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Year 7

Exploring what home means through the poem ‘Filter’

I can explore how the poem 'Filter' by Suma Subramaniam shows that home can reflect our authentic self.

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Year 7

Exploring what home means through the poem ‘Filter’

I can explore how the poem 'Filter' by Suma Subramaniam shows that home can reflect our authentic self.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The poem 'Filter' reveals that home is a place that reflects our authentic selves.
  2. Subramaniam seems to take pride in her identity as reflected in her home.
  3. Home can reveal our heritage, hobbies and personality.
  4. We can help the reader understand what our home is like by inviting them inside via poetic descriptions.

Keywords

  • Authentic - real and/or true

  • Filter - something that holds back elements or modifies the appearance of something

  • Heritage - the history, traditions and practices of a particular country or society

Common misconception

Students may not immediately think they can relate to the poem, if their own home does not have distinct elements of their culture or heritage.

Explain how everyone can relate to the idea of having a filter on. Whilst Subramaniam takes off her filter and reveals her heritage at home, your students might reveal their true personality or hobbies through home.


To help you plan your year 7 english lesson on: Exploring what home means through the poem ‘Filter’, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

If you feel comfortable doing so, tell students about your authentic self to foster a safe and open environment.
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Teacher tip
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Equipment

You will need a copy of the poem 'Filter' by Suma Subramaniam for this lesson.

content-guidance

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.
What might it mean if someone has a filter on when interacting with you?
they are speaking their truth
Correct answer: they may be hiding some of their true feelings
they are talking over you
Q2.
If something is called 'authentic', what does it mean?
Correct answer: it is real
it is fake
it is useless
Q3.
Your heritage is shaped by ...
your children.
yourself.
Correct answer: the older generations in your family.
Q4.
What is direct address?
when the writer refers to themselves in the first person plural 'we, us, our'
Correct answer: when the writer talks to the reader using second person 'you, your'
when the writer uses third person
Q5.
Why might a writer use direct address?
Correct answer: to make the reader reflect on how the content relates to them
to create a vivid image in one's head
to make themselves feel more important than the reader
Q6.
What is the purpose of a list?
Correct answer: to connect items in a meaningful way
to show the reader a sentence has finished
to create suspense

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Why is the title important when reading a poem?
it will tell you exactly what the poem will be about
Correct answer: it will help you predict the themes and tone of the poem
an analysis of the title can help you consider the form
Q2.
In her poem 'Filter', what does Suma Subramaniam reveal to the reader about her identity through her home?
her favourite hobbies
her introverted personality
Correct answer: her Indian heritage
Q3.
If we are able to shed our filter when we are at home, what does it suggest?
We are trying to look our best at home.
Correct answer: We can be our authentic selves at home.
We are hiding parts of ourselves at home.
Q4.
What does Suma Subramaniam invite the reader to do in her poem 'Filter'?
change who they are in public
Correct answer: be their authentic self
strive for perfection
Q5.
What emotion does Suma Subramaniam seem to have towards her authentic self in 'Filter'?
she is ashamed of her personality quirks
Correct answer: she is proud of her heritage
she is confused about who she really is
Q6.
Why might Suma Subramaniam have used direct address in 'Filter'?
Correct answer: to encourage the reader to be more accepting of different cultures
Correct answer: to encourage the reader to be their true self
to accuse the reader of ignorance