Reading and responding to John Lyons' poem 'Granny's Sugarcake'
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can read and respond to poems written by John Lyons, including the poem 'Granny's Sugarcake'.
Key learning points
- Reading and rereading poems leads to a richer response and a greater understanding of language within the poem.
- The structure of a poem plays a crucial role in conveying the poet's message and evoking emotions in the reader.
- Language is how a poet expresses emotions, ideas and experiences using imagery, simile and other literary devices.
- A theme is a big idea, topic or message that recurs in a poem.
- Engaging in conversations about poems allows us to make connections with our own lives and the world around us.
Keywords
Poem - a piece of writing that uses creative and rhythmic language to express thoughts, feelings or ideas
Structure - refers to the way a poem is organised or put together, including elements such as stanzas, lines, rhyme scheme and overall form
Language - includes the words, phrases and techniques used by the poet to convey meaning, evoke emotions and create imagery within the poem
Common misconception
There is only one correct interpretation of a poem.
Emphasise to pupils that each reader brings their unique perspective, experiences and emotions to the poem. There is no 'right or wrong'.
Teacher tip
Pupils should have copies of 'Granny's Sugarcake' and 'Tell Me Mama' to read aloud with their partner.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of the following aspects is important when reading poetry aloud?
Q2.What contributes the most to the enjoyment of poetry?
Q3.What defines rhyme in poetry?
Q4.What is the purpose of repetition in poetry?
Q5.True or false? Capital letters and full stops are necessary in poetry.
Q6.Match the different types of rhyme in poetry to their meanings.
where the sounds are similar but not identical
pattern of rhymes at the end of each line in a poem
overall pattern of rhymes in a poem
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Where was John Lyons born and brought up?
Q2.What is the dialect of Trinidad and Tobago?
Q3.Who is the family member in John Lyon's poem 'Granny's Sugarcake'?
Q4.Which of the following are key components of reading aloud?
Q5.What are verses in a poem?
Q6.Match part of these lines to their corresponding rhyming couplets.
a vibrant, living space
beneath the glowing moon
with the early morn
echoes forevermore
To help you plan your 4 English lesson on: Reading and responding to John Lyons' poem 'Granny's Sugarcake', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 4 English lesson on: Reading and responding to John Lyons' poem 'Granny's Sugarcake', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 2 English lessons from the John Lyons poetry unit, dive into the full primary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.