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Year 7

Comparing poems about place and home

I can identify similarities and differences between poems about place, home and identity.

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New
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Year 7

Comparing poems about place and home

I can identify similarities and differences between poems about place, home and identity.

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Share activities with pupils
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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Comparative and correlative conjunctions are useful when explaining similarities and differences.
  2. Comparative conjunctions can be used to compare ideas in a sentence and show difference.
  3. Correlative conjunctions are pairs of words that work together to connect ideas in a sentence.
  4. 'Island Man' and 'Search for My Tongue' both explore immigration, pride and identity.

Keywords

  • Comparison - a consideration of the similarities and differences between two things

  • Correlative conjunction - pairs of words that work together to connect ideas in a sentence

  • Comparative conjunction - a conjunction used to indicate how things are different and/or similar

Common misconception

Students may not at first understand that they must use a parallel sentence structure when using correlative conjunctions e.g. Both 'Island Man' uses imagery as well as 'Search for My Tongue'.

Model a few sentences with correlative conjunctions to show that parallel structures are needed. e.g. Both 'Island Man' and 'Search for My Tongue' use imagery.


To help you plan your year 7 english lesson on: Comparing poems about place and home, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

If you would prefer to compare other identity/home poems, you can swap them in.
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Teacher tip
equipment-required

Equipment

You will need access to 'Search for My Tongue' by Sujata Bhatt and 'Island Man' by Grace Nichols for this lesson.

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Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
supervision-level

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

copyright

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.
To discuss the similarities and differences between two things is to ...
Correct answer: compare.
summarise.
analyse.
Q2.
Match each word class with the correct example.
Correct Answer:Conjunction,but
tick

but

Correct Answer:Adjective,vibrant
tick

vibrant

Correct Answer:Pronoun,she
tick

she

Correct Answer:Verb,uses
tick

uses

Q3.
What is a conjunction?
a word used in the place of a noun
Correct answer: a word used to link clauses
a word used to emphasise ownership
Q4.
Both 'Island Man' and use imagery to describe the Caribbean.
'Search for My Tongue'
Correct answer: 'Childhood Tracks'
'My City'
Q5.
Which of the below is a comparative conjunction?
both
and
neither
Correct answer: whereas
Q6.
Which poem does not touch upon the poet's own personal story of immigration?
Correct answer: 'My City'
'Search for My Tongue'
'Island Man'

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is the purpose of correlative conjunctions?
to express a difference between two things
Correct answer: to connect ideas in a sentence
to summarise an idea
Q2.
Select the sentence which uses correlative conjunctions.
Whereas ‘Island Man’ describes two places, ‘Childhood Tracks’ describes one.
Correct answer: Both George The Poet and Nichols write about their struggles in London.
Whereas Bhatt focuses on language, Berry focuses on scenery.
Q3.
Complete the sentence with the most appropriate comparison: 'Whereas Bhatt is prideful about her native language ...'
Berry writes about vivid memories of the Caribbean.
Correct answer: George The Poet is critical about inequality in his hometown.
Nichols is nostalgic about life in the Caribbean.
Q4.
Complete the sentence: Nichols shows pride for her home country by describing scenery in 'Island Man' whereas in 'Search for My Tongue' Bhatt shows her pride through …
food.
clothes.
Correct answer: language.
Q5.
Which conjunction is missing from the following sentence? 'Bhatt struggles to adapt to a new language after immigration. Nichols struggles to adapt to new climate and scenery.'
for
so
Correct answer: whereas
Q6.
Which sentence uses correlative conjunctions correctly?
Both Nichols uses imagery and Berry does too.
Nichols and Berry use imagery.
Correct answer: Both Nichols and Berry use imagery.