Lesson video

Hello everybody, how are you today? I hope you're doing really well.

My name is Ms. Afzal, and I'm really excited to be here today because we are going to be writing some poetry.

We're going to be writing a poem about the snow, and I am really looking forward to it 'cause I bet you're gonna have some fantastic ideas and creativity, and I just can't wait to see what you come up with.

Shall we get started? The outcome for today's lesson is, I can create my own poem inspired by snow.

We have some keywords in our lesson today, let's go through them my turn, your turn.

Form, syllable, cinquain, ode.

Great to hear those words, let's find out what they mean.

Form is the way that a poem can be presented.

A syllable is a single sound or beat in a word that can contains a vowel sound.

A cinquain is a form of poetry consisting of five lines, typically with a specific syllable count or pattern.

An ode is a form of poetry that expresses deep admiration, praise, or celebration for a specific person, object, or idea.

These are our keywords, let's look out for them, let's listen out for them.

Let's think about them, be curious about them, they will be showing up in our lesson today.

Our lesson is called writing a poem about the snow.

It has three parts to it, reading poetry about the snow, generating ideas, and writing a poem.

Let's begin by reading poetry about the snow.

In today's lesson, we are going to be creating our own ode poems about the snow.

And ode is one of our keywords.

Remember, it means a poem that expresses praise, admiration, or celebration for a specific person, object, or idea.

We'll first be learning about two forms of poetry, a cinquain, and an ode.

Before writing our own poems, we're going to read and explore some examples.

These can inspire us and provide us with some ideas to use in our own poems. It can be helpful to note down some of your favourite words or phrases that you've read to include in your own poem.

What is a syllable? Words are made up of different parts, these are called syllables.

A syllable is a single sound or beat in a word that contains a vowel sound.

Every word contains at least one syllable.

In the word happy, there are two syllables, happy, both of these syllables contain vowel sounds.

Check for understanding.

Which of these words contains three syllables? Glistening, flakes, whispering, frost.

Pause the video while you decide which of these words contains three syllables.

Well done if you selected glistening and whispering.

Glistening has three syllables, glistening.

And whispering has three syllables, whispering.

A cinquain is a five line poem that follows a specific structure.

Cinquains often focus on creating vivid imagery through descriptive language and sensory details.

While there are different variations of cinquains, the majority of them follow a common syllable pattern.

Line one has two syllables, line two has four syllables, line three has six syllables.

I wonder if you can guess how many are in line four? Eight syllables, and then, line five goes back to the beginning with two syllables.

A useful strategy to help you count the syllables in each word is to clap each beat, e.

g.

, falling snow.

Perhaps you'd like to count the syllables in your name.

My name is Ms Afzal, Ms Afzal, three syllables.

Let's have a look at some example cinquains.

Silent, falling gently, whispers of memories.

Winter halting the march of time, the snow.

And here's another example, serene, blanket of snow.

Blanket of white softens the cold, harsh world.

Nature's quiet beauty soothing the soul.

I'm wondering how you're feeling after hearing these poems. I'm noticing that I'm feeling quite serene, quite calm and peaceful and soothed after hearing those poems. What is your first impression of the cinquains? What did you like about them? What do they make you think of? And how do they make you feel? And remember, an impression is our initial feeling response to a text.

So pause the video here and share with someone nearby, what was your first impression of a cinquain? What did you like about them? What do they make you think of? And how do they make you feel? Let's hear from Laura.

In the first cinquain, it is as if time has stood still.

The poem itself acts like a riddle, telling me what it is describing in the final line.

And here's Jun, by using specific amounts of syllables, it makes each cinquain have its own unique rhythm and pace.

Yeah, really well spotted, both of you.

I love how you noticed, honed in on the fact that that first thing cinquain acted like a riddle at the end.

And Jun, you notice the syllables and the rhythm and the effect of that.

It can be helpful to note down some of your favourite words or phrases that you've read to include in your own poem.

Check for understanding, true or false? Cinquains are five line poems that follow a specific syllable structure.

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

Well done if you selected true, cinquains are five line poems with a specific syllable structure.

And now, I'd like you to justify your answer.

Cinquains have two syllables in the first line, four in the second line, six in the third line, eight in the fourth line, and two in the fifth line.

Cinquains can be written like a riddle, with the final line revealing the subject of the poem.

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

Well done if you selected the first statement.

Both these statements are true, but it's the first one that relates to your earlier answer.

An ode is a type of lyrical poem that expresses admiration, praise, or celebration for a person, object, event, or idea.

Odes often convey intense emotion, and are characterised by their use of figurative and descriptive language, formal structure, and rich imagery.

Odes often follow a formal structure.

Traditional odes may consist of the verses or stanzas, with a specific rhyme scheme and metre.

They are usually addressed to the subject they are written about.

Modern odes may experiment with free verse, where they don't follow any particular rhyme scheme or structure, or other forms. Let's have a look at some example odes.

Your flurries fall with silent grace, veiling memories time can't erase.

Blanketing the world in a shimmering gown, snow whispers secrets in a silent town.

In the cold embrace of winter's chill, the beauty of sorrow lingers still.

And one more.

Like petals of ice falling gently in the city streets, muffling the sounds of bustling life.

Each flake a tiny marvel, floating down.

In the urban landscape, a hushed tranquillity where the chaos of the city is softened by snow's touch.

Thank you for listening to those example odes.

And now I'm curious, what is your first impression of the odes? What did you like about them? What do they make you think of? How do they make you feel? So pause the video here and share with someone nearby your first impression of the odes.

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

I wonder what your first impressions were, let's hear some.

Here's Sam, I liked how the first poem is addressed to winter itself.

It uses alliteration to draw attention to the snow, whispering secrets in a silent town.

And Aisha, I like that the second ode did not rhyme.

I particularly enjoyed the image of the city chaos being softened in the final line.

Yes, I felt that too, Aisha.

I live in quite a busy city, so I really like the idea of that softness coming in through the snow.

I hope you enjoyed sharing your impressions of the odes.

And remember, it can be helpful to note down some of your favourite words or phrases that you've read to include in your own poem.

So let's pause the video here for a moment, so you can note down any of your favourite words or phrases that you'd like to include in your own poem.

Check for understanding.

Select the statements that apply to odes.

And ode expresses admiration, praise, or celebration for a person, object, event, or idea.

An ode seeks to create a negative atmosphere or mood.

Odes are simple poems which do not convey much emotion.

Odes are often addressed to the subject they are written about.

So pause video while you decide which statements apply to odes.

Well done if you selected statements A and D.

And ode expresses admiration, praise, or celebration for a person, object, event, or idea.

And odes are often addressed to the subject they are written about.

I wonder, is there anything or anyone that you particularly admire, praise, or wish to celebrate? Who would you like to write an ode to? An extra little thing for you to reflect on.

And now it's time for your first task.

We've explored two forms of poetry, a cinquain and an ode.

Answer the following questions with your partner.

What form did you like the most, and why? What examples of language would you like to use in your own poem, and why were they effective? And you might like to begin your answer, the form I like best is, and then give your reasoning, because.

And I enjoyed the word/phrase, select which one you enjoyed, and give your reasoning, because.

So pause the video here and share with your partner your answers to these questions.

I'll see you when you're finished.

Okay, I am curious, which form did you like most, and why? Here's Izzy, the form I like the most is an ode.

I like poems that rhyme, and I thought the language was really descriptive and described the snow as very calming.

Oh, thank you for sharing that, Izzy.

I've gotta say, I quite like an ode too.

I love things that celebrate, things that are all about celebration.

What examples of language would you like to use in your own poem, and why were they effective? Here's Andeep, I'm going to borrow the phrase, veiling memories, because I like the comparison between the snow and a veil.

The snow can obscure and change our surroundings.

Yes, you're right about that, Andeep.

It can make such a difference when snow has covered everything and cast its veil.

A poet may choose the form of poetry depending on the impression that they want to create.

And now, let's move on to generating ideas.

When we're thinking about writing a poem about the snow, there are a few considerations we can reflect on to help us generate ideas.

Exploring emotions, consider how snow might make you feel, or how it might affect different people.

Snow can invoke a range of emotions, from tranquillity to sadness to joy and nostalgia.

Nostalgia is a noun, it means the sentimental longing for past experiences or times.

I wonder if you're nostalgic, if you have nostalgia for something, for some particular past experience or time? Capturing the atmosphere, think about the overall mood you want to convey in your poem.

And ode expresses admiration, praise, or celebration.

So we want to describe the snow in a positive way, as peaceful, exciting, fun, or calming.

Our language choices can affect how a reader might interpret our poem.

What atmosphere will you create? What emotions do you want your poem to convey? Pause the video and tell someone nearby, what kind of atmosphere are you wishing to create? And what emotions do you want your poem to convey? Let's see what Andeep has to say.

My ode needs to show admiration for the snow, so I will describe it in a positive and fun way.

I have lots of fun memories of playing in the snow with my friends.

I hope the reader will reflect on their own happy moments in the snow when reading it.

Oh, Andeep, you've done your job, I'm already remembering some really fun times of playing in the snow with friends.

When generating ideas, another top tip is to appeal to the reader's senses when creating imagery.

The senses of sight, hearing, and touch are most applicable here.

Observe and describe, watch examples of falling snow.

Describe what you can see, hear, and feel.

Vivid language can really immerse a reader in the scene we are creating.

Experiment with sound, pay attention to the sound, or lack of it, when snow is falling.

Consider including examples of onomatopoeia, or rhythmic language into your poem.

And onomatopoeia is when a word sounds like what it means.

So, for example, thud or crash.

And here, we have some falling snow.

Ooh, ah, that's lovely.

I wish I could be there now, enjoying that snow falling.

So snow can affect the following.

In terms of sight, people, colours, buildings, wildlife, movement.

In terms of what we can hear, snow can affect sound, voices.

And in terms of what we can feel, snow can affect the temperature and emotions, and the texture that we can feel.

I'll create some expanded noun phrases for each sense.

So for sight, I'm going to choose two adjectives to describe the trees.

I see skeletal trees that bristle in the wind.

Or I could say, frozen glacial trees that sway to and fro.

I can create my expanded noun phrase for sound by adding in two adjectives, muffled, distant sound of footsteps.

So rather than just saying the sound, I hear the sound of footsteps, we can add these adjectives.

It makes it much more interesting, the muffled, distant sound of footsteps, or the eerie, quiet sound of silence.

And now, it's your turn to create expanded noun phrases for each sense.

So first of all, have a go at creating an expanded noun phrase for the snowflakes.

Can you think of two adjectives to describe them? Pause the video while you do this.

Let's have a look at an answer.

Cold, sharp snowflakes that awaken your face.

Oh, I can almost feel them against my skin.

And another idea, fragile, delicate snowflakes that melt into your jacket.

I love those expanded noun phrases for the sense of touch, thank you for sharing.

And now, I'd like you to pause the video and have a go at creating some expanded noun phrases for what you can see.

And you could use trees as an example, and also for what you can hear.

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

I hope you enjoyed creating those expanded noun phrases, and maybe even using some ambitious adjectives.

To help us generate ideas, we can complete a mind map of actions and events that are associated with snow.

So we've got admiring snow-covered landscapes.

Sledging.

Oh my goodness, what fun.

Winter walks, how gorgeous? Look at that image, I want to be there.

Ice skating.

Snowball fights, so much fun.

And building a snowman.

What wonderful times can be had in the snow.

Remember to focus on actions/events that will fit with the atmosphere and mood that you want to create in your poem.

Check for understanding, which of the following actions and events are associated with the snow? Sledging, swimming, flying a kite.

Pause the video while you decide which events or actions are associated with the snow.

Well done if you selected sledging.

And now, it's time for your next task.

The subject of your poem is snow, I'd like you to create a mind map to generate your ideas.

You can write down words, phrases, or actions, and events that you want to include in your finished poem.

So you can write the snow in the middle of your page, and then generate ideas, words, phrases, action, events all around the outside.

Pause the video while you have a go at this task.

All right, it is great to be back with you.

So what's on your mind map? Let's have a look at some ideas.

Snowball fights, silent hush, soft, fluffy snowflakes, trees like frozen statues, sense of peace and wonder, crisp, biting air.

Thank you for sharing those fantastic ideas.

This is going to be a great poem.

You might see ideas in this example or from your friends that you want to add to your own mind map.

And now, we have come to the final part of our lesson, writing a poem, I'm so excited.

It's time to write your own ode to the snow.

In our poem, we are sharing our own personal impression of the snow.

We can build on our ideas from our mind map.

So here are the ideas that we looked at earlier, and we can add to these, we can build on them.

Silent hush of winter's embrace.

Standing like frozen statues.

Crisp, biting air enveloping surroundings, and a winter walk through the woodland.

So pause the video while you build onto the ideas that you already have on your mind map.

And again, you may like to be inspired by some of the ideas on the screen.

Okay, I have a poem to share with you, an ode to the snow.

And it's addressed to winter, the season.

In the hush of your embrace, I step into the world of white.

The air is crisp, biting, a sharp contrast to the warmth of the cosy home I've left behind.

All around me, the world is transformed.

Trees stand still, their branches heavy with snow, like frozen statues guarding the secrets of the forest.

And as I continue on my journey, I am filled with a sense of peace and wonder that only you can bring.

Thank you, winter.

So I'm going to give my initial response to the poem, what I liked about it, and any questions that I have.

I liked how the snow-covered trees were described as statues, it really gave me the impression that they were frozen.

It sounds as though the poet is on a winter walk.

I wonder what they might experience after.

And I wish I could be there, sounds so enticing.

Okay, it's your turn to give you initial response to the poem.

What did you like about the poem? And do you have any questions about it? So pause the video, turn to someone nearby, and share your initial response.

Okay, I hope you enjoyed sharing your responses with each other.

And now, it's time for the final task, you're gonna write your own ode about the snow.

Use your mind map to support you.

You might like to include verses or stanzas with a specific rhyme scheme and metre, or you might like to write in free verse.

And free verse doesn't have a particular rhyme structure, it's just doing its own thing.

You can add examples of figurative and descriptive language as you build on your ideas.

And remember, sharing our ideas is more important than keeping a fixed form or rhyming structure.

So pause the video here, and off you go into creation mode, writing your own ode to the snow.

I'll see you when you're finished.

Pause the video here.

Okay, you are back, you are done.

Job done, I'm so thrilled.

I would let you now to read aloud and share your ode.

And what was your favourite line, phrase, or idea in your poem? Pause the video while you do this.

And let's read an example.

In the quiet of the morning, we venture out into the cold, the snow soft beneath our feet.

As we gather armfuls of the white powder, your face starts to form.

A silent figure in the winter landscape.

Well done, Andeep, very clever.

And Andeep says, I like how I've addressed my ode to the snowman I'm creating.

Yeah, I love that, I love how as we move through the poem, we begin to realise who this poem is an ode to.

Well done everybody for creating your poems. In our lesson today, writing a poem about the snow, we've covered the following.

Poems can be written in many different forms and structures.

A cinquain is a five line poem that follows a specific structure involving syllables.

Cinquains often focus on creating vivid imagery through descriptive language and sensory details.

An ode is a type of lyrical poem that expresses admiration, praise, or celebration for a person, object, event, or idea.

A poet may choose the form of poetry, depending on the impression that they want to create.

I could almost write an ode to you, an ode in celebration of your fantastic engagement in today's lesson.

I loved your ideas, your creativity, your poems. Thank you for joining in, and I look forward to seeing you at the next lesson, bye for now.