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Year 4

Poetic devices used in ‘Cosmic Disco’ by Grace Nichols

I can identify a range of poetic devices.

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New
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Year 4

Poetic devices used in ‘Cosmic Disco’ by Grace Nichols

I can identify a range of poetic devices.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Poets can use a range of poetic devices to enhance the meaning or impact of their poems.
  2. Personification is describing a non-living thing as if it is a person.
  3. Imagery is the use of language to create a mental picture or sensory experience for the reader or listener.
  4. Alliteration is when words that begin with the same sound are placed close together.

Common misconception

Pupils may confuse a metaphor with a simile.

Explain that both metaphors and similes are ways of using language to compare. Metaphors compare by saying something 'is' somthing else, whilst similes use the word 'as' or 'like'. There are no similes in this poem.

Keywords

  • Personification - describing a non-living thing as if it is a person

  • Metaphor - a poetic device that makes a comparison between two things by stating that one thing is another

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

  • Alliteration - when words that begin with the same sound are placed close together

It may help to display the full poem on the board or slides and use highlighting or annotation to draw attention to particular poetic devices.
Teacher tip

Equipment

You need a copy of the 2013 Frances Lincoln Children’s Books edition of ‘Cosmic Disco’ written by Grace Nichols 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).

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which of the following statements are true?
Poetry is only written by women
Correct answer: Poetry is found in many different forms
Poetry must always rhyme
Poetry must always be written in formal English
Q2.
Match the words to their definitions.
Correct Answer:constellations,groups of stars forming patterns in the night sky

groups of stars forming patterns in the night sky

Correct Answer:inter-galactic,occurring between galaxies

occurring between galaxies

Correct Answer:waltzing,dancing in a smooth, gliding, and rotating fashion

dancing in a smooth, gliding, and rotating fashion

Q3.
Match the words to their definitions.
Correct Answer:glad-rags,informal term for fancy or stylish clothing

informal term for fancy or stylish clothing

Correct Answer:luminous,giving off light; bright or glowing

giving off light; bright or glowing

Correct Answer:rotating,turning or spinning around an axis

turning or spinning around an axis

Q4.
What is a simile?
the repetition of sounds at the beginning words like ‘endless echo’
Correct answer: a way of comparing something using the words ‘like’ or ‘as’
a way of describing and comparing something by saying that it is something else
Q5.
Select the correct spelling of the word.
cozmic
cosmick
Correct answer: cosmic
Q6.
Who wrote the poem 'Cosmic Disco'?
Grace Nelson
Correct answer: Grace Nichols
Sarah Nichols
Michael Rosen
Edward Lear

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is personification?
when words that begin with the same sound are placed close together
a comparison between two things by stating that one thing is another
Correct answer: describing a non-living thing as if it is a person
Q2.
What is a metaphor?
a way of comparing something using the words ‘like’ or ‘as’
the repetition of sounds at the beginning words like ‘endless echo’
Correct answer: a way of describing and comparing something by saying that it is something else
Q3.
What is alliteration?
Correct answer: the repetition of the same sound found at the start of words
a way of describing a non-living thing as if it acts or feels like a human
the use of language to create a mental picture or sensory experience
Q4.
Which sentence contains alliteration?
Correct answer: The moonlight sparkles softly, spreading its silver glow.
The moon whispers secrets to the night.
The moon hangs in the sky like a glowing lantern.
Q5.
Which sentence shows personification?
The universe is a grand celestial symphony.
Correct answer: The universe tells its secrets to the stars.
The universe is infinite.
Q6.
What poetic device is used in this sentence? The sun whispers secrets to the planets, guiding them on their journey.
alliteration
metaphor
Correct answer: personification
simile