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Year 5

Reading and responding to 'The Invaders' and 'Kingfisher' by John Foster

I can explain what the poems are about and the impression they create.

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Year 5

Reading and responding to 'The Invaders' and 'Kingfisher' by John Foster

I can explain what the poems are about and the impression they create.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. ‘The Invaders’ and ‘Kingfisher’ are two poems based on a similar theme: birds.
  2. Both poems are written in free verse, they do not adhere to a specific rhyme scheme or meter.
  3. ‘The Invaders’ describes the competition between two rival species, the sparrows and starlings.
  4. ‘Kingfisher’ describes the story of a kingfisher who successfully hunts for its food.
  5. Both poems use imagery to convey an atmosphere to the reader or listener.

Keywords

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

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

  • Atmosphere - the mood created in a section or whole of a text

  • Impression - refers to initial feelings about a person, place or thing, gained from reading a poem

Common misconception

Pupils may not know the birds described prior to reading the poems.

Pupils could research the three species before reading. Alternatively, the poem could act as a stimulus to prompt further reading.

It may be useful to have a display of the key poetic devices for pupils to refer to for support when completing Task B.
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Teacher tip
equipment-required

Equipment

You need a copy of the poems ‘The Invaders’ & ‘Kingfisher’ which are featured on pages 164-165 in the 2007 Oxford University Press edition of ‘The Poetry Chest’ written by John Foster for this lesson.

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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 most appropriate definition of a simile?
the similarity of sounds between the ending syllables of words
Correct answer: a way of comparing two things using 'like' or 'as', highlighting similarities
a single line or a group of lines within a poem
Q2.
What is the most appropriate definition of a metaphor?
the repeated use of sounds, words, phrases or structural elements
the feeling or mood created in a section or whole of a text
Correct answer: a way of describing and comparing something by saying that it is something else
Q3.
Which of the following poetry lines use personification?
The rain fell steadily from the grey clouds.
Correct answer: The stars danced in the night sky.
Correct answer: The flowers nodded their heads in agreement.
The river flowed gently downstream.
Correct answer: Time crept slowly forward, dragging its feet.
Q4.
What is a poet responsible for when creating a poem?
Correct answer: crafting the words that make up a poem
introducing and inviting different speakers to the debate
creating the pictures, drawings, or images that connect to the poem
Q5.
What is an illustrator responsible for when creating a poem?
timing each speech
Correct answer: creating the pictures, drawings, or images that connect to the poem
converting content between languages
Q6.
True or false? A poem can only have one theme.
Correct Answer: False, false

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Match the following keywords to their definitions.
Correct Answer:theme,a big idea, topic or message that recurs within a text
tick

a big idea, topic or message that recurs within a text

Correct Answer:imagery,the use of language to create a mental picture or sensory experience
tick

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
tick

the mood created in a section or whole of a text

Q2.
True or false? All readers' impressions of a poem will be the same.
Correct Answer: False, false
Q3.
Which of the following is true about the poet, John Foster?
Correct answer: John Foster was born in 1941.
John Foster has a collection of poems titled ‘Poetry Treasures'.
John Foster was born in the south of England.
Correct answer: John Foster’s poetry contains themes of nature.
Q4.
Which of the following is applicable to sparrows?
Correct answer: highly social
Correct answer: rely on humans for food and shelter
fly in an aerial display called a murmuration
are considered an invasive species
Q5.
Put the following events from the poem 'Kingfisher' into chronological order.
1 - The kingfisher dives through the air, entering the water.
2 - The kingfisher turns and makes its way back to the water’s surface.
3 - The kingfisher returns to its perch.
4 - A fish is in its beak.
Q6.
True or false? A silver fish is the prey in the poem.
Correct Answer: True, true