Ready Steady Read Together
My Heart Was a Tree: Poetry Lesson 5
Quiz Time
Start
Questions about the book so far...
Picture Me
Which image is the best match for ‘armoured’?
Find Me
Find the words which create a metaphor:
So
High am I
That none of
You has ever seen
The very summit and peak of me.
King of the trees cloaked all in green,
Great trunk, armoured with bark, etched
With age. Still standing.
Discuss then check
King of the trees
Match Me
Match each poem to the correct summary:
1 Down by the Riverside
3 High as the Clouds
2 Green Man
B) An ancient tree warns that human survival depends on protecting nature.
C) A tree observes nature and quietly provides shelter and protection.
A) A mysterious man reveals he can transform into a tree.
Check
Click if correct
Link Me
Link each poetic feature with the correct description:
A) exaggerating on purpose to make a point
1 alliteration
B) the repetition of the same starting sound to create rhythm or mood
Check
2 hyperbole
Click if correct
C) giving human traits, like feelings or actions, to things that are not human
3 metaphor
D) a comparison where something is described as being something else to show a similarity
4 personification
Speaking Spotlight
Teacher in Role
Explore
Teacher in Role
I am the Green Man.What do you want to know?
How?
Who?
When?
What?
Where?
Why?
Vocabulary
Explore
Hover for definitions!
gale
quakes
rage
tree-creeper
shrew
refuge
Explore
From: My Heart Was a Tree by Michael Morpurgo © 2023. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Let me read today's text
Explore
Oh Don’t Fall Over, Don’t Fall Down
I wonder, when this gale howls, and winter winds blow,
When the house quakes, and your branches shake,
I wonder how you can stand there still.
Oh don’t fall over, don’t fall down.
Tell me how your roots hold on,
How deep they grow, how strong.
I see you rage and I hear you roar.
Please don’t fall over, don’t fall down.
Be standing proud when morning comes.
What would we do if you were not there?
Where would the crows and rooks all gather and caw?
Just don’t fall over, don’t fall down.
From: My Heart Was a Tree by Michael Morpurgo © 2023. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
And where would blackbird welcome the dawn? Where would woodpecker peck, and tree-creeper creep?
Mouse and shrew have their refuge in you.
You mustn’t fall over, don’t fall down.
To me, ash tree, you are all the seasons’ songs,
The budding, the glory of leaves, the falling.
Be standing there still tomorrow, please.
Please don’t fall over, you mustn’t fall down.
Once I was small in the garden, and looked up at you.
So high you were and near the sun, and you whispered to me:
“I hold up the sky for you, I always will.”
You promised me, ash tree. You promised me.
Oh, don’t fall over, you mustn’t fall down.
From: My Heart Was a Tree by Michael Morpurgo © 2023. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Strategy Stop
Teach
Your turn
Practise & Apply
Use your text
Practise & Apply
1) Be standing proud when morning comes.
Circle the word which best completes the sentence.
The words ‘standing proud’ suggest that the poet wants the tree to…
be upright.
feel ashamed.
feel pleased.
feel important.
Reveal Answer
Practise & Apply
2) Name three animals which rely on the tree.
Acceptable Answers:
- crows
- rooks
- blackbird
- woodpecker
- tree-creeper
- mouse
- shrew
Reveal Answer
Click each extract to reveal the poetic feature
3) Below are several text extracts from the poem. Label each with the correct poetic feature used.
Text extract
Poetic feature
Oh don’t fall over, don’t fall down.
repetition
To me, ash tree, you are all the seasons’ songs…
metaphor, alliteration
hyperbole
So high you were and near the sun…
personification, hyperbole
You whispered to me: “I hold up the sky for you, I always will.”
Some extracts have more than one acceptable answer. Children are not required to list all features listed. If more than one acceptable answer is listed, correct reference to one of the poetic features listed for each is acceptable.
Practise & Apply
4) What impression do you get of the poet’s feelings towards the tree? Use evidence from the text to support your answer.
Text Mark Evidence - what would we do if you were not there - where would the crows and rooks all gather and caw - where would blackbird welcome the dawn - where would woodpecker peck, and tree-creeper creep - mouse and shrew have their refuge in you
knows the tree plays an important role in nature
Text Mark Evidence - oh don’t fall over, don’t fall down - please don’t fall over, don’t fall down - just don’t fall over, don’t fall down - you mustn’t fall over, don’t fall down - please don’t fall over, you mustn’t fall down - oh don’t fall over, you mustn’t fall down
protective of / worried for the tree
Text Mark Evidence to me, ash tree, you are all the seasons’ songs, the budding, the glory of leaves, the falling
views the tree as symbolic of the changing seasons
Text Mark Evidence - tell me how your roots hold on - once I was small in the garden, and looked up at you…and you whispered to me
views the tree as a lifelong friend or companion
Text Mark Evidence - mouse and shrew have their refuge in you - I hold up the sky for you…you promised me
sees the tree as a protector
RevealEvidence & Answers
5) Which sentence best summarises the poem Oh Don’t Fall Over, Don’t Fall Down?
Tick one:
The poem is about a violent and dangerous storm and how the creatures in nature are frightened the tree might fall.
The poem is told through the viewpoint of a tree attempting to survive harsh and violent weather.
The poem is the poet’s reflection of a tree from his childhood and how tall and reliable it is.
The poem shares the poet’s worries about losing a tree that protects wildlife and has been special to him through the years.
Reveal Answer
Practise & Apply
Feedback: Who did what well?
FindRead Talk
EchoRead
ChoralRead
ReadingStrategy
Answers & Text Marks
Other...
To be a book lover, you could...
memorise a poem.
Reveal
Practise reciting a favourite poem from memory.
If you like this book, you might like...
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.
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Transcript
Ready Steady Read Together
My Heart Was a Tree: Poetry Lesson 5
Quiz Time
Start
Questions about the book so far...
Picture Me
Which image is the best match for ‘armoured’?
Find Me
Find the words which create a metaphor:
So High am I That none of You has ever seen The very summit and peak of me. King of the trees cloaked all in green, Great trunk, armoured with bark, etched With age. Still standing.
Discuss then check
King of the trees
Match Me
Match each poem to the correct summary:
1 Down by the Riverside
3 High as the Clouds
2 Green Man
B) An ancient tree warns that human survival depends on protecting nature.
C) A tree observes nature and quietly provides shelter and protection.
A) A mysterious man reveals he can transform into a tree.
Check
Click if correct
Link Me
Link each poetic feature with the correct description:
A) exaggerating on purpose to make a point
1 alliteration
B) the repetition of the same starting sound to create rhythm or mood
Check
2 hyperbole
Click if correct
C) giving human traits, like feelings or actions, to things that are not human
3 metaphor
D) a comparison where something is described as being something else to show a similarity
4 personification
Speaking Spotlight
Teacher in Role
Explore
Teacher in Role
I am the Green Man.What do you want to know?
How?
Who?
When?
What?
Where?
Why?
Vocabulary
Explore
Hover for definitions!
gale
quakes
rage
tree-creeper
shrew
refuge
Explore
From: My Heart Was a Tree by Michael Morpurgo © 2023. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Let me read today's text
Explore
Oh Don’t Fall Over, Don’t Fall Down
I wonder, when this gale howls, and winter winds blow, When the house quakes, and your branches shake, I wonder how you can stand there still. Oh don’t fall over, don’t fall down. Tell me how your roots hold on, How deep they grow, how strong. I see you rage and I hear you roar. Please don’t fall over, don’t fall down. Be standing proud when morning comes. What would we do if you were not there? Where would the crows and rooks all gather and caw? Just don’t fall over, don’t fall down.
From: My Heart Was a Tree by Michael Morpurgo © 2023. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
And where would blackbird welcome the dawn? Where would woodpecker peck, and tree-creeper creep? Mouse and shrew have their refuge in you. You mustn’t fall over, don’t fall down. To me, ash tree, you are all the seasons’ songs, The budding, the glory of leaves, the falling. Be standing there still tomorrow, please. Please don’t fall over, you mustn’t fall down. Once I was small in the garden, and looked up at you. So high you were and near the sun, and you whispered to me: “I hold up the sky for you, I always will.” You promised me, ash tree. You promised me. Oh, don’t fall over, you mustn’t fall down.
From: My Heart Was a Tree by Michael Morpurgo © 2023. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Strategy Stop
Teach
Your turn
Practise & Apply
Use your text
Practise & Apply
1) Be standing proud when morning comes.
Circle the word which best completes the sentence. The words ‘standing proud’ suggest that the poet wants the tree to…
be upright.
feel ashamed.
feel pleased.
feel important.
Reveal Answer
Practise & Apply
2) Name three animals which rely on the tree.
Acceptable Answers:
Reveal Answer
Click each extract to reveal the poetic feature
3) Below are several text extracts from the poem. Label each with the correct poetic feature used.
Text extract
Poetic feature
Oh don’t fall over, don’t fall down.
repetition
To me, ash tree, you are all the seasons’ songs…
metaphor, alliteration
hyperbole
So high you were and near the sun…
personification, hyperbole
You whispered to me: “I hold up the sky for you, I always will.”
Some extracts have more than one acceptable answer. Children are not required to list all features listed. If more than one acceptable answer is listed, correct reference to one of the poetic features listed for each is acceptable.
Practise & Apply
4) What impression do you get of the poet’s feelings towards the tree? Use evidence from the text to support your answer.
Text Mark Evidence - what would we do if you were not there - where would the crows and rooks all gather and caw - where would blackbird welcome the dawn - where would woodpecker peck, and tree-creeper creep - mouse and shrew have their refuge in you
knows the tree plays an important role in nature
Text Mark Evidence - oh don’t fall over, don’t fall down - please don’t fall over, don’t fall down - just don’t fall over, don’t fall down - you mustn’t fall over, don’t fall down - please don’t fall over, you mustn’t fall down - oh don’t fall over, you mustn’t fall down
protective of / worried for the tree
Text Mark Evidence to me, ash tree, you are all the seasons’ songs, the budding, the glory of leaves, the falling
views the tree as symbolic of the changing seasons
Text Mark Evidence - tell me how your roots hold on - once I was small in the garden, and looked up at you…and you whispered to me
views the tree as a lifelong friend or companion
Text Mark Evidence - mouse and shrew have their refuge in you - I hold up the sky for you…you promised me
sees the tree as a protector
RevealEvidence & Answers
5) Which sentence best summarises the poem Oh Don’t Fall Over, Don’t Fall Down?
Tick one:
The poem is about a violent and dangerous storm and how the creatures in nature are frightened the tree might fall.
The poem is told through the viewpoint of a tree attempting to survive harsh and violent weather.
The poem is the poet’s reflection of a tree from his childhood and how tall and reliable it is.
The poem shares the poet’s worries about losing a tree that protects wildlife and has been special to him through the years.
Reveal Answer
Practise & Apply
Feedback: Who did what well?
FindRead Talk
EchoRead
ChoralRead
ReadingStrategy
Answers & Text Marks
Other...
To be a book lover, you could...
memorise a poem.
Reveal
Practise reciting a favourite poem from memory.
If you like this book, you might like...
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.