Finding my own voice: performing a poem
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can consider different aspects of performance and apply them to a performance of my own.
Key learning points
- When performing a poem, you should make informed decisions about the pace, volume and tone of your voice.
- Your pace, volume and tone could be very different at different moments of a poem.
- Experimenting with different ways of saying a poem can be a good way to decide on how you ultimately want to perform it.
- You will also want to consider body language and eye contact when performing a poem.
- When you don't know a poem by heart, consider how you will maintain a good level of eye contact with your audience.
Keywords
Ignoble - not honourable, unworthy
Tone - the attitude of emotion of your voice - written or verbal
Idle - not doing something, lazy
Experiment - to try something out
Common misconception
Performing poetry is just about reading it aloud.
Watching people perform poetry is very popular. The most engaging performers carefully consider how they will say the poem, and how they will engage with their audience.
Teacher tip
The timings and set up of the classroom will be key to this practical lesson. Consider how you want to listen to/ see pupils' performances - it is unlikely you will be able to hear them all individually. Consider how long you want to give pupils to practice in LC1 and LC2's practice task.
Equipment
If pupils perform an Angelou poem, they may need 'Phenomenal Woman', 'Woman Work', 'Still I Rise', 'On Aging', 'Caged Bird', 'Equality', 'Life Doesn't Frighten Me', or 'On the Pulse of the Morning'.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Depiction or discussion of sexual content
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match each word to its definition ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou').
bad-tempered, sulky
not doing anything, lazy
unworthy, not honourable
Q2.What is true of Maya Angelou? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')
Q3.Which poem did Maya Angelou write and perform for Bill Clinton? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')
Q4.Match each element of performance to its explanation ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou').
gestures/ position of your body showing how you feel
looking at your audience: individuals or as a group
the speed you speak at different moments in the poem
how loudly you speak at different moments in the poem
the attitude and emotion of your voice at different moments in the poe
Q5.When you come across a piece of punctuation like a comma or a full stop when reading a poem aloud, what is the punctuation telling you to do? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')
Q6.A is a repeated line or set of lines in a poem ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou').
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is good advice for someone who is preparing to perform a poem? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou').
Q2.What does it mean to vary your pace when performing a poem? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou').
Q3.What does it mean to vary your tone when performing a poem? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou').
Q4.What happened after Maya Angelou performed 'On the Pulse of the Morning' at President Clinton's inauguration? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')
Q5.Which of these sentences use the word 'idle' correctly? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')
Q6.Which of these sentences use the word ignoble correctly? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')
To help you plan your 8 English lesson on: Finding my own voice: performing a poem, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 8 English lesson on: Finding my own voice: performing a poem, 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 Single poet study: Maya Angelou unit, dive into the full secondary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.