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Year 5

Exploring connections to ‘I Opened the Door’

I can make comparisons between an 'after' poem and its original influence.

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New
New
Year 5

Exploring connections to ‘I Opened the Door’

I can make comparisons between an 'after' poem and its original influence.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. ‘I Opened the Door’ is inspired by another poem.
  2. When a poem is heavily influenced by another poem, it is acknowledged with the word 'after' and the original poet's name
  3. The poem that inspired ‘I Opened the Door’ is called ‘A Poison Tree’, which is written by William Blake.
  4. We can compare and contrast poems based on many different aspects.

Common misconception

Pupils may find understanding the symbolism in both poems challenging.

Pupils may benefit from additional images to support understanding and help with representation of emotions.

Keywords

  • 'after' poem - a type of poem that is written in response to or inspired by another poem, often continuing its themes, ideas or imagery

  • Inspiration - the creative spark or source of ideas that motivates a poet to write

  • Compare - involves identifying similarities between two or more things, ideas, concepts or texts

  • Contrast - involves identifying differences between two or more things, ideas, concepts or texts

The poems' responses to emotions could be linked with other lessons, for example PSHE - particularly in relation to dealing/coping with anger and working towards possible resolutions.
Teacher tip

Equipment

You need a copy of the 2021 Otter Barry edition of ‘Stars with Flaming Tails’ written by Valerie Bloom illustrated by Ken Wilson Max for this lesson.

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

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).

Video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Select the poems written by Valerie Bloom.
Correct answer: ‘My Heart is a Volcano’
'The Magic Box'
Correct answer: ‘You Are’
'Cosmc Disco'
Q2.
True or false? Valerie Bloom was born in London.
Correct Answer: False, false
Q3.
What is a fixed verse poem?
Correct answer: poetry with a specific structure, rhyme and meter
a form of poetry that doesn't follow any set rules of rhyme or structure
Q4.
Match the words to the correct definitions.
Correct Answer:imagery,the use of language to create a mental picture or sensory experience

the use of language to create a mental picture or sensory experience

Correct Answer:atmosphere,the mood created in a section or whole of a text

the mood created in a section or whole of a text

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

describing and comparing something by saying that it is something else

Q5.
Which of the following should we try to do when reading a poem aloud?
Correct answer: Use facial expressions.
Look at the floor.
Correct answer: Read with an expressive voice.
Maintain the same tone all the way through.
Q6.
Which of the following should we try to do when reading a poem aloud?
Correct answer: Vary our pace.
Correct answer: Use gestures to communicate meaning.
Do not pause at all when reading.
Show no emotion.

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is an 'after' poem?
a type of poem that tells a story
a type of poem that is inspired by nature
Correct answer: a type of poem that is written in response to or inspired by another poem
Q2.
Match the keywords to the correct definitions.
Correct Answer:inspiration,the creative spark or source of ideas that motivates a poet to write

the creative spark or source of ideas that motivates a poet to write

Correct Answer:compare,identifying similarities between two or more things, ideas or texts

identifying similarities between two or more things, ideas or texts

Correct Answer:contrast,identifying differences between two or more things, ideas or texts

identifying differences between two or more things, ideas or texts

Q3.
What form of poem is ‘I Opened the Door’?
free verse
cinquain
Correct answer: fixed verse
pantoum
Q4.
Sequence the following events from ‘I Opened the Door’ in chronological order.
1 - Someone opens the doors to their heart.
2 - Their enemy walks through the door not realising the trap.
3 - The person that walks out of the door is a friend.
Q5.
Which poet wrote ‘A Poison Tree’?
Valerie Bloom
Correct answer: William Blake
John Foster
Q6.
True or false? ‘I Opened the Door’ and ‘A Poison Tree’ use very similar language.
Correct Answer: False, false

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