Ready Steady Read Together
Poems from the Second World War: Poetry Lesson 3
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?
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth and danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings…
How might this extract link to the illustration?
Explore
From: Poems from the Second World War by Gaby Morgan © 2015. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Today's Question(s)
How does the poet feel about flying?
Explore
Let me read today's text
Explore
High Flight
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I’ve climbed, and joining the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds – and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of – wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlight silence. Hov’ring there,
I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air…
From: Poems from the Second World War by Gaby Morgan © 2015. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Up, up the long delirious burning blue
I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle flew –
And while with silent lifting mind I’ve trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand and touched the face of God.
John Magee
From: Poems from the Second World War by Gaby Morgan © 2015. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Vocabulary
Explore
Hover for definitions!
surly bonds of Earth
eager craft
tumbling mirth
foorless halls of air
high untrespassed sanctity of space
delirious burning blue
Explore
From: Poems from the Second World War by Gaby Morgan © 2015. 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
surly bonds of Earth
Explore
Find Read Talk
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I’ve climbed, and joining the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds – and done a hundred things
Reveal Vocabulary
From: Poems from the Second World War by Gaby Morgan © 2015. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Your turn
surly bonds of Earth
tumbling mirth
Find the word or phrase Read the sentence Talk about it to a partner
eager craft
footless halls of air
delirious burning blue
high untrespassed sanctity of space
Use your text
Explore
Vocabulary Check & Re-read
Explore
Reveal Vocabulary
High Flight
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I’ve climbed, and joining the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds – and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of – wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlight silence. Hov’ring there,
I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air…
Explore
From: Poems from the Second World War by Gaby Morgan © 2015. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Reveal Vocabulary
Up, up the long delirious burning blue
I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle flew –
And while with silent lifting mind I’ve trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand and touched the face of God.
John Magee
Explore
From: Poems from the Second World War by Gaby Morgan © 2015. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Fluency
Explore
Let me use my reader's voice...
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I’ve climbed, and joining the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds – and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of – wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlight silence.
What did you notice?
Explore
From: Poems from the Second World War by Gaby Morgan © 2015. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
My Turn
Your Turn
Echo Read
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I’ve climbed,
and joining the tumbling mirth of sun-split clouds
– and done a hundred things you have not dreamed of
– wheeled and soared and swung high in the sunlight silence.
Explore
From: Poems from the Second World War by Gaby Morgan © 2015. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Sound like a reader!
Stand up!
Choral Read
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I’ve climbed, and joining the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds – and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of – wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlight silence.
Explore
From: Poems from the Second World War by Gaby Morgan © 2015. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Strategy Focus
Explore
Strategy: Read Between the Lines
How does the poet feel about flying?
Be a detective and look for clues!
Teach
Let me show you
Reveal Text Marks
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I’ve climbed, and joining the tumbling mirth
How does the poet feel about flying?
Reveal Explainer
The words ‘surly bonds of Earth’ might hint at the force of gravity holding us down and suggests the poet feels tied down by unpleasant thoughts or responsibilities. This suggests the poet has escaped or ‘slipped’ the Earth’s hold on him and is now free.
Teach
From: Poems from the Second World War by Gaby Morgan © 2015. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Strategy Stop
What else could you use to answer today's question(s)?
Teach
Your Turn
How does the poet feel about flying?
Find the answers
Text mark
Explore
Text Mark Evidence - I have…danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings - joining the tumbling mirth of sun-split clouds
joyful
Acceptable Answers
Text Mark Evidence - I’ve…done a hundred things you have not dreamed of – wheeled and soared and swung high in the sunlight silence - I’ve chased the shouting wind along
adventurous
How does the poet feel about flying?
Text Mark Evidence flung my eager craft through footless halls of air
sense of freedom
Text Mark Evidence flung my eager craft…up, up the long delirious burning blue
wildly excitement or exhilaration
Text Mark Evidence - I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace - where never lark, or even eagle flew - I’ve trod the high untrespassed sanctity of space - (I’ve) touched the face of God
pride at flying higher than anyone has ventured
Click on the evidence to reveal acceptable answers
Text Mark Evidence I’ve trod the high untrespassed sanctity of space…and touched the face of God
full of awe and wonder
Quiz Time
Start
Picture Me
Which image is the best match for ‘surly’?
True or False?
The poet claimed to have flown higher than larks or eagles have flown.
False
True
Find Me
Find the word which means elated or thrilled:
Hov’ring there,
I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air…
Up, up the long delirious burning blue
I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle flew –
Discuss then check
delirious
Link Me
Link the poetic feature with the correct line from the poem:
A I’ve chased the shouting wind along
1 alliteration
B Put out my hand and touched the face of God
2 hyperbole
Check
C Through footless halls of air
Click if correct
3 metaphor
D Wheeled and soared and swung high in the sunlight silence
4 personification
Feedback: Who did what well?
FindRead Talk
EchoRead
ChoralRead
ReadingStrategy
Answers & Text Marks
Other...
To be a book lover, you could...
re-read your favourite books.
Reveal
Like old friends, they're always comforting.
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: Poems from the Second World War by Gaby Morgan © 2015 Schools must purchase the original text for full content.
RSRT Y6 L3 Poems from the Second World War
Literacy Counts
Created on September 19, 2025
Start designing with a free template
Discover more than 1500 professional designs like these:
View
Urban Illustrated Presentation
View
3D Corporate Reporting
View
Discover Your AI Assistant
View
Vision Board
View
SWOT Challenge: Classify Key Factors
View
Explainer Video: Keys to Effective Communication
View
Explainer Video: AI for Companies
Explore all templates
Transcript
Ready Steady Read Together
Poems from the Second World War: Poetry Lesson 3
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?
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth and danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings…
How might this extract link to the illustration?
Explore
From: Poems from the Second World War by Gaby Morgan © 2015. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Today's Question(s)
How does the poet feel about flying?
Explore
Let me read today's text
Explore
High Flight
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings; Sunward I’ve climbed, and joining the tumbling mirth Of sun-split clouds – and done a hundred things You have not dreamed of – wheeled and soared and swung High in the sunlight silence. Hov’ring there, I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung My eager craft through footless halls of air…
From: Poems from the Second World War by Gaby Morgan © 2015. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Up, up the long delirious burning blue I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace Where never lark, or even eagle flew – And while with silent lifting mind I’ve trod The high untrespassed sanctity of space, Put out my hand and touched the face of God.
John Magee
From: Poems from the Second World War by Gaby Morgan © 2015. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Vocabulary
Explore
Hover for definitions!
surly bonds of Earth
eager craft
tumbling mirth
foorless halls of air
high untrespassed sanctity of space
delirious burning blue
Explore
From: Poems from the Second World War by Gaby Morgan © 2015. 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
surly bonds of Earth
Explore
Find Read Talk
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings; Sunward I’ve climbed, and joining the tumbling mirth Of sun-split clouds – and done a hundred things
Reveal Vocabulary
From: Poems from the Second World War by Gaby Morgan © 2015. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Your turn
surly bonds of Earth
tumbling mirth
Find the word or phrase Read the sentence Talk about it to a partner
eager craft
footless halls of air
delirious burning blue
high untrespassed sanctity of space
Use your text
Explore
Vocabulary Check & Re-read
Explore
Reveal Vocabulary
High Flight
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings; Sunward I’ve climbed, and joining the tumbling mirth Of sun-split clouds – and done a hundred things You have not dreamed of – wheeled and soared and swung High in the sunlight silence. Hov’ring there, I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung My eager craft through footless halls of air…
Explore
From: Poems from the Second World War by Gaby Morgan © 2015. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Reveal Vocabulary
Up, up the long delirious burning blue I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace Where never lark, or even eagle flew – And while with silent lifting mind I’ve trod The high untrespassed sanctity of space, Put out my hand and touched the face of God.
John Magee
Explore
From: Poems from the Second World War by Gaby Morgan © 2015. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Fluency
Explore
Let me use my reader's voice...
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings; Sunward I’ve climbed, and joining the tumbling mirth Of sun-split clouds – and done a hundred things You have not dreamed of – wheeled and soared and swung High in the sunlight silence.
What did you notice?
Explore
From: Poems from the Second World War by Gaby Morgan © 2015. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
My Turn
Your Turn
Echo Read
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I’ve climbed,
and joining the tumbling mirth of sun-split clouds
– and done a hundred things you have not dreamed of
– wheeled and soared and swung high in the sunlight silence.
Explore
From: Poems from the Second World War by Gaby Morgan © 2015. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Sound like a reader!
Stand up!
Choral Read
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings; Sunward I’ve climbed, and joining the tumbling mirth Of sun-split clouds – and done a hundred things You have not dreamed of – wheeled and soared and swung High in the sunlight silence.
Explore
From: Poems from the Second World War by Gaby Morgan © 2015. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Strategy Focus
Explore
Strategy: Read Between the Lines
How does the poet feel about flying?
Be a detective and look for clues!
Teach
Let me show you
Reveal Text Marks
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings; Sunward I’ve climbed, and joining the tumbling mirth
How does the poet feel about flying?
Reveal Explainer
The words ‘surly bonds of Earth’ might hint at the force of gravity holding us down and suggests the poet feels tied down by unpleasant thoughts or responsibilities. This suggests the poet has escaped or ‘slipped’ the Earth’s hold on him and is now free.
Teach
From: Poems from the Second World War by Gaby Morgan © 2015. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Strategy Stop
What else could you use to answer today's question(s)?
Teach
Your Turn
How does the poet feel about flying?
Find the answers
Text mark
Explore
Text Mark Evidence - I have…danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings - joining the tumbling mirth of sun-split clouds
joyful
Acceptable Answers
Text Mark Evidence - I’ve…done a hundred things you have not dreamed of – wheeled and soared and swung high in the sunlight silence - I’ve chased the shouting wind along
adventurous
How does the poet feel about flying?
Text Mark Evidence flung my eager craft through footless halls of air
sense of freedom
Text Mark Evidence flung my eager craft…up, up the long delirious burning blue
wildly excitement or exhilaration
Text Mark Evidence - I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace - where never lark, or even eagle flew - I’ve trod the high untrespassed sanctity of space - (I’ve) touched the face of God
pride at flying higher than anyone has ventured
Click on the evidence to reveal acceptable answers
Text Mark Evidence I’ve trod the high untrespassed sanctity of space…and touched the face of God
full of awe and wonder
Quiz Time
Start
Picture Me
Which image is the best match for ‘surly’?
True or False?
The poet claimed to have flown higher than larks or eagles have flown.
False
True
Find Me
Find the word which means elated or thrilled:
Hov’ring there, I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung My eager craft through footless halls of air… Up, up the long delirious burning blue I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace Where never lark, or even eagle flew –
Discuss then check
delirious
Link Me
Link the poetic feature with the correct line from the poem:
A I’ve chased the shouting wind along
1 alliteration
B Put out my hand and touched the face of God
2 hyperbole
Check
C Through footless halls of air
Click if correct
3 metaphor
D Wheeled and soared and swung high in the sunlight silence
4 personification
Feedback: Who did what well?
FindRead Talk
EchoRead
ChoralRead
ReadingStrategy
Answers & Text Marks
Other...
To be a book lover, you could...
re-read your favourite books.
Reveal
Like old friends, they're always comforting.
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: Poems from the Second World War by Gaby Morgan © 2015 Schools must purchase the original text for full content.