Ready Steady Read Together
My Heart Was a Tree: 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?
I am an ancient alder tree...
How might this extract link to the illustration?
Explore
From: My Heart Was a Tree by Michael Morpurgo © 2023. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Today's Question(s)
A) What poetic features does the poet use and what are their effects on the reader?
B) What impression do you get of the alder tree’s character?
Explore
Let me read today's text
Explore
Down by the Riverside – Part One
I am an ancient alder tree,
Down by the riverside,
Perch and playground,
Shade and shelter,
Home to all and sundry,
All of them my friends.
I see my little dipper friend,
Piping from his rock,
Diving in my rushing river,
Searching through the stones.
From: My Heart Was a Tree by Michael Morpurgo © 2023. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
I see my silver salmon, Struggling up the stream,
Resting in my pool awhile,
His last journey home.
I see my kingfisher come and go,
As bright as he is beautiful,
Gone fishing, back again in a flash,
Now perched again, and feeding.
I see my opal damselflies,
Butterflies and mayflies,
They have their moment in the sun,
Perfect, passing and brief.
From: My Heart Was a Tree by Michael Morpurgo © 2023. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Vocabulary
Explore
Hover for definitions!
alder
sundry
perch
opal damselflies, butterflies and mayflies
dipper
kingfisher
Explore
From: My Heart Was a Tree by Michael Morpurgo © 2023. 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
alder
Explore
Find Read Talk
Down by the Riverside – Part One
I am an ancient alder tree,
Down by the riverside,
Perch and playground...
Reveal Vocabulary
From: My Heart Was a Tree by Michael Morpurgo © 2023. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Your turn
alder
perch
Find the word or phrase Read the sentence Talk about it to a partner
sundry
dipper
kingfisher
opal damselflies, butterflies and mayflies
Use your text
Explore
Vocabulary Check & Re-read
Explore
Down by the Riverside – Part One
I am an ancient alder tree,
Down by the riverside,
Perch and playground,
Shade and shelter,
Home to all and sundry,
All of them my friends.
I see my little dipper friend,
Piping from his rock,
Diving in my rushing river,
Searching through the stones.
Reveal Vocabulary
Explore
From: My Heart Was a Tree by Michael Morpurgo © 2023. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
I see my silver salmon, Struggling up the stream,
Resting in my pool awhile,
His last journey home.
I see my kingfisher come and go,
As bright as he is beautiful,
Gone fishing, back again in a flash,
Now perched again, and feeding.
I see my opal damselflies,
Butterflies and mayflies,
They have their moment in the sun,
Perfect, passing and brief.
Reveal Vocabulary
Explore
From: My Heart Was a Tree by Michael Morpurgo © 2023. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Fluency
Explore
Let me use my reader's voice...
I am an ancient alder tree,
Down by the riverside,
Perch and playground,
Shade and shelter,
Home to all and sundry,
All of them my friends.
I see my little dipper friend,
Piping from his rock,
Diving in my rushing river,
Searching through stones.
What did you notice?
Explore
From: My Heart Was a Tree by Michael Morpurgo © 2023. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
My Turn
Your Turn
Echo Read
I am an ancient alder tree,
Down by the riverside,
Perch and playground,
Shade and shelter,
Home to all and sundry,
All of them my friends.
I see my little dipper friend,
Piping from his rock,
Diving in my rushing river,
Searching through stones.
Explore
From: My Heart Was a Tree by Michael Morpurgo © 2023. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Sound like a reader!
Stand up!
Choral Read
I am an ancient alder tree,
Down by the riverside,
Perch and playground,
Shade and shelter,
Home to all and sundry,
All of them my friends.
I see my little dipper friend,
Piping from his rock,
Diving in my rushing river,
Searching through stones.
Explore
From: My Heart Was a Tree by Michael Morpurgo © 2023. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Strategy Focus
Explore
Strategy: Read Between the Lines
A) What poetic features does the poet use and what are their effects on the reader?
Be a detective and look for clues!
Teach
Let me show you
Reveal Text Marks
I am an ancient alder tree, Down by the riverside, Perch and playground,...
Reveal Explainer
The poet uses first person, shown by the word ‘I’, telling the reader that the poem is written from the tree’s point of view. The poet also uses personification because a tree cannot speak or tell a story. This makes the reader imagine the tree as alive and watchful, observing the river and the creatures that live there. This is also an example of alliteration. The repetition of the starting sound ‘a’ allows the words to flow smoothly like the river.
A) What poetic features does the poet use and what are their effects on the reader?
Teach
From: My Heart Was a Tree by Michael Morpurgo © 2023. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Strategy Stop
What else could you use to answer today's question(s)?
Teach
Your Turn
A) What poetic features does the poet use and what are their effects on the reader?
B) What impression do you get of the alder tree’s character?
Find the answers
Text mark
Explore
Text Mark Evidence - perch and playground - shade and shelter - rushing river - searching through the stones, silver salmon, struggling up the stream - as bright as he is beautiful
alliteration to create flowing sounds to reflect the river
Acceptable Answers
Text Mark Evidence - I am…perch and playground, shade and shelter, home to all - his last journey home - their moment in the sun
metaphor to identify the tree’s purpose or suggest deeper meaning
A) What poetic features does the poet use and what are their effects on the reader?
Text Mark Evidence - I see my little dipper friend - I see my silver salmon - I see my kingfisher come and go - I see my opal damselflies, butterflies and mayflies
repetition & personification to show that the tree is a watchful guardian
Text Mark Evidence my kingfisher…as bright as he is beautiful
simile to show how striking and special the bird is
Click on the evidence to reveal acceptable answers
Text Mark Evidence - my little dipper friend, piping from his rock, diving in my rushing river, searching through stones - my silver salmon, struggling up the stream
imagery to enable the reader to picture the scene
Acceptable Answers
Text Mark Evidence I am an ancient alder tree
wise or experienced
B) What impression do you get of the alder tree’s character?
Text Mark Evidence - perch and playground - shade and shelter - home to all and sundry, all of them my friends
caring and protective
Text Mark Evidence - I see my little dipper friend piping from his rock - I see my silver salmon struggling up the stream - I see my kingfisher come and go - I see my opal damselflies, butterflies and mayflies
calm and observant
Click on the evidence to reveal acceptable answers
Practise & Apply
Quiz Time
Start
Picture Me
Which image is the best match for ‘sundry’?
Tick Me
I see my opal damselflies,
Butterflies and mayflies,
They have their moment in the sun,
Perfect, passing and brief.
What does this suggest about the insects?
Tick one:
A) They only appear when the weather is hot.
B) They are as valuable as gemstones.
Check
C) They only live for a very short time.
Click if correct
D) They return to the river every year in summer.
Find Me
Find the word which suggeststhe bird is singing:
I see my little dipper friend,
Piping from his rock,
Diving in my rushing river,
Searching through stones.
Discuss then check
piping
Link Me
Link each creature with the correct description:
A) a brightly coloured bird with a sharp beak
1 alder
Check
Click if correct
B) a plump songbird that can bob and dive
2 dipper
C) a tree that often grows near rivers and streams
3 kingfisher
D) a slender insect with shimmering, translucent wings
4 damselfly
Feedback: Who did what well?
FindRead Talk
EchoRead
ChoralRead
ReadingStrategy
Answers & Text Marks
Other...
To be a book lover, you could...
learn new words.
Reveal
Keep a notebook to write down and remember new words.
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: My Heart Was a Tree by Michael Morpurgo © 2023 Schools must purchase the original text for full content.
RSRT Y6 L1 My Heart Was a Tree
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Transcript
Ready Steady Read Together
My Heart Was a Tree: 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?
I am an ancient alder tree...
How might this extract link to the illustration?
Explore
From: My Heart Was a Tree by Michael Morpurgo © 2023. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Today's Question(s)
A) What poetic features does the poet use and what are their effects on the reader?
B) What impression do you get of the alder tree’s character?
Explore
Let me read today's text
Explore
Down by the Riverside – Part One
I am an ancient alder tree, Down by the riverside, Perch and playground, Shade and shelter, Home to all and sundry, All of them my friends. I see my little dipper friend, Piping from his rock, Diving in my rushing river, Searching through the stones.
From: My Heart Was a Tree by Michael Morpurgo © 2023. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
I see my silver salmon, Struggling up the stream, Resting in my pool awhile, His last journey home. I see my kingfisher come and go, As bright as he is beautiful, Gone fishing, back again in a flash, Now perched again, and feeding. I see my opal damselflies, Butterflies and mayflies, They have their moment in the sun, Perfect, passing and brief.
From: My Heart Was a Tree by Michael Morpurgo © 2023. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Vocabulary
Explore
Hover for definitions!
alder
sundry
perch
opal damselflies, butterflies and mayflies
dipper
kingfisher
Explore
From: My Heart Was a Tree by Michael Morpurgo © 2023. 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
alder
Explore
Find Read Talk
Down by the Riverside – Part One
I am an ancient alder tree, Down by the riverside, Perch and playground...
Reveal Vocabulary
From: My Heart Was a Tree by Michael Morpurgo © 2023. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Your turn
alder
perch
Find the word or phrase Read the sentence Talk about it to a partner
sundry
dipper
kingfisher
opal damselflies, butterflies and mayflies
Use your text
Explore
Vocabulary Check & Re-read
Explore
Down by the Riverside – Part One
I am an ancient alder tree, Down by the riverside, Perch and playground, Shade and shelter, Home to all and sundry, All of them my friends. I see my little dipper friend, Piping from his rock, Diving in my rushing river, Searching through the stones.
Reveal Vocabulary
Explore
From: My Heart Was a Tree by Michael Morpurgo © 2023. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
I see my silver salmon, Struggling up the stream, Resting in my pool awhile, His last journey home. I see my kingfisher come and go, As bright as he is beautiful, Gone fishing, back again in a flash, Now perched again, and feeding. I see my opal damselflies, Butterflies and mayflies, They have their moment in the sun, Perfect, passing and brief.
Reveal Vocabulary
Explore
From: My Heart Was a Tree by Michael Morpurgo © 2023. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Fluency
Explore
Let me use my reader's voice...
I am an ancient alder tree, Down by the riverside, Perch and playground, Shade and shelter, Home to all and sundry, All of them my friends. I see my little dipper friend, Piping from his rock, Diving in my rushing river, Searching through stones.
What did you notice?
Explore
From: My Heart Was a Tree by Michael Morpurgo © 2023. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
My Turn
Your Turn
Echo Read
I am an ancient alder tree, Down by the riverside,
Perch and playground, Shade and shelter,
Home to all and sundry, All of them my friends.
I see my little dipper friend, Piping from his rock,
Diving in my rushing river, Searching through stones.
Explore
From: My Heart Was a Tree by Michael Morpurgo © 2023. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Sound like a reader!
Stand up!
Choral Read
I am an ancient alder tree, Down by the riverside, Perch and playground, Shade and shelter, Home to all and sundry, All of them my friends. I see my little dipper friend, Piping from his rock, Diving in my rushing river, Searching through stones.
Explore
From: My Heart Was a Tree by Michael Morpurgo © 2023. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Strategy Focus
Explore
Strategy: Read Between the Lines
A) What poetic features does the poet use and what are their effects on the reader?
Be a detective and look for clues!
Teach
Let me show you
Reveal Text Marks
I am an ancient alder tree, Down by the riverside, Perch and playground,...
Reveal Explainer
The poet uses first person, shown by the word ‘I’, telling the reader that the poem is written from the tree’s point of view. The poet also uses personification because a tree cannot speak or tell a story. This makes the reader imagine the tree as alive and watchful, observing the river and the creatures that live there. This is also an example of alliteration. The repetition of the starting sound ‘a’ allows the words to flow smoothly like the river.
A) What poetic features does the poet use and what are their effects on the reader?
Teach
From: My Heart Was a Tree by Michael Morpurgo © 2023. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Strategy Stop
What else could you use to answer today's question(s)?
Teach
Your Turn
A) What poetic features does the poet use and what are their effects on the reader?
B) What impression do you get of the alder tree’s character?
Find the answers
Text mark
Explore
Text Mark Evidence - perch and playground - shade and shelter - rushing river - searching through the stones, silver salmon, struggling up the stream - as bright as he is beautiful
alliteration to create flowing sounds to reflect the river
Acceptable Answers
Text Mark Evidence - I am…perch and playground, shade and shelter, home to all - his last journey home - their moment in the sun
metaphor to identify the tree’s purpose or suggest deeper meaning
A) What poetic features does the poet use and what are their effects on the reader?
Text Mark Evidence - I see my little dipper friend - I see my silver salmon - I see my kingfisher come and go - I see my opal damselflies, butterflies and mayflies
repetition & personification to show that the tree is a watchful guardian
Text Mark Evidence my kingfisher…as bright as he is beautiful
simile to show how striking and special the bird is
Click on the evidence to reveal acceptable answers
Text Mark Evidence - my little dipper friend, piping from his rock, diving in my rushing river, searching through stones - my silver salmon, struggling up the stream
imagery to enable the reader to picture the scene
Acceptable Answers
Text Mark Evidence I am an ancient alder tree
wise or experienced
B) What impression do you get of the alder tree’s character?
Text Mark Evidence - perch and playground - shade and shelter - home to all and sundry, all of them my friends
caring and protective
Text Mark Evidence - I see my little dipper friend piping from his rock - I see my silver salmon struggling up the stream - I see my kingfisher come and go - I see my opal damselflies, butterflies and mayflies
calm and observant
Click on the evidence to reveal acceptable answers
Practise & Apply
Quiz Time
Start
Picture Me
Which image is the best match for ‘sundry’?
Tick Me
I see my opal damselflies, Butterflies and mayflies, They have their moment in the sun, Perfect, passing and brief.
What does this suggest about the insects?
Tick one:
A) They only appear when the weather is hot.
B) They are as valuable as gemstones.
Check
C) They only live for a very short time.
Click if correct
D) They return to the river every year in summer.
Find Me
Find the word which suggeststhe bird is singing:
I see my little dipper friend, Piping from his rock, Diving in my rushing river, Searching through stones.
Discuss then check
piping
Link Me
Link each creature with the correct description:
A) a brightly coloured bird with a sharp beak
1 alder
Check
Click if correct
B) a plump songbird that can bob and dive
2 dipper
C) a tree that often grows near rivers and streams
3 kingfisher
D) a slender insect with shimmering, translucent wings
4 damselfly
Feedback: Who did what well?
FindRead Talk
EchoRead
ChoralRead
ReadingStrategy
Answers & Text Marks
Other...
To be a book lover, you could...
learn new words.
Reveal
Keep a notebook to write down and remember new words.
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: My Heart Was a Tree by Michael Morpurgo © 2023 Schools must purchase the original text for full content.