Lesson video

Hello, everyone.

It's great to be here with you.

My name is Ms. Afzal, and I'm very pleased to be here together because today, we're going to be exploring some poetry.

In particular, we're going to be exploring a poem called "Cosmic Disco." Yep, you've heard it, "Cosmic Disco." It comes from a collection of poetry called "Cosmic Disco." It's by Grace Nichols.

So I'd like you to pause now.

Well, I'm going to pause while you go and get your copy of the book.

While you're doing that, I'm gonna just take a look at this front cover.

Look at that.

Oh, I just love those words, "Cosmic Disco." It's a lot of fun, and we're gonna find out more about that in our lesson today.

Are you back? Yep, great.

So you've got your copy of the book.

You are ready.

Hopefully you're enthusiastic, you're all set full of ideas and open to exploring this poem.

Let's do it.

The outcome for today's lesson is, I can perform the poem "Cosmic Disco" by Grace Nichols.

We have some keywords in our lesson today.

Let's go through them one at a time.

My turn, your turn.

Free verse, atmosphere, pace, and gesture.

Fantastic.

Good to hear those words.

Let's find out more about them.

Free verse is a form of poetry that doesn't follow any set rules of rhyme or structure.

The atmosphere is the mood created in a section or whole of a text.

Pace refers to the speed or rhythm at which a poem is read or performed.

A gesture is a movement that helps express an idea or meaning.

Let's be on the lookout for these words.

Let's listen out for them.

Let's think about them.

They are coming up in our lesson.

So here's our lesson, Performing "Cosmic Disco" by Grace Nichols, and it has two parts to it.

First of all, we're gonna be preparing to perform, and then we will be performing "Cosmic Disco." Are you ready? Let's go for it.

Preparing to perform.

So what do we know about the poem "Cosmic Disco"? "Cosmic Disco" was written by Grace Nichols.

The poem is linked to the science of the stars and the universe.

It describes the universe as a dance party where various elements of nature are depicted as dancers.

The poem creates a sense of awe and wonder in the natural world.

The poem uses a range of poetic devices to enhance the meaning, including imagery, metaphor, personification, and alliteration.

We are going to prepare to perform the poem "Cosmic Disco." We've explored some of the language used in the poem and thought about the impression and the atmosphere it creates.

This will help us to convey the meaning better as we perform.

Now, reread the poem, looking back at the language or phrases that you think are most significant.

So pause the video here while you reread the poem, and really take note of the significant language or phrases.

Okay, so I hope you enjoyed rereading the poem, and I wonder which bits of vocabulary, language, phrases were the ones that sprung out for you as being most significant.

Check for understanding.

Can you remember the meaning of these words? Match them to the correct definition.

Waltzing, rotating, infinity, luminous, glad-rags.

And the definitions are giving off light; bright or glowing, the concept of being endless, informal term for fancy or stylish clothing, turning or spinning around an axis, dancing in a smooth, gliding, and rotating fashion.

So pause the video while you match these words to their correct definitions.

Okay, so did you get waltzing is that we're dancing, we're smooth, gliding, and rotating? Rotating is turning or spinning around an axis.

Infinity is the concept of being endless.

Luminous is giving off light; bright or glowing.

And glad-rags is that informal term for fancy or stylish clothing.

Having thought about the meaning of the language in the poem will help bring the meaning across when we perform.

There are several other elements to consider and practise when getting ready to perform.

This includes exploring the rhythm and the flow of the poem and our use of voice, gestures, and movement.

Rhythm and flow refer to the natural musicality of the poem's language.

Some poems have a strict, regular form, and this can affect the flow of how we read it aloud.

Other poems have a less rigid form, like "Cosmic Disco." The poem "Cosmic Disco" is a free verse poem.

It does not have a strict line length or rhyming structure.

We need to find the right pace and timing when reading aloud to create a smooth and engaging performance.

I wonder if you can think of a time when you've heard somebody, heard or seen someone perform, where they had just that right pace and timing and it meant you were so tuned in to what they were sharing with you, you were so engaged.

It can be interesting to focus on who does that and what is it that they're doing that's helping them achieve that level of engagement.

Check for understanding.

True or false? The poem "Cosmic Disco" has a strict, regular form.

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.

A, it is a free verse poem.

The lines are different lengths, and there is no rhyming structure.

Or B, metaphors and alliteration are used in the poem.

So pause the video while you decide which of these statements is a good justification for your earlier answer.

Well done if you selected A.

For sure, "Cosmic Disco" is a free verse poem.

The lines are different lengths.

There's no rhyming structure.

It does not have a strict, regular form.

And now I would like you to reread the poem aloud and focus on rhythm and flow.

Pay attention to any patterns such as repeated sounds or phrases.

Think about where the words flow and where you pause.

The line endings and punctuation can help you.

Oh, and here's a bit more advice from Sofia, "Often, we need to read a poem more slowly and clearly than we think, as the audience might be hearing it for the first time." That's really helpful advice, Sofia.

Thank you for that.

So, pause the video here while you reread the poem aloud.

Remember, go slow, go clear, rhythm, flow, and enjoy.

So how did you get on? I hope you enjoyed reading your poem aloud.

Hope you were able to pause, feel the rhythm, feel the flow, and that your voice was nice and clear.

Our use of voice can really affect the performance of the poem.

We must enunciate clearly so that the audience can understand us.

So enunciate means where we're really pronouncing all of the sounds in our words clearly.

We can also vary our tone and our volume to create different effects.

A loud volume could show excitement or intensity, while a softer volume could show mystery.

So pause the video now while you reread the poem.

This time, really paying attention to the use of your voice, your tone, your volume, your enunciation.

And look out for sections that you think could be louder or quieter.

Pause the video here.

Okay, so how did you get on with that rereading of the poem? I wonder what you did with your voice this time.

And what choices did you make? Why did you make choices around being louder or quieter, varying your tone, and so on? Interesting to reflect on these things.

Okay, now it's time for us to have a go at reading aloud.

So I'm gonna have a go at reading aloud using the following tones of voice.

First, I'm gonna be happy, then grumpy, then bored, and then showing amazement! And then afterwards, it will be your turn.

So I'm going to, I'm going to read aloud just one line about the sun being a blazing beacon of light.

So first of all, I'm gonna use a happy tone of voice.

The sun is a blazing beacon of light.

Now I'm gonna have a go at doing that grumpy style.

The sun is a blazing beacon of light.

Now I'm going to be bored.

The sun is a blazing beacon of light.

And showing amazement, the sun is a blazing beacon of light! Now it's your turn.

I would like you to try reading "Cosmic Disco" in the following ways, happily, grumpily, in a bored way, and showing amazement.

So, off you go.

Try reading some of "Cosmic Disco" in these ways.

Pause the video here.

Okay, it's good to be back with you.

Which tone of voice do you think best suited the poem? I wonder.

Hmm.

I don't really feel it's a grumpy or a bored kind of poem.

I wonder what you thought.

Our facial expressions and body language can help to convey meaning as we perform.

We can show surprise, wonder, or mystery with our expression or with body movements, actions, and gestures.

Now I'd like you to reread the poem, and this time consider, are there any moments in the poem that you think would benefit from a particular action or gesture? So gesture is a movement that conveys a particular idea.

So pause the video here while you reread the poem, and include any particular actions or gestures that you think your reading of the poem would benefit from.

I'm going to have a go now at showing you some gestures that could be used to show that something is huge, spinning, dancing, or exploding, and then it will be your turn.

Okay, here I go.

First of all, gesture for huge.

Ready? Huge! All right, spinning.

Spinning.

Dancing, woo! (laughs) Pew! Exploding.

Okay, now it's your turn.

Are you ready? Can you show me a gesture that reflects something that is huge? Fantastic.

All right, can you show me spinning? Wonderful.

Next up, dancing! Let's keep this one going 'cause this one is so much fun.

Love it.

And finally, exploding.

Can you show me a gesture? (gasps) Wow, I love those.

Really, really expressive.

And will you use any of these in your final performance, I wonder.

I hope so, especially that dancing.

And now for your task, I'd like you to consider the elements of performance you've practised so far.

Which element has improved your performance the most, and why? Think about the rhythm and flow of the poem, the use of voice, your facial expressions and body language.

So pause the video, and share with someone nearby which element has improved your performance the most, and why.

Okay, it's good to be back with you.

So, what did you decide? What is it that has really improved your performance? Let's hear from Sam, "I think by adding gestures to my performance, it will make it much more exciting to watch." Yeah, gestures really draw people in.

I agree with that.

Andeep, "I think speaking louder and more clearly has really helped me." Yeah, fantastic.

We need to be able to hear what you're saying.

So yeah, loud and clear, that really makes sense, so that would be helpful.

I wonder what you discovered.

And now the moment has come, performing "Cosmic Disco." Let's do it.

Performing with expression and emotion means showing the feelings and atmosphere of the poem through your performance.

It's about bringing the poem to life and connecting with the audience on an emotional level.

You can use all the techniques we have practised to help you, pace and flow, tone and volume, facial expressions and body language.

Check for understanding.

Which phrases best describe the atmosphere of the poem, positive and energetic, scary and menacing, awe-inspiring and amazing, dull and lifeless? Pause the video while you decide which phrases best describe the atmosphere of the poem.

Well done if you selected positive and energetic.

Well done if you selected awe-inspiring and amazing.

For sure, this is really the atmosphere we're getting from this poem.

"And this is the type of atmosphere we want to create when we perform the poem." Yeah, thanks for that reminder, Jacob.

And now I'd like you to reread the poem, looking for particular words or phrases that convey this atmosphere.

Are there any specific words or phrases which help to create this positive and energetic atmosphere? Which words or phrases help create a sense of wonder? So pause the video while you look for these particular kinds of words.

Fantastic.

Great job.

Being aware of what those words are, or those phrases that are helping to create this atmosphere, and having those in mind when you're performing will be really helpful.

Now, read "Cosmic Disco" with expression and emotion.

Pause the video while you do this.

Here's Izzy, "I emphasised some of the key words as I read, and I used my facial expressions and my body language to help create a sense of wonder." Fantastic, Izzy.

Great job.

I wonder if the rest of you did that too.

The time has come.

I would now like you, for your final task, to practise and then present your final performance of the poem.

You could perform the poem individually, in a pair, or in a group.

Think about rhythm and flow, use of your voice, gestures and movement, showing expression and emotion.

Are you ready for it? Okay, practise, and then perform.

Pause the video here, and enjoy every moment.

So how did you get on? I am so thrilled that you've had a go at this, and I'm really curious.

I'd like you to pause and reflect.

Did you vary the rhythm and flow of the poem? Did you speak clearly and vary your volume? Did you use facial expressions or body movements? Did you enjoy performing? That's the main thing.

That's the bottom line.

I hope you had an absolute blast.

In our lesson today, Performing "Cosmic Disco" by Grace Nichols, we have covered the following.

"Cosmic Disco" is a free verse poem without a strict line length or rhyming structure.

Understanding a poem, its language, and the impression it creates will help us to create an impactful performance.

We can improve our performances of poetry through practise.

We can improve our performances by considering the rhythm and flow of the poem, our own use of voice, gestures, and movement, and by showing expression and emotion.

You have shown so many incredible things in this lesson, and I just loved your performances.

Really, really huge well done, everybody, for bringing it all together in this way.

I hope you are so proud of yourselves.

I bet Grace Nichols would be so proud of you if she could see you performing these.

Well done.

I'll see you in the next lesson.

Bye for now.