National Poetry Day 2026
26 August 2026 - 26 August 2026
Region(s): Nationwide
Type(s): national Events
National Poetry Day is a beloved and vibrant literary celebration, bringing communities together through more than 100 events across the motu each year. It is also a great opportunity to combine literacy and science.
National Poetry Day is funded and governed by the New Zealand Book Awards Trust | Te Ohu Tiaki i Te Rau Hiringa.
Sharing students’ scientific learning through poetry can be a powerful activity as it combines artistic expression with scientific understanding. Using fictional modes can make the science more accessible and personal for the creator and audience.
Related content
Sharing scientific understanding through poetry encourages students to combine artistic expression with scientific understanding.
Use poetry to encourage learning about Fred the Thread – the caterpillar of the native moth (Houdinia flexilissima) and quite possibly the world’s thinnest caterpillar.
Watch as Dr Robert Hoare reads his poem about Fred the Thread.
The activity Science and literacy – using Fred the Thread is a novel way to use Robert’s poem to promote basic literacy skills and support scientific thinking.
Check out the ready-to-use cross-curricular teaching resources for middle primary and upper primary students. Each resource has literacy, maths and science activities that use the Fred the Thread poem as the context for learning.
Literacy through science has hints on how to connect the English and science curriculum strands.
The topic literacy through science curates activities that have strong literacy components. Use the filters to narrow your search.
See all events