Inspired by: How Dinosaurs Really Work - Week 4

In a captivating week of poetry exploration, students delve into the fantastical realm of Lewis Carroll's 'The Jabberwocky', a poem celebrated for its whimsical language and vivid imagery. The objective is to commit a broader spectrum of poetry to memory, and to understand the nuances of writing for specific audiences and purposes. By drawing inspiration from Carroll's work, students are encouraged to select appropriate forms and use similar writings as models for their own creative expression. The intriguing premise posited is that dinosaurs may have been outcompeted by mythical creatures such as the Jabberwocky, sparking the imagination of the class.

Students are tasked with reading 'The Jabberwocky' and engaging in a linguistic treasure hunt to decipher the meanings behind Carroll's delightful nonsense words. They will delve into the imagery used to bring the fearsome Jabberwocky to life, sketching and labelling their own interpretations based on the poem's descriptions. To enrich their understanding, they will watch a performance of the poem by Brian Blessed, and then collaborate to create a class performance, infusing it with their unique flair. Furthermore, they will craft their own versions of the poem, drawing on factual information about dinosaurs, blending reality with fantasy. In the second activity, students will refine their grammatical skills by experimenting with alternative relative clauses, such as 'with frenzied face', to describe the Jabberwocky, discussing the impact of these changes and enhancing their understanding of how language choices can transform a piece of writing.