New
New
Year 4
Performing poems written by the poet John Lyons
I can perform poems written by the poet John Lyons.
New
New
Year 4
Performing poems written by the poet John Lyons
I can perform poems written by the poet John Lyons.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- It is important to prepare for performing a poem by analysing the text to develop a full understanding.
- Performing a poem requires the performer to use their voice to make the poem interesting to listen to.
- Performers of poetry use facial expressions to bring the poems to life.
- Using the body to make the performance exciting to watch is a technique that performers of poetry use.
Keywords
Tone - refers to the emotion expressed by the poet towards the reader, enhancing the mood or atmosphere of the poem
Voice - the sound produced through the mouth as speech or song
Facial expressions - a form of non-verbal communication communicated via the face to convey a range of emotions
Common misconception
Performance of poetry must be done only one way.
Whilst poetry performance should adhere to the poem's original structure and rhythm, it is an art form that invites personal interpretation.
Show videos of poets performing their poetry. Explicitly model to pupils how to use voice, facial expressions and body language when performing.
Teacher tip
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on
Open Government Licence version 3.0
except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).Lesson video
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Starter quiz
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6 Questions
Q1.
What is the main purpose of performing poetry?
to recite it in a monotonous voice
to read it silently
Q2.
Which of the following is important for an effective poetry performance?
reading quickly to cover more poems
using only a single tone throughout the performance
reading without any emotion
Q3.
Why is eye contact important in poetry performance?
It's not essential in poetry performance.
It helps in ignoring the audience.
Q4.
What role do body movements play in poetry performance?
They are unnecessary and distracting.
They confuse the audience.
Q5.
What does vocal variation do in poetry performance?
confuses the audience
allows the performer to read the poem faster
creates a monotonous sound
Q6.
How do expressive gestures contribute to a poetry performance?
They take away any emotional connection.
They limit the performer's movements.
Exit quiz
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6 Questions
Q1.
What does the term 'mood' refer to?
the poet's name
the poem's rhyme scheme
the number of lines in each verse
Q2.
In poetry performance, what do volume and pitch mainly contribute to?
the length of the poem
the poet's name
Q3.
Why are body movements significant in poetry performance?
They decrease audience engagement.
They distract the audience from the words spoken.
Q4.
Which of the following poems by John Lyons evokes a sense of humour and amusement?
Granny's Sugarcake
Happy Hummingbird Food
Q5.
Which of the following poems by John Lyons evokes a sense of tranquillity and peace?
Granny's Sugarcake
Tadpole Comets
Q6.
When performing a poem, which of the following must be considered?
neat handwriting
colourful illustrations