Reading and responding to 'There are things that lurk in the Library' by Joseph Coelho
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Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can give a personal response to the poem and read it aloud.
Key learning points
- Joseph Coelho’s poems are easy to read and engaging, with playful rhythms and subjects that young readers can relate to.
- Joseph Coelho often writes poems with imaginative themes.
- The poem ‘Things that Lurk in the Library’ is about the magic and wonder of libraries, books and reading.
- The poet uses personification to create vivid imagery and a sense of the mystery and magic of libraries.
Keywords
Personification - a way of describing a non-living thing as if it acts or feels like a human
Figurative language - the use of metaphors, similes and personification to create imaginative and symbolic meaning
Common misconception
Pupils may find it difficult to find examples of personification and explain the impact of using this.
You could show the whole poem on the slides and work as a class to find different examples. Then children can work in pairs to find more examples at their tables.
Teacher tip
You may wish to play a game in your classroom to explain personifcation, where pupils select an object and come up with a fun way to describe it in a human-like way.
Equipment
You need a copy of the poem ‘There are Things that Lurk in the Library’, which is available in the additional materials for this lesson.
Licence
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