‘Where Have All the Flowers Gone?’: a song of conviction
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain how structure and imagery can be used to take a stand.
Key learning points
- A poem can be turned into song and used to take a stand.
- ‘Where Have All The Flowers Gone’ is a famous anti-war song.
- The song uses a cyclical structure to show the inevitability of war.
- The imagery of flowers in the poem reflects the beauty and innocence that is destroyed by war.
- Repetition of “where” and “learn” reinforces the sense of loss and history’s inability to teach us about violence.
Keywords
Poignant - making you feel sad
Melancholy - feeling or expressing a deep sadness
To reinforce - to make something stronger
Refrain - a short part of a song or poem that is repeated
Indictment - something that shows a policy or system is bad or wrong
Common misconception
Students may think that there is a very clear distinction between poetry and music lyrics.
Encourage students to consider what the poetry and song lyrics have in common. For example the use of verses and refrains, as well as the use of figurative language, often crosses over.
Teacher tip
Play the song to your class. Ask them about the tone and the mood created. Ask if they know of other songs that take a stand.
Equipment
You will need access to the words of the song 'Where Have All the Flowers Gone' by Pete Seeger.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of the following is the best description of what lyrics are?
Q2.Which of the following is a synonym for "mood"?
Q3.Which of the following is the best definition of the context of a text?
Q4.What do we call the technique when a writer deliberately uses an idea or an image or a word several times in the same text?
Q5.In literature, we often say that 'a thing' can represent an idea. Which of the following is the best definition of represent?
Q6.In literature, imagery means...
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Who wrote the poem and song 'Where All The Flowers Gone?'?
Q2.Match the words on the left with the synonyms on the right.
moving, touching
sad, sorrowful
to strengthen
accusation
Q3.In the following title, 'Where Have All the Flowers Gone?' which word evokes a sense of loss or that something is missing and cannot be found?
Q4.What word beginning with r refers to a line or phrase that is repeated throughout a poem?
Q5.In the following title, 'Where Have All The Flowers Gone?' which word represents beauty and youth?
Q6.Which of the following explains the use of structure in 'Where Have All the Flowers Gone?'?
To help you plan your 8 English lesson on: ‘Where Have All the Flowers Gone?’: a song of conviction, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 8 English lesson on: ‘Where Have All the Flowers Gone?’: a song of conviction, 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 Taking a stand unit, dive into the full secondary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.