Lakenham pupils pen poems at Norwich library

Pupils from Lakenham Primary School spent a day penning poems about Norwich life with a little help from a local bard.

The youngsters worked together at the special event run by the Millennium Library to encourage them to be creative, boost their vocabulary and write about the city where they live.

They were guided by local poet and script writer Molly Naylor who inspired the 22 children to write their own poem and read it in a special recording booth capturing Norfolk dialect.

Emma Pick, 26, who teaches the year five and six children, said: 'I think they found that they really enjoyed themselves. Poetry is really hard for children and anything that is going to boost their vocabulary is going to be a great benefit to them.'

Miss Naylor, who lives near Magdalen Street, also delivered her high energy session to children from the Avenue Junior School, where she explored the different adjectives they could use to describe Norwich before inviting them act out their pieces in front of each other.

The 28-year-old said: 'The aim is to get the children writing poems, but I try to make it really fun. I have been keeping the material local and getting them to write about things they know because that is what I do as a poet. But I also want them to use their imagination as well.'

The poems written and recorded by the children is part of the Evolving English: One Language, Many Voices campaign, launched by the British Library, which encouraged people to record their Norfolk dialect in recording booths whilst reading the Mr Men book, Mr Tickle.

The booths have been at the express area of the library since January 18 as well as an audio-visual presentation in the Fusion room celebrating the English language and Norfolk dialect.

Caroline Varney-Bowers, community librarian at the Millennium Library, said: 'It is learning which all features in the studies they are doing at school, but when its combined with a different environment it brings things alive for them.'

Do you have a story about a school event? Contact reporter Ben Woods on 01603 772439 or email ben.woods@archant.co.uk.