Year 4 - English
Comparing John Lyons' poems 'Happy Hummingbird Food' and 'Tadpole Comets'
John Lyons 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 learn about the poet John Lyons. They read a variety of John Lyons' poems, analysing and comparing them and choosing one poem to perform. Finally, pupils write their own free verse poems, inspired by John Lyons' poetry.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to compare two of John Lyons' poems: 'Happy Hummingbird Food' and 'Tadpole Comets'.
Key Notes
- Reading and rereading poems leads to a richer response and a greater understanding of language within the poem.
- Engaging in conversations about poems allows us to make connections with our own lives and the world around us.
- Comparing poems explores the themes, structures and language within them.
- A theme is a big idea, topic or message that recurs in a poem.
Vocabulary To Learn
- poem: a piece of writing that uses creative and rhythmic language to express thoughts, feelings or ideas
- language: includes the words, phrases and techniques used by the poet to convey meaning, evoke emotions and create imagery within the poem
- comparing: involves identifying similarities and differences between two or more things, ideas, themes or texts
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- There is a set of rules to follow when comparing poems.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.
Reading and rereading poems leads to a richer response and a greater understanding of language within the poem. Engaging in conversations about poems allows us to make connections with our own lives and the world around us.
2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'poem'
a piece of writing that uses creative and rhythmic language to express thoughts, feelings or ideas.
3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.
Mistake: There is a set of rules to follow when comparing poems. Correction: Comparing poems often involves exploring similarities and differences, but remind pupils that it is a subjective process.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Analysing 'Carnival Dance Lesson' by John Lyons and generating vocabulary Study Guide
- Analysing the poem 'Carib Nightfall' by John Lyons Study Guide
- Generating vocabulary for a weather-themed poem Study Guide
- Learning about the poet John Lyons Study Guide
- Performing poems written by the poet John Lyons Study Guide
- Publishing and performing a free verse poem in the style of John Lyons Study Guide
- Reading and responding to John Lyons' poem 'Granny's Sugarcake' Study Guide
- Writing a free verse poem about weather inspired by John Lyons' poems Study Guide
- Writing a free verse poem inspired by John Lyons' poem 'Carnival Dance Lesson' Study Guide
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