Poetry recitation competitions transform young learners into confident performers, nurturing their linguistic abilities while building self-assurance. These famous English poems for class 1 to 6 recitation competition serve as stepping stones toward eloquent expression and cultural appreciation. Whether you’re preparing students in the USA or India, these timeless verses create magical moments that resonate across generations.

---

Enchanting English Poems for Class 1 Recitation Competition

“Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” – A Celestial Classic

Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky.

This beloved nursery rhyme captivates the youngest performers with its simple rhythm and universal appeal. Children naturally connect with the wonder of stargazing, making this poem perfect for class 1 recitation competitions.

“Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary” – Garden Adventures

Mary, Mary, quite contrary,
How does your garden grow?
With silver bells and cockleshells,
And pretty maids all in a row.

A delightful exploration of gardening and nature that encourages young minds to imagine colorful flower beds. This traditional English poem helps children develop clear pronunciation while enjoying whimsical imagery.

“Hickory Dickory Dock” – The Mouse’s Timely Tale

Hickory dickory dock,
The mouse ran up the clock.
The clock struck one,
The mouse ran down!

This rhythmic verse teaches time concepts while entertaining with its playful narrative. Perfect for elementary recitation, it combines learning with laughter through its unexpected mouse protagonist.

“Humpty Dumpty” – The Wall-Sitting Wonder

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.
All the king’s horses and all the king’s men,
Couldn’t put Humpty together again.

A cautionary tale wrapped in memorable verse that introduces concepts of consequence and permanence. This classic poem for young children remains timelessly relevant for building vocabulary and moral understanding.

“Jack and Jill” – Hill-Climbing Chronicles

Jack and Jill went up the hill,
To fetch a pail of water.
Jack fell down and broke his crown,
And Jill came tumbling after.

Adventure and mishap combine in this energetic poem that teaches cause-and-effect relationships. Ideal for class 1 poetry recitation, it encourages animated performance through its action-packed storyline.

“Little Bo Peep” – Shepherdess Stories

Little Bo Peep has lost her sheep,
And doesn’t know where to find them.
Leave them alone, and they’ll come home,
Wagging their tails behind them.

This pastoral poem introduces children to farm life while teaching patience and trust. Perfect for developing recitation skills in young learners who enjoy animal-themed poetry.

“Old MacDonald Had a Farm” – Barnyard Melodies

Old MacDonald had a farm,
E-I-E-I-O!
And on his farm he had a cow,
E-I-E-I-O!

An interactive masterpiece that brings the farmyard to life through sound effects and repetition. This engaging children’s poem encourages audience participation while building confidence in nervous performers.

More Posts:25+ English Poems for Class 2 Recitation Competition

---

Captivating English Poems for Class 2 Recitation Competition

“The Wheels on the Bus” – Transportation Rhythms

The wheels on the bus go round and round,
Round and round, round and round.
The wheels on the bus go round and round,
All through the town.

Movement and music merge in this kinetic poem that celebrates everyday transportation. Excellent for class 2 recitation competitions, it allows children to incorporate gestures naturally.

“If You’re Happy and You Know It” – Joyful Expressions

If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands!
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands!
If you’re happy and you know it, then your face will surely show it,
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands!

Emotional awareness meets physical expression in this uplifting verse that encourages authentic performance. This interactive poem builds confidence while teaching emotional vocabulary.

“Five Little Ducks” – Counting Adventures

Five little ducks went swimming one day,
Over the hill and far away.
Mother duck said, “Quack, quack, quack, quack,”
But only four little ducks came back.

Mathematical concepts blend seamlessly with storytelling in this countdown adventure. Perfect for elementary poetry recitation, it combines education with entertainment through its suspenseful progression.

“Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes” – Body Movement Magic

Head, shoulders, knees and toes, Knees and toes
Head, shoulders, knees and toes,
Knees and toes,
eyes and ears and mouth and nose.

Anatomy education disguised as playful verse that encourages full-body participation. This kinesthetic poem helps shy children overcome stage fright through focused movement and repetition.

“The Itsy Bitsy Spider” – Perseverance Personified

The itsy bitsy spider climbed up the waterspout.
Down came the rain and washed the spider out.
Out came the sun and dried up all the rain,
And the itsy bitsy spider went up the spout again.

Resilience and determination shine through this beloved tale of persistence. Ideal for class 2 poetry competitions, it teaches valuable life lessons while entertaining through its cyclical narrative structure.

“Row, Row, Row Your Boat” – Life’s Gentle Journey

Row, row, row your boat,
Gently down the stream.
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,
Life is but a dream.

Philosophical depth wrapped in simple melody creates this contemplative masterpiece. This thoughtful children’s poem introduces abstract concepts while maintaining accessibility for young performers.

“London Bridge is Falling Down” – Historical Harmonies

London Bridge is falling down,
Falling down, falling down.
London Bridge is falling down,
My fair lady.

Cultural heritage meets musical tradition in this internationally recognized verse. Perfect for multicultural recitation events, it connects children to historical narratives through memorable melody.

More Posts:30+ English Poems for Class 3 on Nature

---

Mesmerizing English Poems for Class 3 Recitation Competition

“The Cat and the Fiddle” – Nursery Nonsense

Hey diddle diddle, the cat and the fiddle,
The cow jumped over the moon.
The little dog laughed to see such sport,
And the dish ran away with the spoon.

Surreal imagery and impossible scenarios create this fantastical favorite that celebrates imagination. This whimsical poem for class 3 encourages creative interpretation and animated delivery.

“Baa, Baa, Black Sheep” – Woolly Wisdom

Baa, baa, black sheep,
Have you any wool?
Yes sir, yes sir,
Three bags full.

Economic concepts and social dynamics emerge through this deceptively simple dialogue. Excellent for intermediate recitation, it teaches sharing principles while developing conversational delivery skills.

“Ring Around the Rosie” – Circle Time Classics

Ring around the rosie,
A pocket full of posies.
Ashes, ashes,
We all fall down!

Community participation meets dramatic conclusion in this traditional circle game. Perfect for group recitation performances, it builds teamwork while creating memorable theatrical moments.

“Hot Cross Buns” – Marketplace Melodies

Hot cross buns! Hot cross buns!
One a penny, two a penny, Hot cross buns!
If you have no daughters,
give them to your sons.

Commercial calling transformed into poetic art that introduces marketplace culture. This rhythmic poem teaches entrepreneurial concepts while developing clear articulation skills.

“Georgie Porgie” – Playground Personalities

Georgie Porgie, pudding and pie,
Kissed the girls and made them cry.
When the boys came out to play,
Georgie Porgie ran away.

Social behavior and consequences unfold through this character-driven narrative. Ideal for class 3 poetry recitation, it opens discussions about appropriate conduct while entertaining audiences.

“Little Miss Muffet” – Spider Encounters

Little Miss Muffet sat on a tuffet,
Eating her curds and whey.
Along came a spider who sat down beside her,
And frightened Miss Muffet away.

Fear and surprise combine in this compact drama that explores emotional responses. This narrative poem helps children understand different reactions while building storytelling skills.

“Hey Diddle Diddle” – Fantastical Fables

Hey diddle diddle, the cat and the fiddle,
The cow jumped over the moon.
The little dog laughed to see such craft,
And the dish ran away with the spoon.

Impossible scenarios celebrate pure imagination in this beloved nonsense verse. Perfect for creative recitation, it encourages students to embrace the absurd while developing expressive performance skills.

More Posts:25+ Heartwarming Children’s Day Poems from Teachers

---

Inspiring English Poems for Class 4 Recitation Competition

“The Rainbow” by Christina Rossetti – Nature’s Promise

Boats sail on the rivers,
And ships sail on the seas;
But clouds that sail across the sky
Are prettier far than these.

Natural phenomena become poetry in Rossetti’s gentle observation of atmospheric beauty. This contemplative poem for class 4 introduces students to descriptive language while celebrating environmental wonders.

“What is Pink?” by Christina Rossetti – Color Contemplations

What is pink?
A rose is pink By the fountain’s brink.
What is red?
A poppy’s red In its barley bed.

Color exploration through natural imagery creates this educational masterpiece that connects abstract concepts to concrete examples. Excellent for vocabulary building recitation, it enhances observational skills.

“The Wind” by Robert Louis Stevenson – Invisible Forces

I saw you toss the kites on high
And blow the birds about the sky;
And all around I heard you pass,
Like ladies’ skirts across the grass.

Personification brings invisible forces to life through Stevenson’s masterful imagery. This descriptive poem teaches literary devices while encouraging students to notice environmental details.

“My Shadow” by Robert Louis Stevenson – Playful Companions

I have a little shadow that goes in and out with me,
And what can be the use of him is more than I can see.
He is very, very like me from the heels up to the head;
And I see him jump before me, when I jump into my bed.

Childhood wonder meets scientific observation in this beloved exploration of light and shadow. Perfect for class 4 recitation competitions, it combines education with personal experience.

“The Swing” by Robert Louis Stevenson – Childhood Bliss

How do you like to go up in a swing,
Up in the air so blue?
Oh, I do think it the pleasantest thing
Ever a child can do!

Pure joy and movement capture the essence of childhood pleasure through Stevenson’s rhythmic verse. This energetic poem allows performers to convey genuine enthusiasm while celebrating youthful experiences.

“A Good Play” by Robert Louis Stevenson – Imaginative Adventures

We built a ship upon the stairs
All made of the back-bedroom chairs,
And filled it full of sofa pillows
To go a-sailing on the billows.

Imagination transforms ordinary objects into extraordinary adventures in this celebration of creative play. Ideal for inspiring young performers, it validates childhood creativity while encouraging innovative thinking.

“The Lamplighter” by Robert Louis Stevenson – Evening Guardians

My tea is nearly ready and the sun has left the sky;
It’s time to take the window to see Leerie going by;
For every night at teatime and before you take your seat,
With lantern and with ladder he comes posting up the street.

Historical professions come alive through Stevenson’s nostalgic portrait of urban evening rituals. This atmospheric poem introduces children to past civilizations while developing appreciation for community workers.

More Posts:30+ Best Poems for English Recitation Competition

---

Thought-Provoking English Poems for Class 5 Recitation Competition

“The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost – Life’s Choices

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could.

Decision-making and life consequences emerge through Frost’s philosophical masterpiece about choices and their lasting impact. This profound poem for class 5 introduces complex themes while remaining accessible.

“Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” by Robert Frost – Winter Reflections

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

Contemplation meets responsibility in Frost’s meditation on duty versus desire. Perfect for advanced recitation, it teaches about internal conflict while celebrating natural beauty.

“The Village Blacksmith” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow – Honest Labor

Under a spreading chestnut tree
The village smithy stands;
The smith, a mighty man is he,
With large and sinewy hands.

Work ethic and community pride shine through Longfellow’s tribute to skilled craftsmanship. This character study introduces students to traditional occupations while celebrating honest labor.

“Daffodils” by William Wordsworth – Nature’s Dancing

I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o’er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils.

Natural beauty transforms solitude into joy through Wordsworth’s famous encounter with spring flowers. Excellent for class 5 poetry recitation, it demonstrates how nature can influence human emotions.

“The Brook” by Alfred Lord Tennyson – Water’s Journey

I come from haunts of coot and hern,
I make a sudden sally,
And sparkle out among the fern,
To bicker down a valley.

Personification gives voice to flowing water in Tennyson’s musical celebration of natural persistence. This flowing poem teaches about water cycles while demonstrating poetic rhythm and movement.

“Trees” by Joyce Kilmer – Natural Reverence

I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.
A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast.

Environmental appreciation meets spiritual reverence in Kilmer’s tribute to natural creation. Perfect for nature-loving students, it introduces themes of environmental stewardship and natural beauty.

“The Owl and the Pussy-Cat” by Edward Lear – Whimsical Voyages

The Owl and the Pussy-cat went to sea
In a beautiful pea-green boat,
They took some honey, and plenty of money,
Wrapped up in a five-pound note.

Adventure and romance combine in Lear’s nonsensical masterpiece about unlikely companions finding love. This charming narrative poem celebrates friendship while encouraging imaginative interpretation.

More Posts:Where Can I Publish My Poems / Your Poetry Published in 2025

---

Sophisticated English Poems for Class 6 Recitation Competition

“If” by Rudyard Kipling – Character Building Counsel

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too.

Moral guidance and character development flow through Kipling’s timeless advice about integrity and perseverance. This inspirational poem for class 6 provides life lessons while challenging advanced performers.

“The Charge of the Light Brigade” by Alfred Lord Tennyson – Heroic Valor

Half a league, half a league,
Half a league onward,
All in the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.

Military courage and tragic sacrifice resonate through Tennyson’s stirring tribute to battlefield heroism. Perfect for advanced recitation competitions, it teaches about historical events while developing dramatic delivery skills.

“Invictus” by William Ernest Henley – Unconquerable Spirit

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

Personal strength and determination triumph over adversity in Henley’s powerful declaration of resilience. This empowering poem inspires students while teaching about overcoming challenges through inner strength.

“Annabel Lee” by Edgar Allan Poe – Eternal Love

It was many and many a year ago,
In a kingdom by the sea,
That a maiden there lived whom
you may know By the name of Annabel Lee.

Love transcending death emerges through Poe’s haunting ballad about eternal devotion. Ideal for mature class 6 performers, it introduces complex emotions while developing interpretive skills.

“The Raven” by Edgar Allan Poe – Gothic Grandeur

Once upon a midnight dreary,
while I pondered, weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious
volume of forgotten lore—
While I nodded, nearly napping,
suddenly there came a tapping,
As of someone gently rapping,
rapping at my chamber door.

Psychological depth and atmospheric tension create Poe’s masterpiece of gothic literature. This challenging poem develops advanced vocabulary while introducing students to sophisticated literary techniques.

“O Captain! My Captain!” by Walt Whitman – Leadership Lament

O Captain! my Captain!our fearful trip is done,
The ship has weather’d every rack,
the prize we sought is won,
The port is near, the bells
I hear, the people all exulting,
While follow eyes the steady keel,
the vessel grim and daring.

Victory and tragedy intertwine in Whitman’s moving tribute to fallen leadership. Perfect for advanced poetry recitation, it teaches about historical events while developing emotional expression skills.

“The Highwayman” by Alfred Noyes – Romantic Adventure

The wind was a torrent of darkness among the gusty trees,
The moon was a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas,
The road was a ribbon of moonlight over the purple moor,
And the highwayman came riding—riding—riding.

Romance and adventure gallop through Noyes’ narrative masterpiece about love, sacrifice, and tragic heroism. This dramatic ballad challenges advanced students while celebrating storytelling through verse.

More Posts:22+English Poems for Class 1 on Mother

---

Conclusion: Nurturing Tomorrow’s Orators Through Timeless Verse

These 40+ famous English poems for class 1 to 6 recitation competition provide comprehensive preparation for young performers across all elementary grades. Each carefully selected verse builds confidence, vocabulary, and performance skills while celebrating the rich tradition of English literature. From simple nursery rhymes to sophisticated ballads, these poems create stepping stones toward lifelong appreciation of language and performance artistry.