KS1 & KS2 English curriculum

This unit uses and builds on 'Poet Focus: Joseph Coelho', where pupils learned about the poet Joseph Coelho and read and analysed some of his poems. In this unit, pupils will extend their knowledge of famous poets by learning about another, John Lyons. They will respond to and reflect on some of his poems, as well as using his poetry as inspiration for writing their own, free verse poems. This unit prepares pupils for 'Poetry inspired by weather', where they will build on these experiences, reading and responding to a range of poems that link to the weather.

1. Learning about the poet John Lyons
2. Reading and responding to John Lyons' poem 'Granny's Sugarcake'
3. Comparing John Lyons' poems ‘Happy Hummingbird Food’ and ‘Tadpole Comets’
4. Analysing the poem 'Carib Nightfall' by John Lyons
5. Performing poems written by the poet John Lyons
6. Generating vocabulary for a weather-themed poem
7. Writing a free verse poem about weather inspired by John Lyons' poems
8. Publishing and performing a free verse poem in the style of John Lyons
9. Analysing 'Carnival Dance Lesson' by John Lyons and generating vocabulary
10. Writing a free verse poem inspired by John Lyons' poem 'Carnival Dance Lesson'