Exploring human relationships with animals through poetry
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can compare and contrast two poems with similar themes.
Key learning points
- ‘The Song of the Whale’ was written by Kit Wright in 1982.
- Whales face a multitude of threats from humans, which include hunting, pollution and captivity in zoos and water parks.
- ‘The Panther’ was written by Rainer Maria Rilke between 1902 and 1903; it describes a captive panther behind bars.
- Themes of captivity and freedom can be found in both poems.
- We can compare and contrast poems with similar themes or messages, noticing the impact that they have on us as readers.
Keywords
Theme - a big idea, topic or message that recurs within a text
Captivity - being confined or imprisoned
Freedom - being unrestrained, independent, or liberated
Compare - involves identifying similarities between two or more things, ideas, themes or texts
Contrast - involves identifying differences between two or more things, ideas, themes or texts
Common misconception
Pupils may not recognise that a poem's structure can also convey meaning to a poem.
Highlight how the poem's lines in 'The Panther' form bars, similar to the ones imprisoning the panther in the poem. Pupils could read additional poems (such as concrete/shape poetry) to explore this feature further.
Teacher tip
You could use the poems as a prompt for pupils to explore the creatures in more detail, through research and home learning.
Equipment
You need a copy of the poem ‘The Song of the Whale’ which is featured on pages 17-18 in the 1982 Puffin edition of ‘Hot Dog’ written by Kit Wright, and illustrated by Posy Simmonds for this lesson.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which poet wrote 'The Snow Leopard'?
Q2.Which of these is the best definition of a theme?
Q3.What is the best description of a metaphor?
Q4.Which of these words best describe freedom?
Q5.Which of these are members of the whale family?
Q6.Which of these animals are members of the cat family?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the keywords to their definitions.
Q2.Kit Wright was born in which year?
Q3.True or false? Whales face a number of threats due to humans.
Q4.Match these words from 'The Song of the Whale' to their definitions.
Q5.True or false? 'The Panther' is based on a real-life experience.
Q6.Who was the translator of the poem 'The Panther' which we read?
To help you plan your 5 English lesson on: Exploring human relationships with animals through poetry, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 5 English lesson on: Exploring human relationships with animals through poetry, 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 Poetry inspired by animals unit, dive into the full primary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.