Year 2 - English
Reading and responding to 'Please Mrs Butler' by Allan Ahlberg
Humorous poetry
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit, pupils read and respond to a variety of humorous poems by different poets. They will learn about the poets, explore the meaning and themes within each poem and identify the poetic devices used. Pupils will practise reading each poem aloud with expression to convey meaning.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to give a personal response to the poem and perform it.
Key Notes
- Allan Ahlberg is one of Britain's most popular and successful children's writers and is known for his fun storytelling.
- 'Please Mrs Butler' is a poem about a child asking their teacher for help.
- 'Please Mrs Butler' is written as a conversation between two characters and can be performed in a pair.
- Performing a poem using expression and gestures will help to express to an audience how a character is feeling.
Vocabulary To Learn
- character: a person or animal in a piece of fiction writing
- expression: reading with feelings and emotion to bring the poem to life
- gesture: a movement that helps express an idea or meaning
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Pupils may find it hard to work together as a pair to perform the poem.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.
Allan Ahlberg is one of Britain's most popular and successful children's writers and is known for his fun storytelling. 'Please Mrs Butler' is a poem about a child asking their teacher for help.
2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'character'
a person or animal in a piece of fiction writing.
3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.
Mistake: Pupils may find it hard to work together as a pair to perform the poem. Correction: Teach pupils that performing 'Please Mrs Butler' as a pair will help to create the scene and express how the characters are feeling. Model with another adult how to work together to perform and react to what the other one is saying.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Performing the poem 'The Morning Rush' by John Foster Study Guide
- Reading and responding to 'Home Time' by Rachel Rooney Study Guide
- Reading and responding to 'Please do not feed the animals...' by Robert Hull Study Guide
- Reading and responding to 'The Morning Rush' by John Foster Study Guide
- Responding to 'What Did You Do at School Today?' by James Carter and other poems Study Guide
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