New
New
Year 3

Reading and responding to 'I Am A Writer' by Joseph Coelho

I can give a personal response to the poem and read it aloud.

New
New
Year 3

Reading and responding to 'I Am A Writer' by Joseph Coelho

I can give a personal response to the poem and read it aloud.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Joseph Coelho’s poem 'I Am A Writer’ uses metaphors to compare the process of being a writer to many other things.
  2. The poem explores the themes of creativity, imagination and identity.
  3. A metaphor is a way of describing and comparing something by saying that it is something else.
  4. Imagery is the use of language to create a mental picture or sensory experience for the reader or listener.

Keywords

  • Theme - a big idea, topic or message that recurs within a text

  • Metaphor - a way of describing and comparing something by saying that it is something else

  • Imagery - the use of language to create a mental picture or sensory experience for the reader or listener

Common misconception

Pupils may think that creating vivid imagery for the reader is not an essential part of poetry.

Teach pupils that a writer will want the reader to be able to visualise the different parts of the poem and this is achieved through creating vivid imagery.

You may wish to reference and read other poems by the poet which use metaphors. 'If all the world were paper' is a good example.
Teacher tip

Equipment

You need a copy of the poem ‘I am a writer’, which is in the 2014 Frances Lincoln Children's Books edition of ‘Werewolf Club Rules’ by Joseph Coelho, for this lesson.

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), 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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6 Questions

Q1.
'If All The World Were Paper' is a poem written by which poet?
Spike Milligan
Correct answer: Joseph Coelho
Michael Rosen
Q2.
Which book was the poem 'If All The World Were Paper' taken from?
Correct answer: Werewolf Club Rules
Overheard in a tower block
If all the world were...
Q3.
What is a metaphor?
a way of describing a noun with adjectives
a way of repeating words, sounds or phrases
Correct answer: a way of describing and comparing something by saying that it is something else
Q4.
Which of these is a metaphor?
She was like lightning in the race.
She was a fast as lightning in the race.
Correct answer: She was lighting in the race.
Q5.
True or false? A theme is a big idea, topic or message that recurs within a text.
Correct Answer: true, True
Q6.
Which of these themes is explored in the poem 'If All The World Were Paper'?
sporting success
evil
Correct answer: protecting those we love

6 Questions

Q1.
Which of these is the title of a poem written by Joseph Coelho?
'I am a worker'
Correct answer: 'I am a writer'
'I am a warrior'
Q2.
True or false? The poem begins with the speaker saying that they have a creative force in them because they create new “worlds”.
Correct Answer: true, True
Q3.
Which musical instruments are mentioned in the poem?
Correct answer: flute
Correct answer: drum
violin
Q4.
True or false? Joseph Coelho's poems do not explore personal experiences.
Correct Answer: false, False
Q5.
Which of these themes are explored in the poem?
environment
Correct answer: creativity
Correct answer: identity
Q6.
Which of these is a metaphor?
Her hands were like ice.
Correct answer: Her hands were ice.
Her hands were as cold as ice.