Year 6 - English
Exploring structure and language in 'London is the Place for Me'
Poetry about migration
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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 read and respond to two songs by Lord Kitchener, written about his migration to the UK aboard the Empire Windrush. Pupils will explore, compare and contrast the two songs and make connections to their own lives and experiences.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to develop understanding of a song by exploring the artist's use of structure and language.
Key Notes
- 'London is the Place for Me' is a fixed verse song; it contains four verses each with five lines and a repeated refrain.
- The 1st and 2nd verses can be described as following the rhyme scheme of AABBA; the rhyme scheme varies in verses 3 - 5.
- 'London is the Place for Me' can be described as being in strophic form: it uses the same melody repeated for each verse
- Semantic mapping is a technique used to explore the rich meaning of a word or phrase.
- Impressions can be formed about a song once readers or listeners have a secure understanding of the language used.
Vocabulary To Learn
- form: the way that a text can be presented
- rhyme scheme: the pattern of rhyming words or sounds at the end of each line in a poem, often represented using letters to indicate the rhyme pattern (e.g., AABB, ABAB)
- semantic mapping: a visual technique used to organise and represent the relationships between concepts or ideas
- impression: initial feelings about a person, place or thing, gained from reading a text
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Pupils may over-rely on one method for developing comprehension of new or unfamiliar words.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.
'London is the Place for Me' is a fixed verse song; it contains four verses each with five lines and a repeated refrain. The 1st and 2nd verses can be described as following the rhyme scheme of AABBA; the rhyme scheme varies in verses 3 - 5.
2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'form'
the way that a text can be presented.
3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.
Mistake: Pupils may over-rely on one method for developing comprehension of new or unfamiliar words. Correction: Explain that words can be understood in different ways (e.g. "sociable" could be understood by 'reading around the word' or 'identifying the word class'). Encourage pupils to use a range of methods where applicable.
More Lessons In This Unit
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