This is the teacher notes page identifying the outcomes addressed in these lessons. Copy each lesson link and send it to your students. For printable versions of these materials log into the teacher information section of the Department of Education.

Introduction

This lesson series continues the study of perspective in war poetry. Perspective is a lens through which we learn to see the world; it shapes what we see and the way we see it. In a text these values are expressed and/or implied through the composer’s language and structure which may position the responder to accept them.  

During these lessons, students will explore Felicia Dorothea Hemans’ poem Casabianca. They will explore the context and form of the poem through a structured annotation process. Student will also reflect on their perspective of the poem and the perspective of others in order to demonstrate their understanding. It will also help students discover the personal enrichment to be gained from a love of English, literature and learning. 

During these lessons, students will: 

• read and listen to a poem for pleasure and meaning 

• think about context and ideas in texts by using thinking routines  

• identify the features of the form of a ballad  

• reflect on their understanding of the context of the poem 

• utilise the Frayer Model for unfamiliar words 

• analyse the language forms and features authors use to position readers using metalanguage (UnT10) 

• identify language features used by the composer   

• explain how these language features affect the meaning of the poem   

• explore how language form and features can be used to communicate perspectives of war. 

These lessons address the following outcomes:  

A student:  

• EN5-1A responds to and composes increasingly sophisticated and sustained texts for understanding, interpretation, critical analysis, imaginative expression and pleasure  

• EN5-3B selects and uses language forms, features and structures of texts appropriate to a range of purposes, audiences and contexts, describing and explaining their effects on meaning  

• EN5-5C thinks imaginatively, creatively, interpretively and critically about information and increasingly complex ideas and arguments to respond to and compose texts in a range of contexts   

Lesson one – Felicia Dorothea Hemans – Casabianca – orientation to the poem

This lesson is an orientation to the poem to encourage enjoyment of the story and discover the structure and language. The thinking routines ‘See, Think, Wonder’ and ‘I use to think…Now I think…’ will be used to describe visuals and reflect on aspects of the poet’s life, in order to explore the historical context of the poem.   

Learning intentions

Students will:

• reflect on prior learning 

• read or listen to a poem for pleasure and meaning 

• think about context and ideas in texts by using thinking routines   

Outcome content 

• EN5 – 1A: responds to and composes increasingly sophisticated and sustained texts for understanding, interpretation, critical analysis, imaginative expression and pleasure  

  • S501DA1 analyse and explain the ways language forms and features, ideas, perspectives and originality are used to shape meaning  

The coding for this content point comes from the English Textual Concepts and Learning Processes resources for Stage 5 English – Stage 5.