Ready Steady Read Together
A Poem for Every Question: Poetry Lesson 1
What do you think you know?
What?
Who?
Why?
Where?
How?
When?
Book Talk: Let's explore this illustration.
Explore
What do you know and think?
We may think we’re brainy, me and you, but the cockroach has not one but two.
How might this extract link to the illustration?
Explore
From: A Poem for Every Question by Brian Bilston © 2025. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Today's Question(s)
A) Match each animal with the number of brains each has.
B) Name at least three animals that have three brains.
C) Which creature has the most brains?
Explore
Let me read today's text
Explore
WHICH ANIMALS HAVE
MORE THAN ONE BRAIN?
We may think we’re brainy, me and you,
but the cockroach has not one but two.
An achievement that, in turn, does pale
when considering the slug or snail,
the mosquito, squid, or bumblebee –
all of which, you see, have three.
From: A Poem for Every Question by Brian Bilston © 2025. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
But even that’s not worth much fuss when one observes the octopus –
with nine in total to show off
(two fewer than the silkworm moth).
But the winner, with none in easy reach –
with thirty-two, it’s the MIGHTY…
the EXTRAORDINARY…
the SUPER-BRAINY…
LEECH!
From: A Poem for Every Question by Brian Bilston © 2025. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Common Exception Words
Explore
even
Explore
Vocabulary
Explore
Hover for definitions!
achievement
considering
pale
fuss
mighty
leech
Explore
From: A Poem for Every Question by Brian Bilston © 2025. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
I will model the first.
Find the word or phrase Read the sentence Talk about it to a partner
achievement
Explore
Find Read Talk
We may think we’re brainy, me and you, but the cockroach has not one but two. An achievement that, in turn, does pale when considering the slug or snail,
Reveal Vocabulary
From: A Poem for Every Question by Brian Bilston © 2025. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
achievement
Your turn
pale
Find the word or phrase Read the sentence Talk about it to a partner
considering
fuss
mighty
leech
Use your text
Explore
Vocabulary Check & Re-read
Explore
Reveal Vocabulary
WHICH ANIMALS HAVE
MORE THAN ONE BRAIN?
We may think we’re brainy, me and you,
but the cockroach has not one but two.
An achievement that, in turn, does pale
when considering the slug or snail,
the mosquito, squid, or bumblebee –
all of which, you see, have three.
Explore
From: A Poem for Every Question by Brian Bilston © 2025. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Reveal Vocabulary
But even that’s not worth much fuss when one observes the octopus –
with nine in total to show off
(two fewer than the silkworm moth).
But the winner, with none in easy reach –
with thirty-two, it’s the MIGHTY…
the EXTRAORDINARY…
the SUPER-BRAINY…
LEECH!
Explore
From: A Poem for Every Question by Brian Bilston © 2025. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Fluency
Explore
Let me use my reader's voice...
We may think we’re brainy, me and you,
but the cockroach has not one but two.
An achievement that, in turn, does pale
when considering the slug or snail,
the mosquito, squid, or bumblebee-
all of which, you see, have three.
What did you notice?
Explore
From: A Poem for Every Question by Brian Bilston © 2025. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
My Turn
Your Turn
Echo Read
We may think we’re brainy, me and you,
but the cockroach has not one but two.
An achievement that, in turn, does pale
when considering the slug or snail,
the mosquito, squid, or bumblebee-
all of which, you see, have three.
Explore
From: A Poem for Every Question by Brian Bilston © 2025. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Sound like a reader!
Stand up!
Choral Read
We may think we’re brainy, me and you,
but the cockroach has not one but two.
An achievement that, in turn, does pale
when considering the slug or snail,
the mosquito, squid, or bumblebee-
all of which, you see, have three.
Explore
From: A Poem for Every Question by Brian Bilston © 2025. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Strategy Focus
Explore
Strategy: Look Around & Find and Take
Be a word thief and steal what you've been asked to find...
A) Match each animal with the number of brains each has.
What's the question asking? Now, what are you looking for?
Let me show you
Reveal Text Marks
But even that’s not worth much fuss when one observes the octopus –
with nine in total to show off
(two fewer than the silkworm moth).
A) Match each animal with the number of brains each has.
Reveal: Animals and Numbers
Reveal Explainer
I can ‘look around’ for either the word naming the animal or the number shown. I will look for the word octopus. This shows me that the octopus has nine brains to show off. I can ‘find and take’ the answer nine.
Teach
From: A Poem for Every Question by Brian Bilston © 2025. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Strategy Stop
What else could you use to answer today's question(s)?
Teach
Your Turn
octopus
two
A) Match each animal with the number of brains each has.
leech
three
cockroach
nine
bumblebee
thirty-two
B) Name at least three animals that have three brains.
Text mark
C) Which creature has the most brains?
Find the answers
Acceptable Answers
Click on each animal to link with the correct answer
A) Match each animal with the number of brains each has.
octopus
two
leech
three
cockroach
nine
bumblebee
thirty-two
Acceptable Answers
Text Mark Evidence slug
B) Name at least three animals that have three brains.
Text Mark Evidence snail
Text Mark Evidence mosquito
Text Mark Evidence squid
Click on the evidence to reveal acceptable answers
Text Mark Evidence bumblebee
Practise & Apply
Acceptable Answers
C) Which creature has the most brains?
Text Mark Evidence the winner…with thirty-two, it’s the mighty…leech
leech
Click on the evidence to reveal acceptable answers
Practise & Apply
Quiz Time
Start
Picture Me
Which image is the best match for ‘leech’?
Which One's Right?
When one observes the octopus – with nine in total to show off (two fewer than the silkworm moth).
How many brains does the silkworm have?
B seven
A nine
D eight
C eleven
Match Me
Match each word with its correct meaning:
3 fuss
4 mighty
1 pale
2 consider
B having great strength
C seem less important
D think about carefully
A worry or excitement
Click if correct
Check
Tick Me
Why do you think the poet used bold, capital letters and exciting words like mighty to describe the leech?
Tick one:
A) To show how big the leech is
B) To show how powerful the leech is
Check
C) To make the ending funny because the leech is small
Click if correct
D) To make the poem seem longer
Feedback: Who did what well?
FindRead Talk
EchoRead
ChoralRead
ReadingStrategy
Answers & Text Marks
Other...
To be a book lover, you could...
combine poems with art.
Reveal
Create colourful or expressive art to match the feelings of a poem.
Copyright Notice
This document has been supplied under a CLA Licence with specific terms of use. It is protected by copyright and, save as may be permitted by law, it may not be further copied, stored, re-copied electronically or otherwise shared, even for internal purposes, without the prior further permission of the Rightsholder. Extracts sourced from: A Poem for Every Question by Brian Bilston © 2025 Schools must purchase the original text for full content.
octopus
two
leech
three
cockroach
nine
bumblebee
thirty-two
RSRT Y2 L1 A Poem for Every Question
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Created on June 30, 2025
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Transcript
Ready Steady Read Together
A Poem for Every Question: Poetry Lesson 1
What do you think you know?
What?
Who?
Why?
Where?
How?
When?
Book Talk: Let's explore this illustration.
Explore
What do you know and think?
We may think we’re brainy, me and you, but the cockroach has not one but two.
How might this extract link to the illustration?
Explore
From: A Poem for Every Question by Brian Bilston © 2025. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Today's Question(s)
A) Match each animal with the number of brains each has.
B) Name at least three animals that have three brains.
C) Which creature has the most brains?
Explore
Let me read today's text
Explore
WHICH ANIMALS HAVE MORE THAN ONE BRAIN?
We may think we’re brainy, me and you, but the cockroach has not one but two. An achievement that, in turn, does pale when considering the slug or snail, the mosquito, squid, or bumblebee – all of which, you see, have three.
From: A Poem for Every Question by Brian Bilston © 2025. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
But even that’s not worth much fuss when one observes the octopus – with nine in total to show off (two fewer than the silkworm moth). But the winner, with none in easy reach – with thirty-two, it’s the MIGHTY… the EXTRAORDINARY… the SUPER-BRAINY… LEECH!
From: A Poem for Every Question by Brian Bilston © 2025. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Common Exception Words
Explore
even
Explore
Vocabulary
Explore
Hover for definitions!
achievement
considering
pale
fuss
mighty
leech
Explore
From: A Poem for Every Question by Brian Bilston © 2025. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
I will model the first.
Find the word or phrase Read the sentence Talk about it to a partner
achievement
Explore
Find Read Talk
We may think we’re brainy, me and you, but the cockroach has not one but two. An achievement that, in turn, does pale when considering the slug or snail,
Reveal Vocabulary
From: A Poem for Every Question by Brian Bilston © 2025. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
achievement
Your turn
pale
Find the word or phrase Read the sentence Talk about it to a partner
considering
fuss
mighty
leech
Use your text
Explore
Vocabulary Check & Re-read
Explore
Reveal Vocabulary
WHICH ANIMALS HAVE MORE THAN ONE BRAIN?
We may think we’re brainy, me and you, but the cockroach has not one but two. An achievement that, in turn, does pale when considering the slug or snail, the mosquito, squid, or bumblebee – all of which, you see, have three.
Explore
From: A Poem for Every Question by Brian Bilston © 2025. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Reveal Vocabulary
But even that’s not worth much fuss when one observes the octopus – with nine in total to show off (two fewer than the silkworm moth). But the winner, with none in easy reach – with thirty-two, it’s the MIGHTY… the EXTRAORDINARY… the SUPER-BRAINY… LEECH!
Explore
From: A Poem for Every Question by Brian Bilston © 2025. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Fluency
Explore
Let me use my reader's voice...
We may think we’re brainy, me and you, but the cockroach has not one but two. An achievement that, in turn, does pale when considering the slug or snail, the mosquito, squid, or bumblebee- all of which, you see, have three.
What did you notice?
Explore
From: A Poem for Every Question by Brian Bilston © 2025. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
My Turn
Your Turn
Echo Read
We may think we’re brainy, me and you,
but the cockroach has not one but two.
An achievement that, in turn, does pale
when considering the slug or snail,
the mosquito, squid, or bumblebee-
all of which, you see, have three.
Explore
From: A Poem for Every Question by Brian Bilston © 2025. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Sound like a reader!
Stand up!
Choral Read
We may think we’re brainy, me and you, but the cockroach has not one but two. An achievement that, in turn, does pale when considering the slug or snail, the mosquito, squid, or bumblebee- all of which, you see, have three.
Explore
From: A Poem for Every Question by Brian Bilston © 2025. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Strategy Focus
Explore
Strategy: Look Around & Find and Take
Be a word thief and steal what you've been asked to find...
A) Match each animal with the number of brains each has.
What's the question asking? Now, what are you looking for?
Let me show you
Reveal Text Marks
But even that’s not worth much fuss when one observes the octopus – with nine in total to show off (two fewer than the silkworm moth).
A) Match each animal with the number of brains each has.
Reveal: Animals and Numbers
Reveal Explainer
I can ‘look around’ for either the word naming the animal or the number shown. I will look for the word octopus. This shows me that the octopus has nine brains to show off. I can ‘find and take’ the answer nine.
Teach
From: A Poem for Every Question by Brian Bilston © 2025. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Strategy Stop
What else could you use to answer today's question(s)?
Teach
Your Turn
octopus
two
A) Match each animal with the number of brains each has.
leech
three
cockroach
nine
bumblebee
thirty-two
B) Name at least three animals that have three brains.
Text mark
C) Which creature has the most brains?
Find the answers
Acceptable Answers
Click on each animal to link with the correct answer
A) Match each animal with the number of brains each has.
octopus
two
leech
three
cockroach
nine
bumblebee
thirty-two
Acceptable Answers
Text Mark Evidence slug
B) Name at least three animals that have three brains.
Text Mark Evidence snail
Text Mark Evidence mosquito
Text Mark Evidence squid
Click on the evidence to reveal acceptable answers
Text Mark Evidence bumblebee
Practise & Apply
Acceptable Answers
C) Which creature has the most brains?
Text Mark Evidence the winner…with thirty-two, it’s the mighty…leech
leech
Click on the evidence to reveal acceptable answers
Practise & Apply
Quiz Time
Start
Picture Me
Which image is the best match for ‘leech’?
Which One's Right?
When one observes the octopus – with nine in total to show off (two fewer than the silkworm moth).
How many brains does the silkworm have?
B seven
A nine
D eight
C eleven
Match Me
Match each word with its correct meaning:
3 fuss
4 mighty
1 pale
2 consider
B having great strength
C seem less important
D think about carefully
A worry or excitement
Click if correct
Check
Tick Me
Why do you think the poet used bold, capital letters and exciting words like mighty to describe the leech?
Tick one:
A) To show how big the leech is
B) To show how powerful the leech is
Check
C) To make the ending funny because the leech is small
Click if correct
D) To make the poem seem longer
Feedback: Who did what well?
FindRead Talk
EchoRead
ChoralRead
ReadingStrategy
Answers & Text Marks
Other...
To be a book lover, you could...
combine poems with art.
Reveal
Create colourful or expressive art to match the feelings of a poem.
Copyright Notice
This document has been supplied under a CLA Licence with specific terms of use. It is protected by copyright and, save as may be permitted by law, it may not be further copied, stored, re-copied electronically or otherwise shared, even for internal purposes, without the prior further permission of the Rightsholder. Extracts sourced from: A Poem for Every Question by Brian Bilston © 2025 Schools must purchase the original text for full content.
octopus
two
leech
three
cockroach
nine
bumblebee
thirty-two