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Year 4 - English

Writing a poem about the heat

Poetry inspired by weather

Unit Summary

In this unit, pupils read, respond to and perform four different poems associated with weather. They discuss the poetic devices used and explore structure and imagery. Finally, they write their own poems inspired by the weather.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to write and revise your poem about the heat.

Key Notes

  • A tanka is a traditional Japanese form of poetry that originated more than 1,300 years ago.
  • Tankas often explore themes of nature, emotions and the passage of time.
  • When editing tankas, we can consider the specificity of our language choices.
  • Editing word choices and phrases can help to improve the imagery and impression created by our poems.
  • Reading your poem aloud will help you to revise and refine it.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • tanka: a form of Japanese poetry consisting of five lines with a specific syllable pattern (5-7-5-7-7), often expressing emotions, observations or narratives
  • editing: the process of improving writing to improve text flow and overall quality

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Pupils may find it challenging to generate rhyming words associated with the heat.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.

A tanka is a traditional Japanese form of poetry that originated more than 1,300 years ago. Tankas often explore themes of nature, emotions and the passage of time.

2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'tanka'

a form of Japanese poetry consisting of five lines with a specific syllable pattern (5-7-5-7-7), often expressing emotions, observations or narratives.

3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.

Mistake: Pupils may find it challenging to generate rhyming words associated with the heat. Correction: Pupils could work in partners, or as a whole class, to create a list of rhyming words.

More Lessons In This Unit

Browse all guides in the Year 4 English guide library.