In many schools following the National Curriculum for England the teaching of science has been overshadowed by the demands of literacy and numeracy, with the focus on statutory testing (SATs) and emphasis on national targets. This has often led to increasing concerns around teachers' subject knowledge, the sapping of teacher confidence and reduction of interesting, engaging science lessons. However, in Wales the forthcoming return of science as a tested subject is seen in year 6 (ages 10-11) and new routes into this subject need to be developed. How is this relevant to UK schools more widely? The author provides examples of how poetry can be used to develop scientific enquiry and method, while inspiring scientific learning using rich tasks that open doors to fantastic worlds of wonder.