- Words can rhyme even when they are spelt differently. Blue and shoe are an example.
- A describing word is called an adjective. It tells us more about a person, place or thing.
- In the UK, Fathers Day falls on the third Sunday in June.
- Different countries celebrate Fathers Day on different dates.
Skills and curriculum link
- Writing a short poem
- Describing words
- Finding rhyming words
- Handwriting
- Saying ideas before writing
- Writing for a reader
This sheet supports the area below. It is matched to the published England framework. Please check it against your own school plan.
| Framework | Subject or area | Strand | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Curriculum (England) | English | Writing: composition | Year 2 |
What children will be able to do
- I can write a short poem.
- I can use a rhyming word.
- I can say kind things about someone I love.
Ideas to help with words and rhyme
- Rhyme is about soundRhyming words end with the same sound. Listen to the ending, not the spelling. Say both words out loud to check.
- Describing words add detailA describing word makes a sentence clearer. "A tall tree" tells us more than "a tree". Ask children to picture the person first.
- Comparing helpsStarting a line with "as strong as" asks children to compare one thing with another. Think of things that are known for a quality, then pick one that fits.
- Reasons make lines richerThe word "because" asks for a reason. A reason tells the reader more than a feeling on its own does.
Key words
- PoemA short piece of writing that uses words in an interesting way. It is often written in lines.
- LineOne row of words in a poem.
- RhymeWhen words end with the same sound, like cat and hat.
- Describing wordA word that tells us more about a person, place or thing.
- GapAn empty space to fill in with your own words.
- GreetingA kind message to say hello or celebrate with someone.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2, which has the notes for you.
- Read the sentence starters aloud together. Talk about the person the poem is for and what makes them special.
- Ask your child to say each line out loud before writing it. An adult can write down ideas if writing feels hard.
- Look for a rhyming word together, then read the finished poem aloud and check it against the notes on page 2.
- Copy the poem neatly onto a card to give away. Come back to the sheet another day to write a new poem.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Say each line out loud first. An adult can write down the child's ideas, then the child copies them onto the lines. Take one sentence starter at a time, and have a short break between lines. Let the child choose which line to begin with.
To stretch confident children
Try to make the last words of two lines rhyme. Say a word, then list as many rhymes as you can before choosing the best one. Then swap one plain describing word in the poem for a stronger, more exact one.
Make it a game
Read the poem aloud like a performer. Stand up, use a clear voice and add actions if you like. Then hand over the card. Younger brothers and sisters can be the audience and clap at the end.
Mistakes to watch for
Watch forA child picks two words that look alike but do not rhyme, such as love and move.
Try thisSay both words out loud and listen to the endings. Ask, "Do they sound the same?" Then look for a new word together.
Watch forThe answers are very short, such as "good" or "nice".
Try thisAsk a question like "What does he do that is good?" Help the child add a describing word or a small detail.
Watch forThe card copy comes out messy or squashed.
Try thisWrite in pencil first. Copy one line at a time and leave a finger space between words. Take a break if hands get tired.
Talk about it
- Who is your poem for, and why did you choose them?
- Which line is your favourite, and why?
- What is a describing word you could use for the person?
- Can you think of a word that rhymes with the last word in one of your lines?
- How might the person feel when they hear your poem?
- What would you add if you could write one more line?
Take it off the page
Rhyme hunt
Walk around the house and pick an object. Say its name, then think of as many rhyming words as you can. Silly words count too.
Design the card
Decorate a blank card with crayons or pencils. Draw something the person loves, then fix the finished poem inside.
Poem performance
Practise reading the poem aloud in a slow, clear voice. Try a quiet voice, a loud voice and a happy voice. Choose your best one.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit beside your child for the first line, then let them lead. Not every child has a dad nearby. Change the words so the poem can be for a grandparent, carer or another special person.
Teachers
Use it as a Fathers Day starter, a plenary after teaching describing words, or an early finisher task. Change the wording for children with different family set ups, so everyone can write for someone special. Page 2 supports mixed ability groups.
Home educators
Pair the sheet with poems from the library or your own bookshelf. Read a few aloud first so children hear how poems sound. The same sheet can be used again for brothers and sisters, or for another special person.
Where this skill fits
Before this, children usually say and write simple sentences with capital letters and full stops. They enjoy rhymes, songs and short poems read aloud, and begin to notice when words sound alike. They also learn that writing is made from ideas first spoken out loud.
After this, children write longer poems, use describing words inside fuller sentences and choose language with more care. They begin to plan what they want to write before they start. Writing for a real reader, as here, builds the habit of thinking about the audience.
Check it worked
Ask these when the sheet is finished. Listen for the reasoning, not just the answer.
- Which words rhyme in your poem?
- Why did you choose these words?
- How do you think the poem will make them feel?
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Fathers Day Poem Template for?
It is written for Year 2 (ages 6 to 7), in Key Stage 1. Younger children can try it with an adult writing down their ideas, and older children can use the stretch task.
- What will children practise?
They write a short poem using describing words and rhyme. They also practise saying ideas out loud before writing, and handwriting when they copy the poem neatly onto a card.
- Can the poem be for someone other than a dad?
Yes. Change the words so the poem suits any special person, such as a grandparent, carer or family friend. This helps every child take part, whatever their family looks like.
- What if it feels too hard?
Say each line out loud first, and let an adult write down the child's ideas. Take one sentence starter at a time. Page 2 has more help for children who find writing tricky.
- Is it free?
Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. You can print it again for brothers, sisters or another class, and black and white printing works well.
- How long does it take?
It depends on the child. Let them think and talk about each line. You can do the whole sheet in one go, or split it across two sittings and copy the card later.
- Is this a screen free activity?
Yes. It needs only paper and a pencil, so it works well for quiet time, rainy days and school holidays. Children talk, think and write by hand, with no device needed.
More like this
Preview the full PDF
Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.