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Year 6

Reading and responding to 'Tempest Avenue' by Ian McMillan

I can read, respond to and perform the poem ‘Tempest Avenue' by Ian McMillan.

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Year 6

Reading and responding to 'Tempest Avenue' by Ian McMillan

I can read, respond to and perform the poem ‘Tempest Avenue' by Ian McMillan.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. ‘Tempest Avenue’ can be described as a free verse poem; it contains 7 verses and is written in first person perspective.
  2. 'Tempest Avenue' is set in Stairfoot, Yorkshire; it is written from the perspective of a parent holding their baby.
  3. The poem uses enjambment, which is when a line in poetry continues onto the next line without pause or punctuation.
  4. Understanding a poem, its language and the impression it creates will help us to create an impactful performance.

Keywords

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

  • Perspective - the point-of-view or position from which the reader reads, influencing the way events or ideas are portrayed and understood

  • Enjambment - when a line in poetry continues onto the next line without pause or punctuation, creating a sense of flow

  • Pace - the speed or rhythm at which a poem is read or performed

  • Gesture - a movement that helps express an idea or meaning

Common misconception

When completing Task A, pupils may struggle to generate ideas.

Adults could provide a word bank and work with pupils to create a mind map of ideas. Examples can be included from 'Tempest Avenue' to further support.

You may wish to find a recording of Ian McMillan performing the poem. This will better contextualise the pacing, intonation and dialect.
Teacher tip

Equipment

You need a copy of the poem ‘Tempest Avenue’ which is featured on page 17 in the 1994 Carcanet edition of ‘Dad, the Donkey's on Fire’ written by Ian McMillan 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.
True or false? Everyone responds to a poem in the same way.
Correct Answer: False, false
Q2.
Which of the following are senses that could be appealed to when reading poetry with imagery?
common
Correct answer: sight
moral
Correct answer: hearing
Correct answer: touch
Q3.
Match the types of perspective to some of the pronouns associated with them.
Correct Answer:first person perspective,I, me, my, mine, we, us, our, ours

I, me, my, mine, we, us, our, ours

Correct Answer:second person perspective,you, your, yours

you, your, yours

Correct Answer:third person perspective,they, them, their, theirs, he, she, it, him, her, his, hers, its

they, them, their, theirs, he, she, it, him, her, his, hers, its

Q4.
What perspective is the following written in? "You walk along the winding path."
first person perspective
Correct answer: second person perspective
third person perspective
Q5.
What perspective is the following written in? "I stand alone beneath the starry sky."
Correct answer: first person perspective
second person perspective
third person perspective
Q6.
What perspective is the following written in? "She watches from the window sill."
first person perspective
second person perspective
Correct answer: third person perspective

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Match these keywords to their definitions.
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:perspective,the point-of-view or position from which the reader reads

the point-of-view or position from which the reader reads

Correct Answer:pace,the speed or rhythm at which a poem is read or performed

the speed or rhythm at which a poem is read or performed

Correct Answer:gesture,a movement that helps express an idea or meaning

a movement that helps express an idea or meaning

Q2.
Who is the poet of 'Tempest Avenue'?
Correct answer: Ian McMillan
Jackie Kay
Andrew McMillan
Q3.
Which of the following statements are true?
Mr Lowe is cycling to the pit to begin work.
Correct answer: The poet/speaker’s son is finally asleep
Correct answer: The poet/speaker’s mother lives on the same street.
Q4.
True or false? The poem 'Tempest Avenue' uses enjambment.
Correct Answer: True, true
Q5.
‘Tempest Avenue’ is written from which perspective?
Correct answer: first person
second person
third person
Q6.
True or false? When performing a poem, you should include gestures to describe every action or event.
Correct Answer: False, false