Sports Day Humorous Poetry

In this series of lessons, pupils look at structure and imagery, using a humorous poem about a Parents' Race on sports day as a stimulus. After analysing the features of the example poem, pupils carry out several exercises writing short passages using strong verbs and adjectives and similes. They move on to write their own poem about a children's obstacle race, using the ideas and language skills they have gained during the earlier lessons.

Lesson 1

LESSON +
Pupils share the reading of a humorous poem and analyse the features of the writing. They write their own rhyming couplets to create an extra verse for the poem, optionally looking at the rhythm of the words when reading aloud.
- 2 Activities
- 1 Document
Lesson 2

LESSON +
Pupils look at the imagery used in the Parents’ Race poem and find imagery for their own poem based on comparisons between animals and sport.
- 3 Activities
Lesson 3

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Pupils plan and write verses, in groups, for the middle section of a humorous poem based on an obstacle race. This provides a structure in which pupils can experiment with word play.
- 3 Activities
- 2 Documents
Lesson 4

LESSON +
Using a proverb as a stimulus, pupils write an opening verse for the Obstacle Race poem as a whole class exercise. They then work in small groups to produce a final verse, keeping within a consistent style and structure.
- 3 Activities
Lesson 5

LESSON +
Pupils prepare an oral presentation of their poems, ‘Obstacle Race’. They work in mixed ability groups, allocating parts of the poem amongst them. Pupils prepare for performance, looking at rhythm, expression, tone, speed of reading and emphasis, and considering the point of view of the audience.
- 1 Activity
- 1 Document

Unit Objectives

To read, respond, analyse and evaluate a poem
To create rhyming couplets for a verse following a predefined form
To analyse a poem, finding examples of imagery
To plan verses of a poem, playing with language and imagery and forming and shaping their ideas
To plan their own poem, playing with language and forming and shaping their ideas
To recognise a poem’s theme and to work within a chosen theme for their own verse
To create rhyming couplets for a verse, following a set style and rhythm
To plan and manage a group task, supporting others when necessary
To prepare a poem for performance, identifying appropriate expression, tone, volume and use of voice
To consider the audience’s needs when preparing the performance