Exploring the Eduqas poetry anthology
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explore the key themes and connections between the poems in the Eduqas poetry anthology.
Key learning points
- An anthology is a collection of artistic works that have a similar form or subject.
- Reading poetry from multiple centuries helps us understand how the world we know today has been shaped by our history.
- Exploring titles and quotations from poems can help you see potential connections between them.
- Our personal response to a poem is important.
Keywords
Anthology - a collection of artistic works that have a similar form or subject
Connection - something that joins or connects two or more things
Theme - a universal idea, lesson, or message explored throughout a work of literature
Response - our reaction to something
Common misconception
Students sometimes think there is a 'right' answer when it comes to poetry - that the poem has to have one meaning.
The beauty of poetry is that it means something different to everybody - there is no 'right' answer - there are a series of possible answers.
Teacher tip
For Task B in learning cycle 2, feel free to substitute in any quotations from any of the poems that you think your students might like - this is an opportunity to get them motivated and invested in poetry, so choose quotations that will inspire your group.
Equipment
You will need access to a copy of the Eduqas poetry 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.What is a poem?
Q2.The person whose perspective the poem is written from is called the...
Q3.Poems can often make use of rhyme. The organisation of these rhymes is called...
Q4.Why do you think poetry sometimes makes use of rhythmic qualities?
Q5. A verse in a poem is otherwise known as a...
Q6.What could an anthology be?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is an anthology?
Q2.What is the theme in a text?
Q3.The Eduqas poetry anthology contains texts dating back to...
Q4.The Eduqas poetry anthology covers four main themes: war, power, relationships and...
Q5.Why can reading texts from multiple centuries be useful and valuable?
Q6.Which of the following responses might a person have to this quotation from 'Ozymandias': “Look upon my Works ye Mighty, and despair!”
To help you plan your 10 English lesson on: Exploring the Eduqas poetry anthology, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 English lesson on: Exploring the Eduqas poetry anthology, 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 Poetry anthology (Assessment until summer 2026) unit, dive into the full secondary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.