Ready Steady Read Together
My Heart Was a Tree: 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?
“I’m Jack o’ the Green, they call me Green Man…”
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 impression do you get of the wild man the walker meets in the woods?
B) What words or phrases does the poet use to show the theme of transformation or change?
Explore
Let me read today's text
Explore
Green Man
I met a wild man in the wet wild woods,
Who appeared to me from behind a tree.
“Greetings my friend, what brings you this way?”
“Just a walk in the woods. It’s a breezy sort of day.”
“Small talk for small minds,” he eyed me hard.
“I can tell you a thing or two, about trees.”
“Whatever you like, whatever you please.”
I tried to placate him, to put him at ease.
“I seem like a man, wild man of the woods. But I’m also a tree, you have to believe it.”
I thought, this man is weird, definitely different.
He said: “You think I am weird, definitely different?”
From: My Heart Was a Tree by Michael Morpurgo © 2023. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
He knew my word-thoughts, and that’s definitely weird. “What do you mean, you are also a tree?”
He smiled as he spoke, as he told me his story,
“You have nothing to fear, no need to worry.”
“I’m Jack o’ the Green, they call me Green Man.
I am sometimes man, sometimes tree.
I can be one or the other, and sometimes both.
You do not believe me? I’m telling you truth.”
“Just watch and you’ll see. Don’t turn away.”
His mouth opened wide, wide as a scream.
He gave a great groan and shivered and shook,
And there grew up from his throat – I could hardly look –
The shoot of a tree, a sapling with leaves.
Before my eyes it grew and it grew,
Trunk then and branches, an unfolding, a birth.
Man became tree, rooted in earth.
From: My Heart Was a Tree by Michael Morpurgo © 2023. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Vocabulary
Explore
Hover for definitions!
eyed
shoot
placate
sapling
unfolding
rooted in earth
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
eyed
Explore
Find Read Talk
“Small talk for small minds,” he eyed me hard. “I can tell you a thing or two, about trees.” “Whatever you like, whatever you please.” I tried to placate him, to put him at ease.
Reveal Vocabulary
From: My Heart Was a Tree by Michael Morpurgo © 2023. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
eyed
Your turn
placate
Find the word or phrase Read the sentence Talk about it to a partner
shoot
sapling
unfolding
rooted in earth
Use your text
Explore
Vocabulary Check & Re-read
Explore
Green Man
I met a wild man in the wet wild woods,
Who appeared to me from behind a tree.
“Greetings my friend, what brings you this way?”
“Just a walk in the woods. It’s a breezy sort of day.”
“Small talk for small minds,” he eyed me hard.
“I can tell you a thing or two, about trees.”
“Whatever you like, whatever you please.”
I tried to placate him, to put him at ease.
“I seem like a man, wild man of the woods. But I’m also a tree, you have to believe it.”
I thought, this man is weird, definitely different.
He said: “You think I am weird, definitely different?”
Reveal Vocabulary
Explore
From: My Heart Was a Tree by Michael Morpurgo © 2023. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
He knew my word-thoughts, and that’s definitely weird. “What do you mean, you are also a tree?”
He smiled as he spoke, as he told me his story,
“You have nothing to fear, no need to worry.”
“I’m Jack o’ the Green, they call me Green Man.
I am sometimes man, sometimes tree.
I can be one or the other, and sometimes both.
You do not believe me? I’m telling you truth.”
“Just watch and you’ll see. Don’t turn away.”
His mouth opened wide, wide as a scream.
He gave a great groan and shivered and shook,
And there grew up from his throat – I could hardly look –
The shoot of a tree, a sapling with leaves.
Before my eyes it grew and it grew,
Trunk then and branches, an unfolding, a birth.
Man became tree, rooted in earth.
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...
“Small talk for small minds,” he eyed me hard.
“I can tell you a thing or two, about trees.”
“Whatever you like, whatever you please.”
I tried to placate him, to put him at ease.
“I seem like a man, wild man of the woods.
But I’m also a tree, you have to believe it.”
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
“Small talk for small minds,” he eyed me hard.
“I can tell you a thing or two, about trees.”
“Whatever you like, whatever you please.”
I tried to placate him, to put him at ease.
“I seem like a man, wild man of the woods.
“But I’m also a tree, you have to believe it.”
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
“Small talk for small minds,” he eyed me hard.
“I can tell you a thing or two, about trees.”
“Whatever you like, whatever you please.”
I tried to placate him, to put him at ease.
“I seem like a man, wild man of the woods.
But I’m also a tree, you have to believe it.”
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 impression do you get of the wild man the walker meets in the woods?
Be a detective and look for clues!
Teach
Let me show you
Reveal Text Marks
I met a wild man in the wet wild woods, Who appeared to me from behind a tree. “Greetings my friend, what brings you this way?” “Just a walk in the woods. It’s a breezy sort of day.”
A) What impression do you get of the wild man the walker meets in the woods?
Reveal Explainer
The walker in the woods called the Green Man a ‘wild man’ when he first appeared. This suggests that he had an ‘untamed look’ as if he had been living in the woods for some time. The words ‘Greetings my friend’ suggest that the wild man is friendly and approachable.
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 impression do you get of the wild man the walker meets in the woods?
B) What words or phrases does the poet use to show the theme of transformation or change?
Find the answers
Text mark
Explore
Acceptable Answers
Text Mark Evidence - small talk for small minds - he (wild man) eyed me hard
critical or judgemental of others
Text Mark Evidence I can tell you a thing or two about trees
boastful or proud of his knowledge
Text Mark Evidence I tried to placate him, to put him at ease
intimidating or unsettling
A) What impression do you get of the wild man the walker meets in the woods?
Text Mark Evidence this man is weird, definitely different
unusual or unique
magical or supernatural
Text Mark Evidence - he knew my word-thoughts - I am sometimes man, sometimes tree…I can be one or the other, and sometimes both - man became tree, rooted in earth
Click on the evidence to reveal acceptable answers
Text Mark Evidence you have nothing to fear, no need to worry
harmless and reassuring
Practise & Apply
Acceptable Answers
Text Mark Evidence - I seem like a man…but I’m also a tree - I am sometimes man, sometimes tree - I can be one or the other, and sometimes both
words about the wild man’s dual nature
Text Mark Evidence - just watch and you’ll see… don’t turn away - before my eyes it (sapling) grew and grew, trunk and then branches
encourages the walker to watch the transformation happen
B) What words or phrases does the poet use to show the theme of transformation or change?
Text Mark Evidence he opened his mouth wide…he gave a great groan and shivered and shook, and there grew up from his throat
uses actions to begin the transformation
Text Mark Evidence - the shoot of a tree, a sapling with leaves…trunk then and branches - man became tree, rooted in earth
the change into a tree
Click on the evidence to reveal acceptable answers
Text Mark Evidence an unfolding, a birth
words about rebirth
Practise & Apply
Quiz Time
Start
Picture Me
Which image is the best match for ‘sapling’?
Which One's Right?
I tried to placate him, to put him at ease.
Which word is closest in meaning to ‘placate’?
A) challenge
B) reassure
D) defend
C) ignore
Fill the Gaps
shoot
unfolding
sapling
rooted
The of a tree, a with leaves.
Before my eyes it grew and it grew,
Trunk then and branches, an , a birth.
Man became tree, in earth.
Click if correct
Discuss then check
Sequence Me
Put the following events from the poem in the correct order:
A) The wild man read the walker’s mind and voiced his thoughts.
B) The wild man turned into a tree, rooted in earth.
C) The wild man appeared to the walker in the woods.
D) The wild man said he was called the Green Man.
Click if correct
Check
Feedback: Who did what well?
FindRead Talk
EchoRead
ChoralRead
ReadingStrategy
Answers & Text Marks
Other...
To be a book lover, you could...
read every day.
Reveal
Even 15 minutes a day can make a big difference!
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.
shoot
sapling
unfolding
rooted
RSRT Y6 L3 My Heart Was a Tree
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Transcript
Ready Steady Read Together
My Heart Was a Tree: 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?
“I’m Jack o’ the Green, they call me Green Man…”
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 impression do you get of the wild man the walker meets in the woods?
B) What words or phrases does the poet use to show the theme of transformation or change?
Explore
Let me read today's text
Explore
Green Man
I met a wild man in the wet wild woods, Who appeared to me from behind a tree. “Greetings my friend, what brings you this way?” “Just a walk in the woods. It’s a breezy sort of day.” “Small talk for small minds,” he eyed me hard. “I can tell you a thing or two, about trees.” “Whatever you like, whatever you please.” I tried to placate him, to put him at ease. “I seem like a man, wild man of the woods. But I’m also a tree, you have to believe it.” I thought, this man is weird, definitely different. He said: “You think I am weird, definitely different?”
From: My Heart Was a Tree by Michael Morpurgo © 2023. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
He knew my word-thoughts, and that’s definitely weird. “What do you mean, you are also a tree?” He smiled as he spoke, as he told me his story, “You have nothing to fear, no need to worry.” “I’m Jack o’ the Green, they call me Green Man. I am sometimes man, sometimes tree. I can be one or the other, and sometimes both. You do not believe me? I’m telling you truth.” “Just watch and you’ll see. Don’t turn away.” His mouth opened wide, wide as a scream. He gave a great groan and shivered and shook, And there grew up from his throat – I could hardly look – The shoot of a tree, a sapling with leaves. Before my eyes it grew and it grew, Trunk then and branches, an unfolding, a birth. Man became tree, rooted in earth.
From: My Heart Was a Tree by Michael Morpurgo © 2023. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Vocabulary
Explore
Hover for definitions!
eyed
shoot
placate
sapling
unfolding
rooted in earth
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
eyed
Explore
Find Read Talk
“Small talk for small minds,” he eyed me hard. “I can tell you a thing or two, about trees.” “Whatever you like, whatever you please.” I tried to placate him, to put him at ease.
Reveal Vocabulary
From: My Heart Was a Tree by Michael Morpurgo © 2023. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
eyed
Your turn
placate
Find the word or phrase Read the sentence Talk about it to a partner
shoot
sapling
unfolding
rooted in earth
Use your text
Explore
Vocabulary Check & Re-read
Explore
Green Man
I met a wild man in the wet wild woods, Who appeared to me from behind a tree. “Greetings my friend, what brings you this way?” “Just a walk in the woods. It’s a breezy sort of day.” “Small talk for small minds,” he eyed me hard. “I can tell you a thing or two, about trees.” “Whatever you like, whatever you please.” I tried to placate him, to put him at ease. “I seem like a man, wild man of the woods. But I’m also a tree, you have to believe it.” I thought, this man is weird, definitely different. He said: “You think I am weird, definitely different?”
Reveal Vocabulary
Explore
From: My Heart Was a Tree by Michael Morpurgo © 2023. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
He knew my word-thoughts, and that’s definitely weird. “What do you mean, you are also a tree?” He smiled as he spoke, as he told me his story, “You have nothing to fear, no need to worry.” “I’m Jack o’ the Green, they call me Green Man. I am sometimes man, sometimes tree. I can be one or the other, and sometimes both. You do not believe me? I’m telling you truth.” “Just watch and you’ll see. Don’t turn away.” His mouth opened wide, wide as a scream. He gave a great groan and shivered and shook, And there grew up from his throat – I could hardly look – The shoot of a tree, a sapling with leaves. Before my eyes it grew and it grew, Trunk then and branches, an unfolding, a birth. Man became tree, rooted in earth.
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...
“Small talk for small minds,” he eyed me hard. “I can tell you a thing or two, about trees.” “Whatever you like, whatever you please.” I tried to placate him, to put him at ease. “I seem like a man, wild man of the woods. But I’m also a tree, you have to believe it.”
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
“Small talk for small minds,” he eyed me hard.
“I can tell you a thing or two, about trees.”
“Whatever you like, whatever you please.”
I tried to placate him, to put him at ease.
“I seem like a man, wild man of the woods.
“But I’m also a tree, you have to believe it.”
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
“Small talk for small minds,” he eyed me hard. “I can tell you a thing or two, about trees.” “Whatever you like, whatever you please.” I tried to placate him, to put him at ease. “I seem like a man, wild man of the woods. But I’m also a tree, you have to believe it.”
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 impression do you get of the wild man the walker meets in the woods?
Be a detective and look for clues!
Teach
Let me show you
Reveal Text Marks
I met a wild man in the wet wild woods, Who appeared to me from behind a tree. “Greetings my friend, what brings you this way?” “Just a walk in the woods. It’s a breezy sort of day.”
A) What impression do you get of the wild man the walker meets in the woods?
Reveal Explainer
The walker in the woods called the Green Man a ‘wild man’ when he first appeared. This suggests that he had an ‘untamed look’ as if he had been living in the woods for some time. The words ‘Greetings my friend’ suggest that the wild man is friendly and approachable.
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 impression do you get of the wild man the walker meets in the woods?
B) What words or phrases does the poet use to show the theme of transformation or change?
Find the answers
Text mark
Explore
Acceptable Answers
Text Mark Evidence - small talk for small minds - he (wild man) eyed me hard
critical or judgemental of others
Text Mark Evidence I can tell you a thing or two about trees
boastful or proud of his knowledge
Text Mark Evidence I tried to placate him, to put him at ease
intimidating or unsettling
A) What impression do you get of the wild man the walker meets in the woods?
Text Mark Evidence this man is weird, definitely different
unusual or unique
magical or supernatural
Text Mark Evidence - he knew my word-thoughts - I am sometimes man, sometimes tree…I can be one or the other, and sometimes both - man became tree, rooted in earth
Click on the evidence to reveal acceptable answers
Text Mark Evidence you have nothing to fear, no need to worry
harmless and reassuring
Practise & Apply
Acceptable Answers
Text Mark Evidence - I seem like a man…but I’m also a tree - I am sometimes man, sometimes tree - I can be one or the other, and sometimes both
words about the wild man’s dual nature
Text Mark Evidence - just watch and you’ll see… don’t turn away - before my eyes it (sapling) grew and grew, trunk and then branches
encourages the walker to watch the transformation happen
B) What words or phrases does the poet use to show the theme of transformation or change?
Text Mark Evidence he opened his mouth wide…he gave a great groan and shivered and shook, and there grew up from his throat
uses actions to begin the transformation
Text Mark Evidence - the shoot of a tree, a sapling with leaves…trunk then and branches - man became tree, rooted in earth
the change into a tree
Click on the evidence to reveal acceptable answers
Text Mark Evidence an unfolding, a birth
words about rebirth
Practise & Apply
Quiz Time
Start
Picture Me
Which image is the best match for ‘sapling’?
Which One's Right?
I tried to placate him, to put him at ease. Which word is closest in meaning to ‘placate’?
A) challenge
B) reassure
D) defend
C) ignore
Fill the Gaps
shoot
unfolding
sapling
rooted
The of a tree, a with leaves. Before my eyes it grew and it grew, Trunk then and branches, an , a birth. Man became tree, in earth.
Click if correct
Discuss then check
Sequence Me
Put the following events from the poem in the correct order:
A) The wild man read the walker’s mind and voiced his thoughts.
B) The wild man turned into a tree, rooted in earth.
C) The wild man appeared to the walker in the woods.
D) The wild man said he was called the Green Man.
Click if correct
Check
Feedback: Who did what well?
FindRead Talk
EchoRead
ChoralRead
ReadingStrategy
Answers & Text Marks
Other...
To be a book lover, you could...
read every day.
Reveal
Even 15 minutes a day can make a big difference!
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.
shoot
sapling
unfolding
rooted