Understanding the poem 'Poppies'
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain the main themes and ideas explored in the poem ‘Poppies’.
Key learning points
- ’Poppies’ is from the poetry collection 'Exit Wounds’ which explores lesser-recognised experiences of war
- Written from the perspective of a mother, Weir presents the quiet trauma of those who lose close relatives at war
- Weir's poem struck a nerve with many mothers who had lost their children during conflict
- Weir is a textile designer and applied the technique of felt making to this poem to explore the deep process of grief
Keywords
Grief - intense sorrow usually associated with the death of something or someone
Perspective - a point of view
Timeless - not restricted to a particular time or date
Common misconception
Students may associate war poetry with soldiers of the first world war and not consider other perspectives.
Many other people were affected by war in less obvious ways than the soldiers themselves.
Teacher tip
Pupils could work in groups annotating a different image from the poem.
Equipment
You will need access to a copy of the AQA Power and Conflict Anthology for this lesson.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
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.The poppy flower is a symbol of...
Q2.What is grief often associated with?
Q3.What is a stanza with six lines called?
Q4.From whose perspective is the poem 'Exposure' written from?
Q5.What are doves often associated with?
Q6.What is nostalgia?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Whose perspective is 'Poppies' written from?
Q2.What is the form of the poem 'Poppies'?
Q3.Why might Weir have chosen to write 'Poppies' from the perspective of a soldier's mother?
Q4.Which quote is suggestive of the son’s death and mother and son’s peace in 'Poppies'?
Q5.Which line from the poem 'Poppies' shows the mother's nostalgia?
Q6.What could the textile imagery in 'Poppies' symbolise?
To help you plan your 10 English lesson on: Understanding the poem 'Poppies', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 English lesson on: Understanding the poem 'Poppies', 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 4 English lessons from the 'Power and Conflict' unit, dive into the full secondary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.