Introducing the context of 'London is the Place for Me'
I can understand the context of 'London is the Place for Me’.
Introducing the context of 'London is the Place for Me'
I can understand the context of 'London is the Place for Me’.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- ‘London is the Place for Me’ was written by Aldwyn ‘Lord Kitchener’ Roberts in 1948.
- To better understand the song and its lyrics, we can explore the context in which it was written.
- Roberts migrated to the UK aboard the Empire Windrush; his arrival coincided with a period of significant change.
- The first two stanzas were sung by Lord Kitchener at the Tilsbury docks, on board the HMT Empire Windrush.
- Roberts’ experiences were not the same for all people who migrated from the Caribbean.
Keywords
Context - the setting or background that helps us to understand something better
Lyrics - the words of a song, often written in a poetic style
Calypso - a style or genre of Afro-Caribbean music, which was developed in Trinidad and Tobago during the 19th and 20th century
British Empire - the name given to the colonies, dominions and other territories ruled to some degree by and from Britain
Migration - to move from one place to another
Common misconception
Pupils may not fully understand the context in which the song was written.
It would be useful to complete/recap the unit 'Coming to England: reading' prior to starting this unit, to further contextualise the experience from a biographical perspective.
To help you plan your year 6 english lesson on: Introducing the context of 'London is the Place for Me', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 6 english lesson on: Introducing the context of 'London is the Place for Me', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 2 english lessons from the Poetry about migration unit, dive into the full secondary english curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
You need a copy of the lyrics & recording of ‘London Is the Place for Me’ by Lord Kitchener which is featured on the 2013 Honest Jon’s Records album ‘London Is The Place For Me’ for this lesson.
Licence
Starter quiz
6 Questions
compares two things using 'like' or 'as'
describing a non-living thing as if it acts or feels like a human
comparing something by saying that it is something else
Exit quiz
6 Questions
the setting or background that helps us to understand something better
the words of a song, often written in a poetic style
a style of Afro-Caribbean music, developed in Trinidad & Tobago
the name given to the countries ruled to some degree by Britain
to move from one place to another