Owl and Pussycat - Learning Sequence

The learning sequence provides a comprehensive unit overview for exploring the poem "The Owl and the Pussycat" over six weeks. In the first week, students delve into the initial verse, employing 'word detective' skills to decipher unfamiliar vocabulary and establish correct meanings, which may be compiled into a glossary. They discuss the narrative and characters, pondering the items the Owl and Pussycat took on their journey and contemplating alternatives with justifications. Students also create thought bubbles for the characters. As they progress to the next verse in the following weeks, they continue to expand their vocabulary, imagining the sights encountered on the journey, using adjectives, expanded noun phrases, and verbs to vividly describe these elements. They construct sentences using a grid to aid in sentence formation, enhancing these with conjunctions, and engaging in the iterative process of recording, evaluating, redrafting, and proofreading their work.

By the third week, students' creativity is sparked by the discovery of a message in a bottle, leading to writing exercises where they compose a return message and express the characters' emotions as they approach an island. They use illustrations to aid in describing the island and the mythical Bong-tree, drawing inspiration from Edward Lear's own artwork. In the final weeks, students review the entire poem, focusing on its rhyme and rhythmic patterns, and use a map or timeline to recount the story's sequence. They work on performance skills, culminating in a recitation and evaluation of their performance. The unit extends beyond the poem, encouraging students to predict future adventures, explore further verses, and compare them with the original poem. They also research Edward Lear, developing a toolkit for inquiry, crafting fact files, and honing their ability to write exclamatory sentences. The sequence concludes with a review and redrafting of their work, ensuring a thorough understanding and appreciation of Lear's poetry.