A Show of Summer

poem by Jackie Hosking , illustrated by Amy Golbach

Outcomes

Learning intentions:

I am learning to identify similarities between texts so that I can describe the characteristics of an author’s style.

 

Success criteria:

  • I can identify similarities between poems.
  • I can describe the characteristics of an author’s style.

 

Essential knowledge:               

  • More information about style can be found in the English Textual Concepts video Style.

 

Prior to reading A Show of Summer, have students view the English Textual Concepts video style. Instruct them to consider the poet’s style while either reading A Show of Summer as a class or listening to the audio recording.

 

Give pairs of students a copy of, or similar template to, the concept map on page seven of the Google Docs slideshow (as pictured below)

 

Have pairs fill out the Main Concept box as ‘Jackie Hosking’s Style’. Explain that students will be reading and listening to other poems by Hosking. Brainstorm what sorts of things they could be looking for when identifying similarities between poems. These will go under the Subconcepts heading. Sample answers include subject matter, poetry techniques and vocabulary.

 

In pairs, students use computers or tablets to view Jackie Hosking’s poetry readings on her website and listen to an explanation of her techniques on the YouTube video The World of Jackie Hosking and Poetry (techniques mentioned in this video are repetition, rhyme, similes, metaphors, alliteration and surprise endings; vocabulary choices mentioned in this video are strong words, action words, verbs and adjectives).

 

Poetry readings available on Hosking’s website:

  • A Not So Ordinary Afternoon
  • A Sticky Situation
  • Metamorphosis
  • It Is What It Is
  • A Dessert Sky
  • Birdsong

 

Staying in their pairs, students complete their concept maps by finding similarities between Hosking’s poems. Sample answers include:

 

Subheading: Subject Matter

Concepts – animals, butterflies/insects, nature, sweet foods, the beach

 

Subheading: Poetry techniques

Concepts – rhyming schemes, repetition, similes, metaphors, alliteration, puns

 

Subheading: Vocabulary

Concepts – strong verbs, interesting adjectives

 

After completing their concept maps, students share their answers with the class and fill in any blank boxes.