Lesson video

Hello and welcome to today's lesson.

I am Miss Chu, and it's lovely to meet you.

In today's lesson, we're going to be comparing two of John Lyons's poems. One is called "Happy Hummingbird Food", and the other one is called "Tadpole Comets".

So when you are ready, let's start the lesson.

Today's lesson outcome is I can compare two of John Lyons' poems, "Happy Hummingbird Food" and "Tadpole Comets".

The key words are here.

Poem, language, and comparing.

Well done.

Poem is a piece of writing that uses creative and rhythmic language to express thoughts, feelings, or ideas.

Language includes the words, phrases, and techniques used by the poet to convey meaning, evoke emotions, and create imagery within the poem.

Comparing involves identifying similarities and differences between two or more things, ideas, themes, or texts.

In this lesson, we're going to be reading and responding to both poems. And then we're going to look at the structure and language of both poems. So let's start reading and responding.

"Dancing In the Rain" by John Lyons is a collection of poems for younger readers.

"Dancing in the Rain" was written and illustrated by John Lyons.

It was shortlisted for the 2016 Centre for Literacy and Primary Poetry Award.

And it draws inspiration from Lyons' childhood in Trinidad and Tobago.

Let's now read "Happy Hummingbird Food".

"Happy Hummingbird Food".

"Hummingbird, hummingbird, humming a tune, happy in June, when flowers and roses bloom, sipping nectar, its favourite food, loved also by bees.

They both enjoy it with a natural ease." What did you think of the poem? And also, have a look at this beautiful illustration by John Lyons.

It's one of his few coloured illustrations in his "Dancing in the Rain" poetry collection.

Now I would like you to watch John Lyons reading "Happy Hummingbird Food".

Enjoy.

<v ->"Happy Hummingbird Food".

</v> Now with introduction to introducing this particular poem, I have to tell you of my experience of actually really enjoy seeing a hummingbird, having his food on my grandmother's hedge in Tobago, where there were a lot of hibiscus flowers.

And I took a long time just standing, looking at them, right? So here we go.

"Happy Hummingbird Food".

"Hummingbird, hummingbird, humming a tune, happy in June, when flowers and roses bloom, sipping nectar, its favourite food, loved also by bees.

They both enjoy it with a naturally ease." <v ->True or false?</v> John Lyons has positive memories of hummingbirds during his childhood.

Do you think this is true or do you think this is false? Pause the video and have a think.

Okay, get ready to point to the answer.

The answer is in three, two, one.

True, it is true.

John Lyons used to observe hummingbirds on his granny's hedge.

John Lyons did not like observing hummingbirds on his granny's hedge.

What do you think? If it's true that he has positive memories, then yeah.

That means he liked to observe hummingbirds on his granny's hedge.

Well done.

Now I'd like you to re-watch John Lyons reading "Happy Hummingbird Food".

This time, refer to the poem in front of you as he's reading it.

Use your finger and follow the words as he is saying them.

Does he read with expression? What techniques does he use? Have a think about these while you're watching.

<v ->"Happy Hummingbird Food".

</v> Now with introduction to introducing this particular poem, I have to tell you of my experience of actually really enjoy seeing a hummingbird having his food on my grandmother's hedge in Tobago, where there were a lot of hibiscus flowers.

And I took a long time just standing, looking at them, right? So here we go.

"Happy Hummingbird Food." "Hummingbird, hummingbird, humming a tune, happy in June, when flowers and roses bloom, sipping nectar, its favourite food, loved also by bees.

They both enjoy it with a naturally ease." <v ->Now I'm going to respond to the poem.

</v> I need to think about these questions when I respond.

What did you like about the poem? What did you dislike about the poem? Do you have any questions? And what did it remind you of? Okay, so let me have a think now.

I'm going to have the poem in front of me.

What did I like about the poem? Well, I liked the fact that when he described how the hummingbirds sipped nectar, it made me feel really calm and really at peace.

Did I dislike anything about the poem? Again, I don't think there's anything I dislike about the poem, apart from the fact that it's quite short.

I think I would've liked him to have told me more about the hummingbirds.

Do I have any questions? Yeah, I'd like to know how often he observed hummingbirds at his granny's house.

Now it's your turn to respond to the poem.

What did you like about the poem? What did you dislike about the poem? Do you have any questions? And what did it remind you of? Pause the video and turn and tell your partner.

Okay, I really like the discussion that happened there.

I liked imagining all the flowers in bloom and the hummingbirds drinking nectar from them.

And a question could be, what type of flowers were in his granny's hedge? Now it's your turn to read "Happy Hummingbird Food".

Remember to read with expression.

This will help bring the poem to life.

There are some key things to remember about reading aloud.

Do you remember what they are? It's using an expressive voice, using an appropriate volume, emphasising some key words, and using facial expressions.

Pause the video and have a go at reading it.

True or false? A reader should never read using facial expressions.

Do you just keep your face straight like this? True, or is that false? Yeah, let's look.

It is false.

The reader should use facial expressions to engage with the audience when reading aloud.

Or the reader does not need to engage with the audience when reading aloud.

What do you think? Yeah, they should definitely engage with the audience when reading aloud.

Now I'm going to read "Tadpole Comets" to you.

"Tadpole Comets".

"Tadpoles huddled in a pond, afraid of the Caribbean night, its intense darkness.

Candle flies moving about, lighting up and going out, lighting up and going out.

The tiniest tadpole shouted.

'What's that? What's that?' 'They're comets, silly', cried Billy, the largest tadpole." Now I would like you to watch John Lyons reading "Tadpole Comets".

Enjoy.

<v ->"Tadpole Comets".

</v> "Tadpoles huddled in a pond, afraid of the Caribbean night, its intense darkness.

Candle flies moving about, lighting up and going out, lighting up and going out.

The tiniest tadpole shouted, 'What's that? What's that?' 'They're comets, silly', cried Billy, the largest tadpole." <v ->True or false?</v> The poem is set at night.

I think you should know this one.

Well, pause the video and just have a think about this one.

Well, what do you think it is? Of course, it's true.

Comets are more easily observed at night when the sky is darker, or comets are easily observed during the day? Do we often see comets in the day? I don't think so.

I don't think you can see them very well in the day.

So comets are more easily observed at night when the sky is darker, and that is when the poem is set.

Now I'd like you to re-Watch John Lyons reading "Tadpole Comets".

This time, refer to the poem in front of you as he's reading it.

Use your finger to follow the words as he's saying them.

Do any images appear in your mind as he's reading them? <v ->"Tadpole Comets."</v> "Tadpoles huddled in a pond, afraid of the Caribbean night, its intense darkness.

Candle flies moving about, lighting up and going out, lighting up and going out.

The tiniest tadpole shouted, 'What's that? What's that?' 'They're comets, silly", cried Billy, the largest tadpole." <v ->Now I'm going to respond to the poem</v> and I need to think about these questions first.

What did you like about the poem? Okay, what did you dislike about the poem? Okay, and do you have any questions and what did it remind you of? Okay, so what did I like about? Well, I like the fact that it was a little bit silly and it was quite funny because it was about two tadpoles having a conversation about what they could see in the sky.

So that's what I really liked about it, was the lightheartedness of the poem.

What did I dislike about the poem? Again, nothing to dislike about the poem.

Do I have any questions? I guess one question that I do have is, did one of them really think that the candle flies were comets? Or do you think he was just tricking the other one? Now it's your turn to have a conversation and respond to the poem.

Think about these questions.

What did you like about the poem? What did you dislike about the poem? Do you have any questions? And what did it remind you of? Pause the video and talk to the person next to you.

Off you go.

Okay, well done.

Some really fabulous discussions I could hear.

I could hear people saying, "I liked imagining all the tadpoles in the pond, and I liked the idea that they were talking to each other." And then I heard someone else saying, "What are candle flies?" Which is a really good question.

I don't know if we have candle flies in this country.

Task A, you are going to reread the poem "Happy Hummingbird Food" with expression.

Remember to use the reading aloud tips.

Using an expressive voice, remember to use volume, emphasis on key words, and facial expressions.

Pause the video and have a go at task A.

Okay, so in your task, did you remember to use an expressive voice? Did you vary your volume? Did you emphasise any keywords? Did you use any facial expressions? I hope so.

Part two of task A is reread the poem "Tadpole Comets" with expression.

Remember to use the reading aloud tips.

Do you remember what they are? Using an expressive voice, varying your volume, emphasising keywords, and using facial expressions.

Pause the video and have a go at rereading that poem.

Okay, when you reread that poem, did you remember to use an expressive voice, remember to vary your volume, emphasise keywords, and use facial expressions? I hope so.

Now we are on to the second part of the lesson, looking at structure and language of both poems. First is refer to a group of lines in a poem.

So those are the lines.

And a group of lines is referred to as a verse or stanza.

This is one verse.

There is only one verse in this poem.

What are verses in a poem? Are they singular words, groups of lines, or punctuation? Pause the video and have a think.

Okay, get ready to point.

Yes, they are groups of lines.

Rhyme is the use of similar or the same sounds in words usually at the end of lines.

So here are some words that I've circled that I think have rhyme.

Tune, June, bloom, and bees and ease.

Rhyming words create a musical quality within the poem, enhancing flow.

Repetition involves repeating the same words for emphasis and rhythm.

And I can see in this poem just by glancing at it, he repeats hummingbird.

Hummingbird, hummingbird, so he says it twice in his poem.

True or false? Repetition is repeating the same word or phrases within a poem.

Pause the video and have a think.

Okay, so repetition, repeating is true.

Repetition is meant to confuse the reader.

Do you think that's the reason? Or repetition emphasises key themes, emotions, or ideas? Yep, it is because they want to emphasise key themes, emotions, or ideas.

And that's why poets use repetition.

Punctuation like commas, full stops, brackets, or ellipses can affect the rhythm, pace, and interpretation of a poem.

Let's look at the punctuation in "Happy Hummingbird Food".

Can you see that there's a comma after humming a tune, happy in June, and then he's got brackets for when flowers and rose's bloom.

And then another comma after that and a full stop.

And then the last two lines.

At the end of those two lines, there's a full stop.

It's almost like he's writing two sentences here.

Shall we read it again and just see? "Hummingbird, hummingbird, humming a tune, happy in June, (when flowers and roses bloom), sipping nectar for its favourite food, loved also by bees." That's kind of one sentence.

And then, "They both enjoy it with a natural ease" is the second sentence.

What is the purpose of punctuation in a poem? Is it to make the poem shorter in length? Is it to affect the rhythm, flow, and meaning of a poem? Or is it to explain what words mean if we don't know what they mean? Pause the video and think about what the correct answer is.

Okay, so the correct answer is yes.

It's to affect the rhythm, flow, and meaning of a poem.

Well done.

A word that is often referred to in poetry is theme.

Can you say theme? Theme.

What is theme? The theme which is a noun, is the subject topic or the main idea of a piece of art or literature.

Themes can be diverse and they can encompass a wide range of subjects.

It's not just about nature, but it can be about love, family, emotions, or your own personal experiences.

This is how it's used in a sentence.

Belonging was the main theme of the poetry collection.

Do you know what the poem's about? Can you summarise the poem? What are the main themes of the poem? I want you to refer the poem now.

Read it again, maybe you might need to read it again.

And then I'd like you to think about these questions.

Pause the video and then press play once you have worked out the answers.

Okay, so did you say that the poem is about a hummingbird sipping nectar from flowers? Well done.

And what did you say the main themes were? Well, it's about hummingbirds.

I can see a part about bees.

So say animals.

And also it's about flowers and nectar.

So things in the natural world.

So I would say nature as well.

Let's look at the language now in "Happy Hummingbird Food".

I'm gonna circle the word bloom.

What does a bloom mean? So bloom means that when flowers look their best, they look the most beautiful.

It's when they're the most open.

If you think of a flower opening up its petals.

Sipping nectar.

Why would hummingbirds be sipping? Can you do the action for sipping? So sipping nectar is how the hummingbird eats its food.

So it eats nectar.

It drinks nectar, actually.

It has a really long beak.

I dunno if you've ever seen a hummingbird, but it has a really long beak that tapers at the end.

It's almost like a straw.

And they use their beaks to suck up nectar.

Natural ease.

Do you know what natural ease is? Yeah, so it means that something is done really easily and really naturally.

Let's now look at "Tadpole Comets" versus refer to a group of lines in a poem.

There are the lines.

Do you remember seeing them in the other poem? Versus also referred to as stanzas? So in "Tadpole Comets", how many verses can you see? Verse one, verse two, verse three, verse four.

Four verses.

There are four verses in this poem.

Your turn? Yes.

Rhyme is the use of similar or the same sounds and words, usually at the end of lines.

Rhyming words create a musical quality within the poem, enhancing flow.

Let's look for rhyming words.

Pond, night, darkness.

Do any of them sound the same? What about about, out, out? What's that? Yeah, it does sound the same.

It's got the out sound.

Out, out, out.

Well done.

The other lines, let's have a look.

Shouted, that, silly, tadpole.

None of those rhyme.

Repetition involves repeating the same words for emphasis.

Is there repetition in this poem? Yes.

I can see lighting up and going out, lighting up and going out.

It is repeated.

That line is said twice, isn't it, in the second verse? Punctuation like commas, full stops, brackets, or ellipses can affect the rhythm, pace, and interpretation of the poem.

So let's just cast our eyes on this poem now and look for the punctuation.

So you can see that he uses commas, full stops, and he's got these things, do you know what that punctuation is called? Yeah, that's right.

Inverted commas.

And when are inverted commas used? they're used for speech when someone is saying something.

So you can see that there's a conversation here between the tiniest tadpole and the largest tadpole.

So now I'm going to check that you can tell me what the poem is about.

Can you summarise the poem? What are the main themes of the poem? I want you to refer to it as you are thinking about these questions.

Pause the video.

Okay, so hopefully, you said that the poem is about tadpoles in a pond and they're seeing candle flies that glow.

Not comets, even though they think or one of them thinks that they are comets.

They aren't comets, they're candle flies.

And what's the main theme? Is there one or is there two or three? Well, I would say the main theme, again, it's about animals because it's about tadpoles having conversation with each other.

And it's about nature because they're in the pond.

There's candle flies.

They're looking up into the sky.

So again, about the natural world.

Let's now look at the language in "Tadpole Comets".

Do you know what tadpoles look like? Well, tadpoles are baby frogs, aren't they? You see in this picture that that's what they look like before they become actual frogs.

They have a long tail and they lose that tail as they become frogs.

So tadpoles huddled, do you know what the word huddled means? Huddled means to come in really close to someone else or with something else.

So they huddled in a pond, maybe it's a bit cold.

Or maybe they just like being close to each other.

Afraid of the Caribbean night.

So the Caribbean, why would he talk about it being in the Caribbean? Because Trinidad and Tobago are two islands in the Caribbean sea.

And then they see candle flies.

Remember, they see the candle flies moving about, lighting up and going out, lighting up and going out.

And that is what makes one of the tadpole think that they're comets.

So what do they say to each other? They say, "What's that? What's that?" 'Cause they can see it going in and out, the light.

And then one of them says, "They're comets silly." The biggest tadpole thinks he's really smart and he's telling the tiniest one it's comets, but actually, they're candle flies.

Okay, task B.

What is similar or different about the poems, "Hummingbird Happy Food" and "Tadpole Comets"? Think about all of these things.

'Cause we've looked at the structure, we've looked at the language, and we've talked about the themes.

So I want you to compare those three things.

So things that you could say in your discussion could start like this.

I think that, hmm, of both poems are similar because, hmm.

So this is saying that two of the poems are the same.

I think that, hmm, in both poems are or is different because hmm.

So this helps you to say that something's different about the two poems and then the final scaffold, I think that, mm, in the poems are or is both similar and different because of this.

Pause the video and have a go at task B.

Okay, I could hear some really great discussions about what was similar or different and different about the poems, "Hummingbird Food" and "Tadpole Comets".

I heard someone saying, "I think the themes of both poems are similar because they're both about nature and animals." So well done, you.

I also heard someone else saying, "I think the structure in both poems is different." And they're right because there is one verse in "Hummingbird Happy Food" and four verses in "Tadpole Comets".

And then someone else said, "I think the language in both poems is similar and different because they both use descriptions, but "Tadpole Comets" use speech." Wow, some really rich discussions there, well done.

In summary, reading and re-reading poems leads to a richer response and a greater understanding of language within the poem.

A theme is a big idea, topic, or message that recurs in a poem.

Engaging in conversations about poems allows us to make connections with our own lives and the world around us.

Readers can interpret a poem, its themes, and its meaning in different ways.

Comparing poems explores the themes, structures, and language within them, and develops an understanding of their unique qualities.

I hope you enjoyed comparing two John Lyons' poems, "Happy Hummingbird Food" and "Tadpole Comets".

Did you have a favourite poem?.