Lesson video

Hello everyone.

How are you today? I hope you're doing really, really well.

My name's Ms. Aufsau.

I'm feeling great today because we're gonna be learning about a poet, John Lyons.

We're gonna be finding out about this wonderful poet, John Lyons, and I hope you are excited and ready to go.

Let's begin.

The outcome for today's lesson is I can recall key information about the poet John Lyons.

We have some keywords in our lesson today.

Let's go through them, my turn, your turn.

Poet.

Poem.

John Lyons.

Great to hear those.

Let's find out more about these keywords.

A poet is a writer who uses verse to convey emotions.

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

John Lyons is an English poet who has written numerous poems, often exploring themes of nature, love, and the human experience.

Sounds so wonderful.

Let's get into this lesson.

In our lesson learning about the poet John Lyons, we'll be covering three areas.

First of all, learning about John Lyons, John Lyons's poetry collections, and listening to three John Lyons poems. Let's begin, learning about John Lyons.

A poet is someone who does all of these: creates poems, writes and sometimes performs poems, expresses ideas, thoughts and feelings, uses language to express themselves in a creative or artistic way, draws inspiration from the world around them, loves using and speaking language.

So many wonderful things that a poet does.

True or false, all poets write about nature.

Pause the video.

Decide if this is true or false.

Well done if you selected false.

And now I would like you to justify your answer by choosing from one of these two statements.

Poets can cover a wide range of topics beyond nature.

Poets only draw inspiration from nature.

Pause the video while you decide which of these statements justifies your earlier answer.

Well done if you selected the first statement.

Indeed, poets can cover a wide range of topics beyond nature.

Basically, you can write a poem about anything.

John Lyons is a painter, writer, and award-winning poet.

Much of John Lyons's work draws on themes linked to Caribbean folklore and mythology.

As a painter and poet, John Lyons feels an intuitive link between painting and poetry.

And we can see in that image, I think that might be John Lyons in his studio, and we can see all sorts of amazing artistic creations around him.

John Lyons was born in 1933 in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad.

And we can see on these maps where Trinidad is on the world map, and then we can see in the map of Trinidad and Tobago where Port-of-Spain is.

Looks like a wonderful place in the world.

Oh, wish I could visit.

Here are some facts about John Lyons.

He has three siblings.

He moved to Tobago to live with his grandmother after his mother died when he was nine.

We can see Tobago on the map there.

He became an avid reader, often losing himself in books by Arthur Conan Doyle, and other writers he could get hold of in the local library.

He returned to Trinidad to live with his father and stepmother in 1948.

Where was John Lyons Born and brought up? England and Wales, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela, Puerto Rico.

Pause the video while you decide.

Well done if you selected Trinidad and Tobago.

John Lyons came to the UK in 1959 to study design at Goldsmiths' College, London.

Then he gained an art teacher's diploma at the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1965.

I wonder what you would like to study at university.

I studied English 'cause I love reading books so much.

True or false? John Lyon studied English literature at Newcastle University.

Pause the video while you decide if this is true or false.

Well done if you selected false.

And now I'd like you to justify your answer by choosing from one of these two statements.

John Lyons wanted to teach English as a specialist subject.

John Lyons trained to teach art as a specialist subject.

Pause the video while you decide which of these justifies your earlier answer.

Well done if you selected statement B.

Indeed, John Lyons trained to teach art as a specialist subject.

John Lyons has exhibited paintings since the 1960s.

He's published eight poetry collections.

The first one was in 1989 and the most recent one, "Dancing in the Rain" was in 2015.

He has won many prizes and awards including the Windrush Arts Achiever Award.

So many wonderful achievements, John Lyons.

And now we're going to choose some fact subheadings for a fact file.

So fact one, name, John Lyons.

Fact two, number of siblings, three.

Fact three, born, Trinidad, 1933.

Fact four, education, London and Newcastle.

And fact five, poetry collections, eight.

Now it's your turn to choose some fact subheadings.

So I'd like you to choose five subheadings for a fact file on John Lyons.

Pause the video while you do this.

How did you get on? Perhaps you went for something like this.

Name, John Lyons.

Year born, 1933.

Education, Goldsmiths' College and Newcastle University.

Job, poet, painter, and writer.

Poetry collection, "Dancing in the Rain." Fantastic, love those subheadings.

And now for your first task, you are going to create a fact file about John Lyons.

These are the headings I'd like you to use.

So first of all, name, country of origin, early life, education, and famous for.

Pause the video while you create a fact file about John Lyons.

Okay, how did you get on? Let's see how you filled in the fact file.

Maybe something like this.

Name, John Lyons.

Country of origin, Trinidad and Tobago.

Early life, three siblings, lived with grandmother from age nine.

Education, Goldsmiths' College, Newcastle University.

Famous for, his paintings and poetry.

Wonderful, comprehensive fact file.

I love that.

And now let's move on to the next part of our lesson, which is looking at John Lyons's poetry collections.

These are some of John Lyons's poetry collections.

2009, "Cook-up in a Trini Kitchen", poems and Caribbean recipes.

Oh my goodness, I'm feeling hungry thinking about that one.

2015, "A Carib Being in Cymru." And 2015, "Dancing in the Rain", poems for younger readers.

Here's some facts about "Dancing in the Rain" by John Lyons.

A collection of poems for younger readers.

Written and illustrated by John Lyons.

Shortlisted for the 2016 Centre for Literacy and Primary Poetry Award, wow.

Draws inspiration from Lyons's childhood in Trinidad and Tobago in particular, the traditions of Carnival and calypso.

Oh my goodness, I bet that was gonna be fun.

Now I'd like you to watch John Lyons read "Dancing in the Rain," a poem from his poetry collection entitled "Dancing in the Rain" and pay particular attention to his voice, style, and dialect when watching and listening.

Enjoy watching John Lyons reading "Dancing in the Rain." <v ->"Dancing in the Rain."</v> And that is really true, we did dance in the rain as kids, around five and six, and even younger than that, right? And there we are again.

We go dancing in warm rain.

When sky set up with clouds, nearly charcoal black, the yard cocks flap their wings and let out a crowing, loud, loud.

And the wind vex, vex, blowing strong, baring the hen fowls' feathered bums. And everybody start grabbing clothes off the clothes line.

We know rain coming.

Then we hear it getting nearer rattling on galvanised tin roof.

And as it drops down stinging hard, squealing, we pull off we clothes.

And there we are again, we love dancing in the rain.

<v ->What colour was used to describe the sky</v> and the clouds in the poem, "Dancing in the Rain", fiery red, charcoal black or crystal blue? Pause the video while you decide.

Well done if you selected charcoal black.

And now I'd like you to read "Dancing in the Rain" and discuss what impression do you get of John Lyons and how he feels about the rain.

And you could begin your answer, I think that John Lyons.

So pause the video here while you do these two things.

Read the poem and then share what impression do you get of John Lyons and how he feels about the rain? Let's hear from June.

"I think that John Lyons really liked the rain because he uses words like warm, dancing, and squealing to describe it.

Despite referring to the rain as torrential and using the word vex to describe the wind, his choice of language suggests he found joy in the rain." Now it's time for your next task.

I would like you to reflect on what you have read so far and answer these questions with your partner.

Is there anything you like or dislike about the poem? Why? Are you puzzled or intrigued by anything? Does it make you think of something you've seen, read, or heard recently? Pause the video while you reflect on the poem and answer these questions with a partner.

I'll see you when you're finished.

Okay, how did you get on? I wonder anything like this.

Likes or dislikes? "I liked how John Lyons describes everyone's response to the rain from the skies and the wind to people hurriedly grabbing clothes off the clothesline." And what about puzzles or intrigues? "The text makes me think about the rain where I come from and how similar it is." Really interesting.

And now for the next part of your task, I would like you to create five questions that you would like to ask John Lyons.

Consider what you've noticed in the poem, as well as information we have learned within the lesson.

You could begin your questions, who, what, where, when, why, or how.

Pause the video while you come up with five questions you would like to ask John Lyons.

Okay, so what questions did you come up with, I wonder? What do you miss the most about Trinidad and Tobago? So interesting.

How are the UK and Trinidad and Tobago similar or different? I love that.

Which is your favourite poem from the collection and why? Oh goodness, how will he choose? What aspect of nature do you love the most? Oh, gorgeous to think about that.

And what will you write about next? Wonderful question to end with.

Fantastic selection of questions for John Lyons.

And now we will end our lesson by listening to three John Lyons's poems. Now it's time to read another poem by John Lyons.

It's called "Tell Me Mama." The poem is also available in the additional materials.

I will read the poem first of all.

Tell me, Mama, where does the sun come from in the morning? Where does it go to when it reaches the edge of the field? Teacher said, the world is round and spinning.

I'm standing on the world, how come I don't feel dizzy? And if the world is spinning, why don't the seas and oceans spill out into space? And if the world is round, as teacher said, how come some fields and roads remain flat for miles and miles and miles.

When we go walking in the moonlight, why does the moon follow us wherever we go? Please Mama, tell me.

I want to know.

And now let's watch John Lyons perform "Tell Me Mama." <v ->"Tell Me Mama"</v> Oh, this is a poem of a young child asking a lot of questions, a very curious child.

As I think I was when I was small, I was always told I talked too much and asked too many questions.

But there's also a poem that actually within that poem itself, there's a lesson about the earth, really, that can be, you know, I feel that teachers can take advantage of in explaining.

"Tell Me Mama." Tell me, Mama, where does the sun come from in the morning? Where does it go to when it reaches the edge of the fields? Teacher said, the world is round and spinning.

I'm standing on the world, how come I don't feel dizzy? And if the world is spinning, why don't the seas and oceans spill out into space? And if the world is round, as teacher said, how come some fields and roads remain flat for miles and miles and miles.

When we go walking in the moonlight, why does the moon follow us wherever we go? Please Mama, tell me.

I want to know.

<v ->And now I would like you to discuss</v> what is your first impression of this poem? Refer to the poem as you discuss the question and you could begin your answer like this.

I think that this poem.

So pause the video here while you share with someone your first impression of this poem.

Maybe something like this is what you came up with.

"I think that this poem asks lots of questions that children like to ask.

It reminds me of some of the questions I've asked my own parent.

I like John Lyons's use of questions to the reader.

It makes me engage lots with the poem." Let's read another poem by John Lyons.

It's called "Natural Dancing Partners." The poem is also available in the additional materials.

The willow and the wind are natural dancing partners.

Look how the willow weeps with the joy of movement skillfully rooted to the spot.

Their knowing to move as one is in the willow's supple limbs, bending forwards, backwards, swaying to the wind's strength, leading it this way and that.

And now let's watch John Lyons perform "Natural Dancing Partners." <v ->"Natural Dancing Partners"</v> I live in.

I will introduce this poem, by telling you I live in Little Port near to Ely, and one day in Ely walking along the the banks of the river Ouse, where there's willows growing and the wind was blowing, I saw the way the willow was moving, and immediately this idea came to me for this poem.

And in this poem there's something we call alliteration, where you got the sound of words repeating almost the same and giving a sense of rhythm to it, which I thought fitted the poem very well, right? "Natural Dancing Partners." The willow and the wind are natural dancing partners.

Look how the willow weeps with the joy of movement skillfully rooted to the spot.

Their knowing to move as one is in the willow's supple limbs, bending forwards, backwards, swaying to the wind's strength, leading it this way and that.

<v ->So great to see John Lyons perform</v> "Natural Dancing Partners" And now I'm wondering what is your first impression of this poem? Refer to the poem as you discuss and you could begin your sentence, I think that this poem.

So pause here while you share your first impression of the poem with someone nearby.

Maybe you shared something like this.

"I think that this poem is a bit trickier to understand than the last poem, "Tell Me Mama." This one uses some difficult words like rooted and supple.

I like the gentle flow of the words." Let's read another poem by John Lyons.

It's called "Carnival Jumbie".

The poem is also available in the additional materials.

Jumbie jump high.

Jumbie jump low.

Jumbie jumpin to calypso.

Jumbie doin' a dance in de silk-cotton tree.

He waitin' for jouvay an steelban music to breakaway.

Jumbie jump high.

Jumbie jump low.

Jumbie jumpin to calypso.

Jumbie jump in a steelban an everybody know when he move he body he's like a black-smoke shadow.

Jumbie jump high.

Jumbie jump low.

Jumbie jumpin to calypso.

Jumbie have no flesh, he have no waist to hol' buh jus look how he movin' wid no bumsey to roll.

Jumbie jump high.

Jumbie jump low.

Jumbie jumpin' to calypso.

And now let's watch John Lyons perform "Carnival Jumbie." <v ->This poem is called "Carnival Jumbie."</v> You might be wondering what a jumbie is.

A jumbie is a ghost.

And it's a very interesting and funny poem because can you imagine a ghost in a Carnival band jumping up, you know.

Here's the poem.

Jumbie jump high.

Jumbie jump low.

Jumbie jumpin to calypso.

Jumbie doin' a dance in de silk-cotton tree.

He waitin' for jouvay an steelban music to breakaway.

Jumbie jump high.

Jumbie jump low.

Jumbie jumpin' to calypso.

At six in de morning steelban come out.

People winin dey body ole mas all about.

Jumbie jump high.

Jumbie jump low.

Jumbie jumpin' to calypso.

Jumbie jump high.

Jumbie jump low.

Jumbie jumpin' to calypso.

Jumbie jump in a steelban an everybody know when he move he body he's like a black-smoke shadow.

Jumbie jump high.

Jumbie jump low.

Jumbie jumpin' to calypso.

Jumbie have no flesh, he have no waist to hol' buh jus look how he movin' wid no bumsey to roll.

Jumbie jump high.

Jumbie jump low.

Jumbie jumpin' to calypso.

I mean this poem is one that I must talk about a little bit.

Jouvay, jouvay is really the first, first appearance of Carnival on the Monday morning, Carnival Monday morning.

<v ->So great to hear John Lyons.

</v> And now, what is your first impression of this poem? Refer to the poem as you discuss and you can begin your sentence, I think that this poem.

Pause here while you share your first impression of the poem.

Oh, I love this one.

I love the sharing.

"I loved this poem.

It felt like the words were forming a party atmosphere with a quick rhythm and fun beats.

It feels like it should be set to music so that we could dance to it." Oh yeah, I was getting that feeling too.

I love that.

And now for your final task, it's your turn to read these three John Lyons's poems aloud.

Work in a pair and take it in turns to read each poem to your partner.

And after you've finished, you could answer these two questions.

Which is your favourite poem to read and why? And which is your favourite poem to listen to and why? Pause the video while you read the three poems and answer the questions.

So how did you get on? Which was your favourite poem? Let's find out.

I liked reading "Carnival Jumbie" the best.

It had the most fun, rhythm and beat.

Oh yes, I agree.

And favourite poem to listen to.

I liked listening to "Natural Dancing Partners" the best.

It was the most gentle of the three and it made me feel calm.

I love hearing those responses, and I hope you enjoyed sharing yours too.

In our lesson learning about the poet John Lyons, we have covered the following.

A poet uses language to express ideas, thoughts, and feelings in a creative way.

John Lyons is an English painter, writer, and award-winning poet.

Many of his poems often explore themes of nature, love, and human experience, and he draws on themes linked to Caribbean folklore and mythology.

John Lyons has won many prizes and awards, including the Windrush Arts Achiever Award.

Well done John Lyons.

And well done you for joining in with this lesson.

Especially loved your reading of the poems and getting into all the different moods and atmospheres of these poems. The calm, the gentleness of the "Natural Dance Partners" and the fun and liveliness of "Carnival Jumbie." Oh my goodness, I feel like dancing.

Great job once again, everyone.

I'm wishing you well and I'll see you soon.