Year 4 - English
Exploring and performing 'Doing Nothing' and 'Travel by Book' by Laura Mucha
Laura Mucha: performance 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, respond to and perform a variety of poems by the poet, Laura Mucha. They will watch Mucha perform her own poems and learn from her about what makes an effective performance. Finally, pupils will practise different skills to perform each poem effectively to an audience.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to explore the layout and rhythm of two poems before performing for an audience.
Key Notes
- 'Doing Nothing' is a poem found in the poetry collection, 'Dear Ugly Sisters' by Laura Mucha.
- The poem is about the practice of mindfulness and the rhythm varies in the poem to reflect the atmosphere.
- 'Travel by Book' is is a fixed verse poem, which follows the AAAB rhyme scheme.
- The poem has a clear, steady rhythm, which gives the poem a flowing and musical quality.
- Doing deep breaths before performing can help us to feel calm and reduce nerves.
Vocabulary To Learn
- mindfulness: the practice of being aware of your body, mind and feelings in the present moment, which is thought to create a feeling of calm
- line break: the point where one line of verse ends and the next begins, often used to create rhythm, emphasise words or control the poem's pace
- rhythm: the pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables, creating a musical and rhythmic flow in the poem
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Pupils may try to use too many gestures throughout their performance.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.
'Doing Nothing' is a poem found in the poetry collection, 'Dear Ugly Sisters' by Laura Mucha. The poem is about the practice of mindfulness and the rhythm varies in the poem to reflect the atmosphere.
2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'mindfulness'
the practice of being aware of your body, mind and feelings in the present moment, which is thought to create a feeling of calm.
3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.
Mistake: Pupils may try to use too many gestures throughout their performance. Correction: Gestures used in poetry performance should add depth and visual interest rather than overshadowing the spoken words of the poem.
More Lessons In This Unit
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