'Go all in' on poetry for the National Year of Reading 2026!

You're one of a select group of eight schools chosen to take part in our poetry competition.

Sponsored by the Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation - a Chapter One Platinum Partner - the competition brings together schools, Sodexo employees and their families across the UK to highlight the connection between food and literacy through poetry about fruits and vegetables. Children who are engaged and active learners are less likely to experience food poverty later in life.

What's involved?
- Pupils from Reception to Year 13 can enter
- Theme: short (5-line maximum) poems on fruits and/or vegetables
- Chapter One and Sodexo selects a winning poem and one runner-up from each participating school

Prizes!
- £20 book voucher for each school's winner and a printed copy of the poetry anthology for their runner-up
- Winning entrant’s class will receive 30 copies of the printed anthology
- Your winning poems will be published in the Chapter One Global Free Library

Why take part?

- Champion literacy through poetry as part of National Year of Reading 2026
- Celebrate your pupils' creativity
- Give children the opportunity to see their work published and celebrated, building confidence and pride in their writing
- Connect literacy with food insecurity awareness - Support Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation's mission while exploring the link between what feeds our bodies and what feeds our minds
- Curriculum-aligned and time-efficient - 5-line format both maximises accessibility for all pupils and satisfies statutory KS1 and KS2 English Curriculum requirements, fostering their understanding and enjoyment of poetry.

Timeline:
- Deadline for entries: 9 March 2026 (extended from 27 February)
- Winners announced: May 2026
- Online celebration event: June 2026

IMPORTANT: Poems must be a maximum of 5 lines long

This short format helps us publish all winning poems in Chapter One’s Global Free Library. Don't worry - some of the most powerful poems are short! Every word counts.

READ THE COMPETITION TERMS AND CONDITIONS

READY TO SUBMIT YOUR POEM? ENTER IT HERE!

READ OUR FAQs FOR SCHOOLS

🥝 Resources for schools

Working with 5 lines: why short poems work

The 5-line constraint is a powerful learning opportunity. When we tell children they can only use 5 lines, something magical happens: every word becomes important.

✓ Teaches precision: Every word must earn its place
✓ Develops editing skills: Requires critical thinking about what's essential
✓ Reduces overwhelm: Particularly helpful for reluctant writers
✓ Supports all learners: Accessible length for all pupils to feel successful
✓ Focuses creativity: Constraints often spark more creative solutions

Five lines is perfect for:

• Haiku (3 lines: 5-7-5 syllables)

• Cinquain (5 lines with syllable pattern: 2-4-6-8-2)

• Five powerful images (one per line)

• A tiny story (beginning, middle, end + two details)

• One strong idea expressed perfectly

Tips for short poems:

• Choose your words carefully - make every word count

• Focus on one moment, one image, or one feeling

• Use strong verbs and specific nouns

• Remove any words that aren't essential

• Read it aloud to a friend - does every line add something?

Example 5-line structures:

Five senses:

Line 1: What it looks like
Line 2: What it sounds like
Line 3: What it smells like
Line 4: What it feels like
Line 5: What it tastes like

Journey poem:

Line 1: Where it started
Line 2: How it grew
Line 3: Where it travelled from
Line 4: Where it arrived to
Line 5: What happened next

Portrait poem:

Line 1: Introduce your fruit/vegetable
Line 2: Describe its appearance
Line 3: Describe its personality

Line 4: What it’s thinking/feeling

Line 5: Final surprising detail

Teaching approaches for short-form poetry

Explore the power of short poems

• Read examples of haiku, cinquain, and short free verse

• Discuss how poets make every word count

• Notice techniques in professional short poems

First drafts—think big, then shrink

• Write freely about chosen fruit/vegetable (no line limit)

• Identify the strongest images/ideas

• Practice cutting unnecessary words

Crafting the 5-line version

• Use drafts to create 5-line poems

• Focus on powerful vocabulary choices

• Experiment with different line arrangements

Edit and polish

• Read aloud - does every word work?

• Peer feedback on clarity and impact - ‘2 stars and a wish’

• Final revisions

Perform and select

• Share poems with class

• Discuss what makes each one effective

• Select entries for competition

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