Christmas Poetry Unit - Lesson 1 - Once there was a snowman PowerPoint

The Christmas Poetry Unit's first lesson is an engaging exploration of poetic elements through the festive lens of a Christmas-themed poem, "Once There Was a Snowman". The lesson is structured to encourage students to delve into the world of poetry, prompting them to think about and discuss various poems that embody the spirit of Christmas. Students are introduced to key poetic techniques such as alliteration, personification, imagery, and rhyme, equipping them with the analytical tools needed to dissect and appreciate poetry. The objective is not only to read and enjoy these poems but also to learn how to write about them with detail and confidence, a crucial skill for English proficiency, especially at the GCSE level.

Through the whimsical narrative of a snowman who longs to come inside from the cold, students are invited to examine the use of personification—attributing human qualities to inanimate objects or concepts—as seen in the snowman's desires and interaction with the North Wind. The lesson guides students through the analysis of the poem's rhyme scheme, rhythm, and the mood it creates, distinguishing between the tone set by the author and the mood experienced by the reader. The lesson concludes with creative exercises where students practice using personification in their writing and a plenary task that challenges them to unscramble anagrams and define poetic terms, reinforcing their understanding of the language of poetry.