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Year 4

Generating vocabulary for a weather-themed poem

I can generate vocabulary to use in a weather-themed poem based on John Lyons’ poems.

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New
New
Year 4

Generating vocabulary for a weather-themed poem

I can generate vocabulary to use in a weather-themed poem based on John Lyons’ poems.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The themes in John Lyons' poems are often about the natural world, weather, animals and family.
  2. The tone in John Lyons' poems is generally positive because lots of his poetry draws on memories of his childhood.
  3. Poets like to use poetic devices such as figurative language to create imagery for the reader and listener.
  4. Figurative language includes the use of similes and personification, which brings writing to life.
  5. Generating ambitious vocabulary creates descriptive-rich writing, which paints vivid pictures in the reader's mind..

Keywords

  • Generating - actively seeking, forming and learning ambitious vocabulary to use in writing

  • Tone - refers to the emotion expressed by the poet towards the reader, enhancing the mood or atmosphere of the poem

  • Descriptive vocabulary - words and phrases used to vividly convey sensory details, emotions or experiences

  • Figurative language - the use of simile and personification to paint vivid pictures for the reader

Common misconception

Using 'good vocabulary' automatically makes writing better.

There are no 'good' and 'bad words' in English. Rather, some are more precise and appropriate in certain contexts than others.


To help you plan your year 4 English lesson on: Generating vocabulary for a weather-themed poem, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Provide pupils with various types of visual stimuli to generate vocabulary. Pupils should work in pairs and as groups on mini-whiteboards to generate vocabulary. Sharing ideas is the most fruitful way to build a word bank.
Teacher tip

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is the meaning of a ‘theme’ in poetry?

the rhyme scheme used within a poem
Correct answer: the main idea or message of a poem
a type of figurative language
the number of verses in a poem

Q2.
Why do poets use vivid adjectives in their poetry?

to make their poems sound complicated
Correct answer: to describe fully the nouns they use
Correct answer: to engage the reader's imagination and senses
Correct answer: to paint clear pictures in the reader's mind
to tell the reader the action that happens

Q3.
Why do some poets often incorporate nature into their poetry?

to only explore the theme of nature
because nature is the only important theme that readers should know about
to avoid an emotional connection with the reader
Correct answer: to explore universal themes that most or all readers can understand
Correct answer: to evoke powerful emotions in the reader

Q4.
John Lyons describes the sunset in one of his poems. Which simile describes a Caribbean sunset in the most appropriate way?

Correct answer: like a fire ball
like a bouncy ball
like a football
like a sphere

Q5.
John Lyons describes the colour of the sky in the Caribbean before it rains in one of his poems. Which phrase best describes the sky?

with red, orange and yellow hues
Correct answer: nearly charcoal black
bright, clear and blue

Q6.
What is the effect of the repetition 'Sugarcake! Sugarcake!' in John Lyons' poem 'Granny's Sugarcake'?

It makes the reader feel sad.
It makes the reader think he can't be heard by his granny.
Correct answer: It makes the reader think he is excited to eat it.
It makes the reader feel tired.

Assessment exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What human action best fits this blank? 'The snowflakes __________ gracefully together.'

consumed
stretched
Correct answer: danced
yawned

Q2.
Which adjective best fits the blank in this sentence? 'The __________ orb slowly drops behind the horizon.'

smooth
prickly
freezing
Correct answer: glowing

Q3.
Which verb best fits the blank in this sentence? 'The stars __________ down at the sleeping people below.'

stomped
swam
Correct answer: winked
scorched

Q4.
Which adverb best fits the blank? 'Stars shining __________ pierce the darkness.'

Correct answer: brightly
anxiously
tiredly
bluntly

Q5.
Which noun best fits the blank? 'A __________ of densely packed clouds drift ominously.'

cup
Correct answer: blanket
shower
duvet

Q6.
Match the first part of the simile with an appropriate ending.

Correct Answer:Silver specks dotted the sky,like diamonds.

like diamonds.

Correct Answer:The ferocious wind howled,like a wolf.

like a wolf.

Correct Answer:Billowing clouds drifted along,like soft pillows.

like soft pillows.