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Year 6

Introducing the context of 'London is the Place for Me'

I can understand the context of 'London is the Place for Me’.

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New
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Year 6

Introducing the context of 'London is the Place for Me'

I can understand the context of 'London is the Place for Me’.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. ‘London is the Place for Me’ was written by Aldwyn ‘Lord Kitchener’ Roberts in 1948.
  2. To better understand the song and its lyrics, we can explore the context in which it was written.
  3. Roberts migrated to the UK aboard the Empire Windrush; his arrival coincided with a period of significant change.
  4. The first two stanzas were sung by Lord Kitchener at the Tilsbury docks, on board the HMT Empire Windrush.
  5. 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.

You may wish allow for time to play the song several times throughout the session. Additional songs by Lord Kitchener could be played at other times during the school day. The Pathé news clip (mentioned in the second cycle) is freely accessible online and can better contextualise the information.
Teacher tip

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

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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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which best describes the lyrics of a song?
a deliberate interruption or break in the flow of words or lines
the repetition of the same sound found at the start of words
Correct answer: the words of a song, often written in a poetic style
Q2.
True or false? Finding out the context of when something was written can better support understanding.
Correct Answer: True, true
Q3.
Which of the following are genres of music?
Correct answer: rock
historical fiction
Correct answer: hip-hop
Correct answer: jazz
fantasy
Q4.
True or false? All poetry has to rhyme.
Correct Answer: False, false
Q5.
Match the following types of figurative language to their definitions.
Correct Answer:simile,compares two things using 'like' or 'as'

compares two things using 'like' or 'as'

Correct Answer:personification,describing a non-living thing as if it acts or feels like a human

describing a non-living thing as if it acts or feels like a human

Correct Answer:metaphor,comparing something by saying that it is something else

comparing something by saying that it is something else

Q6.
If someone migrates, what are they doing?
Correct answer: moving from one place to another
joining a community or tribe that has no permanent settlement
suggesting a text that is well-suited to a reader’s age and interests

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Match the keywords to the correct definitions.
Correct Answer:context,the setting or background that helps us to understand something better

the setting or background that helps us to understand something better

Correct Answer:lyrics,the words of a song, often written in a poetic style

the words of a song, often written in a poetic style

Correct Answer:calypso,a style of Afro-Caribbean music, developed in Trinidad & Tobago

a style of Afro-Caribbean music, developed in Trinidad & Tobago

Correct Answer:British Empire,the name given to the countries ruled to some degree by Britain

the name given to the countries ruled to some degree by Britain

Correct Answer:migrate,to move from one place to another

to move from one place to another

Q2.
Who is the artist of the song 'London is the Place for Me'?
Horatio Kitchener
Correct answer: Aldwyn Roberts
the British Government
Q3.
True or false? Aldwyn Roberts named himself after the British military figure Horatio Kitchener.
Correct Answer: True, true
Q4.
Which of the following statements are true?
Correct answer: At its peak, the British Empire ruled over 412 million people.
Aldwyn Roberts was born in London, England.
Aldwyn migrated to England aboard the Orbita.
Correct answer: The British Nationality Act was passed by the British government in 1948.
Q5.
Which best describes the atmosphere or tone of the song and the lyrics?
Correct answer: cheerful and enthusiastic
sad and gloomy
harsh and bitter
Q6.
Put the following events in chronological order.
1 - Aldwyn Roberts was born on April 18, 1922 in Arima, Trinidad and Tobago.
2 - Roberts travelled to England on the Empire Windrush.
3 - Roberts was filmed singing the first two verses of the song as the ship docked.
4 - Aldwyn ‘Lord Kitchener’ Roberts quickly found success performing in clubs.