Year 2 - English
Reading and responding to 'If You Could See Laughter' by Mandy Coe
'The Magic Box': reading imaginative poetry
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Study Guides
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 three different imaginative poems by different poets. They will write their own imaginative poems following the same structure as 'The Magic Box'. Finally, pupils will perform their own poems to an audience.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to give a personal response to the poem and give some evidence to justify your ideas.
Key Notes
- Mandy Coe is a poet and is known for writing imaginative poetry for children.
- 'If You Could See Laughter' by Mandy Coe is a poem about what laughter would look like if you could actually see it.
- The poem is imaginative and creates vivid imagery in the reader's mind.
- The poem explores themes of the joys of childhood and imagination.
- We can read with expression to convey a sense of fun and joy.
Vocabulary To Learn
- theme: a big idea, topic or message that recurs within a text
- imaginative: having the ability to create vivid mental images or concepts that may not exist in reality
- imagery: the use of language to create a mental picture or sensory experience for the reader or listener
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Pupils may find it hard to read the poem aloud and with expression.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.
Mandy Coe is a poet and is known for writing imaginative poetry for children. 'If You Could See Laughter' by Mandy Coe is a poem about what laughter would look like if you could actually see it.
2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'theme'
a big idea, topic or message that recurs within a text.
3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.
Mistake: Pupils may find it hard to read the poem aloud and with expression. Correction: Ensure pupils have an understanding of what the poem means and some of the key vocabulary that they may not know. Model reading the poem aloud with expression for the children to get ideas and talk through the different ways to use your voice.
More Lessons In This Unit
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