Lesson video

Hello, everyone.

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

My name is Ms. Afzal and I'm doing well because we are here to share poetry together and I love poetry.

Guess what? The poetry collection we are going to be looking at today has got the most fantastic title.

It's called "Dad, the Donkey's Fire".

Of course.

So pause the video here while you go and find your poetry collection, "Dad, the Donkey's on Fire" by Ian McMillan, and I'll wait for you.

All right, you're back.

You've got your poetry.

You've got lots of ideas.

You are intrigued perhaps by this fascinating title, this collection, "Dad, the Donkey's on Fire." Let's get into exploring one of poems by Ian McMillan today.

The outcome for today's lesson is I can read, respond to, and perform the poem, "Tempest Avenue" by Ian McMillan.

We have some keywords in our lesson today.

Let's go through them.

My turn, your turn.

Atmosphere.

Perspective.

Endowment.

Pace.

Gesture.

Great stuff.

I liked hearing those words.

Let's find out what they mean.

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

Perspective is the point of view or position from which the reader reads, influencing the way events or ideas are portrayed and understood.

Endowment is when a line in poetry continues onto the next line without pause or punctuation, creating a sense of flow.

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

Gesture is a movement that helps express an idea or meaning.

These are our key words.

Let's be on a lookout for them.

Let's listen out for them.

They will be coming up in our lesson today.

Our lesson, reading and responding to "Tempest Avenue" by Ian McMillan, has two parts to it.

Exploring "Tempest Avenue" and performing "Tempest Avenue." Let's begin by exploring "Tempest Avenue." "Tempest Avenue" was written by Ian McMillan and released in 1994 as part of his poetry collection, "Dad, the Donkeys On Fire." That's an interesting name for a poetry collection.

And on our screen, we can see a photo of Ian McMillan.

Ian McMillan is a British poet, playwright, broadcaster, and performer.

He was born on December the 21st, 1956 in Darfield, South Yorkshire.

His upbringing in South Yorkshire has greatly influenced his work, often featuring themes relating to the region and its people.

McMillan is known for his engaging and dynamic performances of his poetry.

Before we read the poem, what does the title, "Tempest Avenue", make you think of? What words or images come to mind? Pause the video while you reflect on this and share your answer with someone nearby.

Okay.

I wonder what it made you think of.

Let's hear from June.

I know a tempest is a wild or violent storm.

I think the poem will convey an angry or dramatic atmosphere.

Oh, thanks for that, June.

What does Sam think? Tempest Avenue sounds like a specific location.

I think the poem will explore the lives and interactions of residents on a road or street.

Interesting, Sam, Let's wait and see.

And I got one more question for you.

Do you think the poem will contain positive or negative imagery? Pause the video and share with someone nearby.

Okay.

Thanks for sharing.

I wonder what you came up with and was your response similar or different to what your partner shared.

Before we explore the poem in more detail, it's useful to know a little about its setting, Stairfoot.

Stairfoot is located in South Yorkshire.

It was a significant industrial region with a strong history of coal mining, steel production, and glass manufacturing.

A mine is a place where deep holes and tunnels are dug under the ground in order to obtain materials.

A coal mine is called a pit.

And we can see some images there on our screen of mines.

Miners and their families often lived in tight-knit communities with a shared identity and experience.

And now, it's time to read the poem.

I would like you to read a poem on page 17.

To begin, read the poem silently in your head.

Then read out loud.

You might like to read it with a partner, alternating each verse.

So pause the video here while you read the poem two times.

The first time silently and second time out loud.

Enjoy your first reading of "Tempest Avenue".

Okay, you've read the poem.

So what were your first impressions? What did you like about it? I am curious.

Pause the video.

Tell someone nearby.

What are your first impressions of this poem and what did you like about it? Okay.

I hope you enjoyed sharing.

Let's see what June has to say.

The poem made me think of the poem "No.

115 Dreams" by Jackie Kay because it also describes a family.

I really liked how the poem is written in first person perspective.

It made me feel as though I had walked into the room as the poet is putting his son back in his cot.

Thanks for sharing that, June.

Oh, and I like your upbringing and your knowledge of other poetry, especially Jackie Kay.

Great poet.

I hope you enjoyed sharing your first impressions.

Check for understanding.

Which of the following statements are true? Refer to the poem for support.

The poet speaker's son is still awake.

Mr. Lowe is cycling to the pit to begin work.

The poet/speaker's mother lives on the same street.

Pause the video while you decide which of these statements are true.

Well done if you selected the final statement.

Indeed, the poet/speaker's mother lives on the same street.

"Tempest Avenue" can be described as a free verse poem.

Poem contains seven verses, also known as stanzas.

It is written in first person perspective and has a conversational tone.

Referred to the poem, what effect does reading from the perspective of the speaker have on the reader or listener? And perspective, one of our keywords, is the point of view from which the speaker reads and it influences the way ideas are portrayed and understood.

So pause the video here, refer to the poem and share with someone nearby what effect does reading from the perspective of the speaker have on the reader or listener? Thanks for sharing your ideas.

Let's hear from Alex.

Reading from the perspective of the speaker gives the reader or listener a close connection with their thoughts and feelings.

It's like being in their shoes.

Yeah, great point, Alex.

I felt that too.

I really felt very close to the speaker.

The poem was autobiographical.

Some poets share information about their own lives through poetry.

The son mentioned in the poem is the poet's son Andrew, who is now a celebrated poet, performer, and teacher.

Followed in their father's footsteps.

How fantastic? "Tempest Avenue" describes a moment in time as well as the moment the poem is created.

Refer to the poem, how does the poem make you feel and why? Which parts of the poem evoke the strongest emotional responses? Pause the video while you refer to the poem and then share your answers to these questions with someone nearby.

Let's hear from Andy.

The poem makes me feel calm and warm because it captures the moment of a parent trying to get their child back to sleep.

I really like the final verse where the poet describes writing the poem as laying the words down on the page like he lay his son in his cot.

Oh, that is lovely.

Thanks for sharing that answer, Andy.

I hope you enjoyed sharing your responses and which poem gave you the strongest emotional response.

And remember, we each have different life experiences, therefore we might relate to the poem in different ways.

We all bring our own unique identities to whatever we read or listen to.

The poem uses enjambment, which is when a line in poetry continues onto the next line without pause or punctuation.

Refer to the poem, why do you think the poet used enjambment in the poem? What effect do you think it has? So pause the video here, refer back to the poem and share your answers to these questions with someone nearby.

Let's hear from Izzy.

The poem flows from one situation to the next.

It makes it seem like everything is happening at the same time.

Yeah, I love that, Izzy.

The way the words are flowing from one line to the next, similar to the way that life is just glowing and happening all around at the same time.

Here's Lucas.

Enjambment keeps the reader engaged.

It made me want to continue reading to find out what happens next.

Yeah, just keep going and going and going.

And what's next? What's next? I love it.

Thank you for sharing those ideas.

I hope you enjoyed sharing yours.

Check for understanding.

"Tempest Avenue" is written from which perspective? First person, second person, third person.

Pause the video while you decide which of these perspectives "Tempest Avenue" is written from.

Well done if you selected first person.

The repetition of I and our gives the reader an insight into the speaker/poet's family life with a young son.

And now, it's time for your task.

Think of the moment where you have woken up recently.

Write three lines of poetry based on the experience.

You might like to include sensory description to bring the scene to life, to maybe what you could hear or touch or smell or see, maybe even taste.

Everyone's ideas, experiences and places they have chosen are unique to them.

So each will be described in different ways.

That is the beauty of us all being individuals.

So pause the video here and have a go at this task.

Enjoy writing your three lines of poetry based on your experience on waking up.

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

How did you get on with writing that poetry? Let's hear it from Laura.

It is 7:00 AM and I'm standing in the bustling kitchen, hearing the distant hum of traffic.

Thanks for that one, Laura.

Can relate to that one.

Here's Jacob.

Next door, the fisherman untangles his nets, setting out for the day's catch, the sound of seagulls echoing.

Oh, I could really imagine myself there.

Lovely.

I love those sounds in that one.

And here's Lucas.

Across the field, Mr. Green is starting his tractor, ready to till the earth, the smell of fresh hay in the air.

Oh my gosh, I could smell the hay.

I love that.

Thank you so much for sharing what amazing experiences of waking up and also different.

I hope you enjoyed writing yours.

And now, share your examples with your partner.

So pause the video here while you do that.

I hope you enjoyed sharing and I wonder if your experiences were similar or different.

And now, let's move on to the next part of our lesson, performing "Tempest Avenue." We have explored the meaning of the poem and its structure.

Thinking 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 flow of the poem and our use of voice, gestures and movement.

Rhythm and flow refers 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 them aloud.

"Tempest Avenue" is a free verse poem, which uses enjambment.

If you pause at the end of each line, lots of meaning might get lost, so we keep reading from one line to the next.

To help maintain flow, you should read the poem as you would naturally speak.

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

Re-read poem aloud.

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 will pause.

The line endings and punctuation can help you.

Now, pause the video here and re-read the poem aloud, focusing on rhythm and flow.

Enjoy your reading.

Well done for reading the poem aloud.

Let's hears how Sophia got on with her reading.

I added in a pause after the baby finally falls asleep to emphasise the relief that the speaker poet might have felt.

Oh, what a great idea, Sophia.

Love that.

I wonder if you made any little adjustments like this.

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

We must enunciate clearly.

That means we say all the sounds in our words clearly so that the audience can understand us.

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.

I'd like you to re-read the poem.

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

Pause the video while you do this.

And now, that you've done that, I'm wondering why did you make the choices that you made for certain sections to be louder or quieter.

Pause the video to share with someone nearby why you made those choices.

Thank you for sharing.

And now, let's explore a little more around tones of voice.

So we'll go through this my turn, your turn.

So first of all, I will read aloud using the following tones of voice.

So first of all, I'm gonna read with care, so maybe we have a little bit of a soft voice.

Laying the baby in the cot.

And now, I'll speak with mysteries.

Maybe almost a bit of a question there.

Of Mr. Lowe's dream.

And with concern.

At the mother's thought.

And now, it's your turn.

I would like you to try reading a verse from "Tempest Avenue" in the following ways.

So first of all, read a verse with care.

So you might like to use a slightly softer tone.

Not quite whispering, so probably people won't hear you, but a bit more of a softer tone.

So pause the video while you read a verse with care.

Fantastic.

Next up, I'd like you to read a verse with mystery.

So here, you might have that there's a little bit of that, a bit of a question maybe, an air of mystery, some questioning, some curiosity as you read this verse.

Pause the video while you read the verse with mystery.

Fantastic.

And the last one, I would like you to read a verse with concern.

So maybe some concern in your tone of voice.

Pause the video while you do this.

Well done everyone for exploring different tones of voice.

And I'm wondering which tone of voice do you think best suited the poem? Pause the video and share with someone nearby.

Okay.

Thanks for exploring that.

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

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

Gesture is one of our keywords.

It means a movement that helps us express an idea or meaning.

I would like you to reread the poem.

Are there any moments in the poem that you think would benefit from a particular action or gesture? Pause the video while you reread the poem and consider any particular actions or gestures that you might bring in.

Well done for rereading the poem and considering gestures.

Let's have a go exploring gesture.

My turn, your turn.

So I will show you some gestures that could be used to emphasise the following moments in the poem.

Cradling a baby in arms. Describing Mr. Lowe's dream.

Mr. Ford cycling.

Okay, you can't see what my legs are doing here, but my legs are going around like this, spinning the wheels.

My hands are on the handlebars and I'm whizzing along.

And the winds in my hair.

What fun? The speaker being careful with words.

All right, that was a good one.

Now, it's your turn.

I would like you to show me a gesture to emphasise the following moments in the poem.

So pause the video and show me cradling a baby in arms. Oh, that was lovely.

Little baby sleeping there.

And the next one, pause the video while you show me a gesture, which is you describing Mr. Lowe's dream.

You're considering Mr. Lowe's dream, thinking about it.

Great stuff.

Next one.

I would like you to show me a gesture that emphasises the moment of Mr. Ford's cycling.

Really great.

Oh, love that.

Speeding along there.

And finally, pause the video and show me a gesture for the speaker being careful with their words.

Don't want to wait the baby.

Fantastic.

Thank you for sharing those gestures.

That was a lot of fun.

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

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.

Rhythm and flow.

Pace, tone and volume.

Facial expressions and body language.

Check for understanding.

Which phrase best describes the atmosphere of the poem? Quiet and gentle, loud and noisy, intense and powerful.

Pause the video while you decide which phrase best describes the atmosphere of the poem.

Well done if you selected quiet and gentle.

You might like to vary the atmosphere in each verse as the residents gradually start to wake.

Great idea, Rachel.

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

Are there any specific words or phrases which help to create this quiet and gentle atmosphere? So pause the video while you re-read the poem and have a look out for words or phrases that help create the quiet, gentle atmosphere.

Well done for rereading the poem and looking out for words, contributing to the quiet, gentle atmosphere.

And now can you share which words or phrases help create a sense of calm and peacefulness? Pause the video while you search for those words or phrases.

Okay, well done.

I hope you found some words or phrases that help to create a sense of calm and peacefulness.

And now, I'd like you to read "Tempest Avenue" with expression and emotion.

Pause the video while you do this.

Here's Laura.

I emphasised the care and quiet in the second and final verses by lowering my speaking volume.

Great idea, Laura.

I wonder if you chose to do something similar.

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

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.

Pause the video here, have a practise, and then present your final performance.

I hope you enjoy it and I'll see you after your performance.

Okay, well done.

Here you are post-performance.

Pause and reflect.

Did you vary the rhythm and flow of the poem? Did you speak clearly and vary your volume and pace? Did you use facial expressions or body movements? And did you enjoy performing? That is always the most important consideration in life, I think, are we enjoying ourselves? In our lesson today, reading and responding to "Tempest Avenue" by Ian McMillan, we have covered the following.

"Tempest Avenue" can be described as a free verse poem.

It contains seven verses and is written in first person perspective.

Poem is set in Stairfoot, South Yorkshire.

It is written from the perspective of a parent holding their baby.

The poem uses enjambment which is when a line in poetry continues onto the next line without pause or punctuation.

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

We can improve our performances by considering the pace of the poem, the atmosphere it creates, and our own use of voice and movement.

We can improve our performances of poetry through practise.

Well done everyone for joining in with this lesson.

I loved your performances.

I loved your exploration of this poem, and I love your poem.

So thank you, everyone.

I hope you enjoyed this lesson.

I look forward to seeing you at another lesson soon.

Bye for now.