Starter quiz
- Which poet wrote the poem 'The Song of the Whale'?
- Philip Gross
- John Foster
- Kit Wright ✓
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- Which of these examples use alliteration?
- a glint of silver
- silver scales shimmer ✓
- flickering fins flash ✓
- in watery depths
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- Which of these is the most appropriate definition of a predator?
- an organism that eats other organisms to obtain energy and nutrients
- an animal that is hunted and eaten by other animals as food
- an animal that hunts and eats other animals for food ✓
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- Which of the following best describes a free verse poem?
- a form of poetry consisting of five lines
- a form of poetry that doesn't follow any set rules of rhyme or structure ✓
- a form of poetry that expresses deep admiration for a person, object or idea
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- Which of these examples use personification?
- the waves whispered secrets; the fish listened ✓
- in the ponds, the fish nodded silently ✓
- fish play various roles in ecosystems
- fish breathe through gills
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- Which of the following are types of fish?
- goose
- beaver
- otter
- tuna ✓
- salmon ✓
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Exit quiz
- Match these keywords to their definitions.
- subject⇔the main topic or idea that the poet is writing about ✓
- imagery⇔the use of language to create a mental picture or sensory experience ✓
- research⇔to find out more about a topic or idea, using reliable sources ✓
- What colour are pikes?
- green ✓
- pink
- gold ✓
- red
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- True or false? Pike are apex predators.
- True ✓
- False
- Which of these adjectives best describe the pike in the poem?
- vicious ✓
- threatening ✓
- calm
- caring
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- True or false? Doing research around a poem's subject can provide readers with a deeper understanding of a poem’s themes.
- True ✓
- False
- Match each verse grouping to the topic explored.
- Verses 1 and 2⇔describes the pike from infancy ✓
- Verses 3 and 4⇔describes the pike’s natural habitat and how they are apex predators ✓
- Verses 5 - 7⇔describes the speaker’s own experience of keeping pike in a fish tank ✓
- Verses 8 - 11⇔describes a pond where the speaker used to fish ✓
Worksheet
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Presentation
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Lesson Details
Key learning points
- ‘Pike’ was written by Ted Hughes in 1960; the poem consists of eleven verses, each with four lines.
- Hughes often used animals, landscapes and elemental forces as symbols in his work.
- Hughes uses vivid imagery in the poem to create a rich and sensory description of the pike and its environment.
- Researching about the subject of a poem can greatly enhance readers' understanding.
- The goal of research is to enrich and engage readers in a poem.
Common misconception
Pupils may find some of the language new or unfamiliar to them.
An extended definition list could be created to support pupils in understanding. Explain that it is normal to not understand all the language in a poem, especially when we first read it.
Keywords
Subject - the main topic or idea that the poet is writing about
Imagery - the use of language to create a mental picture or sensory experience for the reader or listener
Research - to find out more about a topic or idea, using reliable sources
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