Year 5 - English
Exploring themes of love in 'You Are' and 'Mum Says She Loves Me'
Poetry by Valerie Bloom
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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 study the poetry of Valerie Bloom. They will read a selection of Valerie's poetry, practise responding to it, and they will listen to her reading her poetry too.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to read and reflect on poetry about love.
Key Notes
- 'You Are' and 'Mum Says She Loves Me' are both poems written by Valerie Bloom.
- Metaphors are used in the poem 'You Are'; they are a way of comparing something by saying that it is something else.
- 'Mum Says She Loves Me' is a poem that offers a different perspective on the theme of love.
- One way we can reflect on a poem and its themes is to think about our own personal response to it.
Vocabulary To Learn
- theme: a big idea, topic or message that recurs within a text
- imagery: the use of language to create a mental picture or sensory experience for the reader or listener
- metaphor: a way of describing and comparing something by saying that it is something else
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Pupils may initially think that 'Mum Says She Loves Me' is a poem which conveys a negative emotion.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.
'You Are' and 'Mum Says She Loves Me' are both poems written by Valerie Bloom. Metaphors are used in the poem 'You Are'; they are a way of comparing something by saying that it is something else.
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 initially think that 'Mum Says She Loves Me' is a poem which conveys a negative emotion. Correction: 'Mum Says She Loves Me' depicts love in a different family structure. This does not mean that the love is any less than the love depicted in 'You Are'.
More Lessons In This Unit
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