Reading, responding to&performing 'A Bird came down the Walk' by Emily Dickinson
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can perform the poem, using intonation and expression to convey meaning.
Key learning points
- The poem describes a bird that comes down a garden path and interacts with the natural world around it.
- ‘A Bird came down the Walk’ can be described as a fixed verse poem; it consists of five verses, containing four lines.
- Dashes create a pause in the poem; these can also be called caesuras.
- Dashes can be used to create emphasis, add dramatic effect or control the pacing of a poem.
- Understanding a poem, its language, imagery & the impression it creates will help us to create an impactful performance.
Keywords
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
Pupils may not recognise all of the rhyming words.
Explain to pupils that some words may not rhyme based on the accent of the person reading them. Likewise, other words may rhyme when read in Dickinson's native American accent.
Teacher tip
Emily Dickinson's poem reflects choices that she made as a poet that may not be consistent with pupils' understanding of grammar. These reflect her poetic writing style. Poetry does not necessarily have to follow the same rules as prose.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.True or false? Poems written about animals must always be positive.
Q2.What is the poetic term for when a sentence or phrase continues over the end of a line of poetry?
Q3.Another word for the atmosphere of a poem is the ...
Q4.True or false? A poem must always contain four lines in each verse.
Q5.Which of the following words links to the speed at which poetry is read aloud?
Q6.When reading an exciting piece of poetry aloud, what volume is most appropriate?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Who is the poet of 'A Bird came down the Walk'?
Q2.Which country did Emily Dickinson write most of her poetry in?
Q3.Match the following keywords to their definitions.
the use of language to create a mental picture or sensory experience
a movement that helps express an idea or meaning
the speed or rhythm at which a poem is read or performed
Q4.Put the following events found in the poem ‘A Bird came down the Walk’ in order.
Q5.Match the following words to their definitions.
tiny drops of water that form on surfaces
a line or division
a soft fabric
Q6.Which of the following effects can dashes (caesuras) have on a poem?
To help you plan your 5 English lesson on: Reading, responding to&performing 'A Bird came down the Walk' by Emily Dickinson, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 5 English lesson on: Reading, responding to&performing 'A Bird came down the Walk' by Emily Dickinson, 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.