Exploring memories of home in the poem ‘Childhood Tracks’
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explore how James Berry presents memories of his hometown and use this to help me write about my own experiences.
Key learning points
- Berry uses sensory language in 'Childhood Tracks' to evoke a vivid image of his hometown, Jamaica.
- Berry describes details unique to Jamaica to help us have an insight into what it is like to live there.
- Berry also uses prepositions to add detail to each of his memories.
- Berry creates a nostalgic tone throughout the poem.
- Using triplets can add even more detail when writing about our memories.
Keywords
Vivid - producing strong and clear images in the mind.
Nostalgia - longing for a time in the past.
Unique - belonging or connected to one particular place or thing.
Preposition - a word usually signifying the direction, time or place of something else.
Common misconception
Students may be used to starting any sensory language sentences with 'I can see, I can hear ...'
Poetry allows us to innovate with traditional writing structures to help a rhythmic flow and sense of nostalgia; help students recognise the difference between 'I can see ...' and 'Seeing ...'
Teacher tip
Model writing about your own memories to help students express their own experiences.
Equipment
You will need access to a copy of 'Childhood Tracks' by James Berry for this lesson.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is sensory language?
Q2.Match the sense to the sentence describing it.
The aroma of fresh bread wafted through the kitchen.
The sweet juice of the apple seeped onto her tongue.
She swept her fingers over the soft silk.
The orange and pink hues of the sunset were mesmerising.
Loud caws echoed in the cave.
Q3.What is a preposition?
Q4.Which sentence contains a prepositional phrase?
Q5.What is a stanza?
Q6.What is one possible meaning of the word 'tracks'?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.In 'Childhood Tracks' what does James Berry write about?
Q2.Which technique does Berry use throughout 'Childhood Tracks'?
Q3.What is structurally interesting about 'Childhood Tracks' by James Berry?
Q4.Which memory below is unique to London?
Q5.What tone does 'Childhood Tracks' have?
Q6.Which of the below uses a triplet?
To help you plan your 7 English lesson on: Exploring memories of home in the poem ‘Childhood Tracks’, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 7 English lesson on: Exploring memories of home in the poem ‘Childhood Tracks’, 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 3 English lessons from the Poetry about place and home unit, dive into the full secondary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.