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Lesson 4 of 5
  • Year 5

Reading, responding to and performing 'In the Heart of a Book'

I can read and respond to a poem before performing it.

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Lesson 4 of 5
New
New
  • Year 5

Reading, responding to and performing 'In the Heart of a Book'

I can read and respond to a poem before performing it.

Copyrighted materials: to view and download resources from this lesson, you’ll need to be in the UK and

Copyrights help

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

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. ‘In the Heart of a Book’ is a 20 line poem written by Liz Brownlee; the poem is split into 10 two-line verses.
  2. The poem includes repetition through the use of anaphora.
  3. Anaphora can draw attention to what books can provide readers with emotionally, while maintaining the poem’s pace.
  4. Understanding a poem, its language, imagery & the impression it creates will help us to create an impactful performance.

Keywords

  • Anaphora - when a word or phrase is repeated at the beginning of multiple lines in a poem or speech

  • Atmosphere - the mood created in a section or whole of a text

  • Imagery - the use of language to create a mental picture or sensory experience for the reader or listener

  • Gesture - a movement that helps express an idea or meaning

  • Pace - the speed or rhythm at which a poem is read or performed

Common misconception

Some pupils may not be able to think of a text that they have an emotional connection with.

Remind pupils of texts that they have shared in class during the year or previous years. Model an example using a shared text.


To help you plan your year 5 English lesson on: Reading, responding to and performing 'In the Heart of a Book', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Gestures used in poetry performance should add depth and visual interest, rather than overshadowing the spoken words of the poem.
Teacher tip

Equipment

You need a copy of the 2021 Otter-Barry edition of ‘Being Me’ written by Liz Brownlee, Matt Goodfellow and Laura Mucha, illustrated by Victoria Jane Wheeler for this lesson.

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).

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