Reading and responding to 'First Snow' by John Mole
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can give a personal response to the poem and give some evidence to justify my ideas.
Key learning points
- ‘First Snow’ describes a changed landscape as a narrator explores their surroundings.
- Rhetorical questions are included in each verse.
- 'First Snow' uses the rhyme scheme: ABBA.
- John Mole uses imagery to create a picture or impression of the scene in the reader or listener’s mind.
Keywords
Rhetorical question - a question asked that does not expect an answer, but rather makes a point or creates emphasis
Rhyme scheme - the pattern of rhyming words or sounds at the end of each line in a poem, often represented using letters to indicate the rhyme pattern (e.g., AABB, ABAB)
Imagery - the use of language to create a mental picture or sensory experience for the reader or listener
Common misconception
Pupils may find it challenging to identify different poetic techniques or examples of figurative language.
Pupils could text mark a physical copy of the poem with their thoughts and ideas. Highlighters could be used to mark rhetorical questions.
Teacher tip
Pupils could explore additional poems written about snow, including 'Winter' by by Judith Nicholls, 'Snow' by Robert Hull and 'Lady Winter's Rap' by Grace Nichols.
Equipment
You need a copy of the poem ‘First Snow’ which is featured on pages 14 & 15 in the 1994 Puffin edition of ‘Back by Midnight’ written by John Mole, illustrated by Peter Bailey for this lesson.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What words are usually associated with the noun snow?
Q2.What is the most appropriate definition of an impression?
Q3.True or False? All poems in a poetry collection have to be created by the same poet.
Q4.Who is the poet of 'When the Wind Blows'?
Q5.Rhythm in poetry refers to which of the following?
Q6.A rhetorical question is __________ ?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which perspective is the poem 'First Snow' written in?
Q2.Match the keywords to their definitions.
a question asked that does not expect an answer
the pattern of rhyming words at the end of each line in a poem
the use of language to create a mental picture or sensory experience
Q3.‘First Snow’ has five verses with __________ lines in each.
Q4.Order the following events that occur in the poem.
Q5.True or False? The rhyme scheme of the poem 'First Snow' is ABBA.
Q6.Which objects is the snow compared to in the poem?
To help you plan your 4 English lesson on: Reading and responding to 'First Snow' by John Mole, 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 'First Snow' by John Mole, 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 weather unit, dive into the full primary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.