Do you love poems that make you laugh, think, imagine, or feel inspired? The upcoming AIMS Poetry Competition is the perfect opportunity for young performers to step into the spotlight and bring words to life through creativity, confidence, and expression.
Open to students in Years 1-6, this exciting competition celebrates the joy of poetry and performance. Whether you enjoy dramatic recitation, expressive spoken word, musical interpretation, or lively performance poetry, this is your chance to showcase your talent and share your favourite published English poem with an audience.
Poetry is much more than reading words on a page. It is about expression, storytelling, rhythm, emotion, and imagination. Through performance, students can explore how poems sound, feel, and connect with others. Every voice, movement, and expression helps transform poetry into something memorable and meaningful.
The competition encourages students to choose a published English poem that they truly enjoy and connect with. It could be funny, thoughtful, energetic, emotional, or inspiring - the most important thing is choosing a poem that feels exciting to perform. Students are encouraged to think about how they can make the poem come alive for the audience through their delivery, tone, gestures, and creativity.
There are so many wonderful poetry styles to explore. Some students may choose traditional recitation, focusing on clear pronunciation and expressive reading. Others may prefer spoken word poetry, using powerful rhythm and emotion to captivate listeners. Performance poetry allows students to combine voice, movement, and personality, while musical interpretations can add another creative dimension to the performance.
No matter the style, each performance should feel authentic and engaging. This competition is not only about memorising lines - it is about communication, confidence, and creativity.
To help students prepare, performances should begin with a short introduction, including:
- Your first name, e.g., My name is Lauren.
- Your year group and our school name, e.g., I am in Year 3 at the Alice Smith School
- The title and author of your chosen poem, e.g., I will be performing __ by __.
Each performance must not exceed one minute, making it a fun challenge to deliver a powerful, engaging performance within a short timeframe.
Students looking for inspiration are encouraged to visit the library and explore the wonderful range of poetry books available. From classic children’s poems to contemporary spoken word pieces, there is something for everyone to enjoy.
Taking part in poetry competitions offers many valuable benefits for children. It helps develop confidence in public speaking, improves communication skills, strengthens memory and language development, and encourages creativity and self-expression. Performing poetry can also help students connect more deeply with language and literature in an enjoyable and meaningful way.
Most importantly, it gives children the opportunity to have fun, take creative risks, and celebrate their individuality. Every student brings something unique to their performance, and the competition is a wonderful way to recognise and encourage those talents.
Parents can also support students by helping them choose a poem, practise their performance, and record their video entries. Simple encouragement at home can make a big difference in helping children feel confident and excited about participating.
Video entries should be submitted to Mr Martin at jmartin.jb@alice-smith.edu.my
Please ensure that videos are clear and audible, and that they are within the one-minute time limit.
The deadline for submissions is 3rd June, so now is the perfect time to start exploring poems, practising performances, and preparing to shine on screen. After internal judging, we will send our chosen entries off to the AIMS team to judge
We cannot wait to see the incredible creativity, enthusiasm, and talent from our young performers. Whether you are dramatic, funny, thoughtful, energetic, or expressive, there is a place for your voice in the AIMS Poetry Competition.
So start searching for your favourite poem, practise your performance and get ready to let your words come alive!
