Understanding the poem 'Climbing My Grandfather' by Andrew Waterhouse
I can explain how Waterhouse presents the multifaceted experience of reflecting upon memories of a loved one.
Understanding the poem 'Climbing My Grandfather' by Andrew Waterhouse
I can explain how Waterhouse presents the multifaceted experience of reflecting upon memories of a loved one.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- The speaker of the poem is reminiscing about a childhood memory of climbing their grandfather’s body.
- The speaker initially feels safe and secure when reminiscing about his grandfather.
- The climb, and act of remembering, becomes increasingly difficult, risky and even dangerous.
- The grandfather is presented as an ambiguous figure, both comforting yet also mysterious.
- Waterhouse often wrote about the natural world and family relationships.
Keywords
Reminiscing - reflecting on past experiences with fondness
Memories - recollections of the past that shape our history and identity
Ambiguous - something that is open to interpretation because it could have multiple meanings
Multifaceted - having various aspects or layers
Reassuring - offering comfort, support or confidence to alleviate concerns
Common misconception
The speaker is actually climbing a mountain.
The speaker compares the experience of climbing up his Grandfather's body as a child to climbing up a mountain.
To help you plan your year 10 english lesson on: Understanding the poem 'Climbing My Grandfather' by Andrew Waterhouse, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 10 english lesson on: Understanding the poem 'Climbing My Grandfather' by Andrew Waterhouse, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 english lessons from the 'Love and Relationships' unit, dive into the full secondary english curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
You will need access to the poem 'Climbing My Grandfather' by Andrew Waterhouse. This can be found in the AQA Love and Relationships Poetry Anthology.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
how a poem is organised on the page
comparing things by finding similarities in their qualities
comparing two things using 'like' or 'as'
a poem that doesn't rhyme or have a regular rhythm
using language to create a vivid image in the reader's mind
the pace or 'beat' of a poem
Exit quiz
6 Questions
Reflecting on past experiences with fondness
Recollections of the past that shape our history & identity
Something that is unclear or open to interpretation
Having various aspects or layers
Offering comfort or support to alleviate concerns