Understanding how Landon presents childhood in 'Captain Cook (To My Brother)'
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain how Landon presents ideas of childhood and the relationship with her brother.
Key learning points
- Landon's poem is a nostalgic memory of her time spent playing with her brother in their garden.
- The use of "we" and the semantic field of happiness arguably represents Landon's happy childhood with her brother.
- However, the "mourn[ing]" at the end of the poem could represent their distance as adults.
- Landon's poem may be read as a reminder than childhood is temporary and relationships can change.
Keywords
Nostalgia - a feeling of pleasure and also slight sadness when you think about things that happened in the past
Imaginary - something created by and existing only in the mind
Reminiscing - to talk or write about past experiences that you remember with pleasure
Belonging - a feeling of being happy or comfortable as part of a particular group
Common misconception
That using your imagination to create imaginary games is a way of withdrawing from the world.
While imaginary games can be used to withdraw from the world, our imaginations come from things we have seen or experienced and therefore imaginary games can be a way of connecting to the world and finding your place in it.
Teacher tip
It would be useful for pupils to share their ideas about how childhood imaginary games connect to belonging so that they can start to conceptualise where the poem fits in the anthology.
Equipment
You will need access to a copy of the Edexcel Belonging anthology 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.'Something created by and existing only in the mind' is something ...
Q2.'A set of words grouped by a common theme' is the definition of a field.
Q3.A semantic field of 'danced', 'smile', and 'fancies' creates a __________ atmosphere.
Q4.A semantic field of 'darker', 'dim' and 'haunted' creates a __________ atmosphere.
Q5.Calling someone an 'idol' suggests that you __________ them.
Q6.'To feel or show sorrow for the death of someone (or something)' is to them.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.During their childhood, Landon had a relationship with her brother.
Q2.'A feeling of being happy or comfortable as part of a particular group' is the definition of ...
Q3.'To talk or write about past experiences that you remember with pleasure' is the definition of ...
Q4.We might interpret the inclusion of "mourn[ing]" in the final line of Landon's 'Captain Cook (To My Brother)' as representing which of the following?
Q5.'A feeling of pleasure and also slight sadness when you think about things that happened in the past' is the definition of ...
Q6.Arguably, the image of leaving "fairy land" in Landon's 'Captain Cook (To My Brother)' implies that childhood is ...
To help you plan your 10 English lesson on: Understanding how Landon presents childhood in 'Captain Cook (To My Brother)', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 English lesson on: Understanding how Landon presents childhood in 'Captain Cook (To My Brother)', 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 'Belonging' unit, dive into the full secondary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.