Explore a Poem, Write a Story: The Listeners by Walter de la Mare.
What's included
1 live meeting
55 mins in-class hoursAssessment
Informal assessment during classClass Experience
US Grade 5 - 7
'The Listeners' by Walter de la Mare is a fascinating poem, often studied in schools. It’s a poem that raises more questions than it answers and so provides some exciting opportunities to engage our imaginations and decide what we think is really happening. In this one-time class, the poem will be read aloud with students following. The poem will be on the screen but a printout of the poem will be attached with class supplies and available on enrolment. It’s will be useful for students to have the printout so that they can make notes on it, highlight, etc. Students without copies will be able to participate with no problem, though. After I’ve read it aloud, we’ll take a more in-depth look at the poem. We’ll explore the rhythm, rhyme, subject matter, imagery, mood, etc and how the poet has created the atmosphere. The poem makes us ask some interesting questions and we’ll talk about our opinions on who we think the Listeners are, and who the traveller could be. After that, students will be able to use some of the ideas that they’ve explored and the descriptive techniques and will write a short story based on the poem; covering who they think the main characters are and what has happened, or will happen next. If time allows, students will be encouraged to share their writing in class, but if they haven’t yet finished or prefer not to read their work, there is no pressure to do so. If they like, students may upload their work to the class afterwards, or send it directly to me, but they don’t have to share at all if they would rather not.
Learning Goals
Students will:
Analyse a poem and look at techniques, such as imagery, rhythm, etc.
Be able to form an opinion from the text.
Be able to use their ideas in a creative writing piece.
Use what they’ve learned of imagery, atmosphere etc to write descriptively.
Other Details
Parental Guidance
The subject matter is appropriate for a pre-teen reader, although the discussion on who the Listeners are and what happened to them may include the possibility of them being ghosts or of character deaths. Students will need to be ready to look at some unfamiliar or ‘old-fashioned’ language and explore what it means.
Supply List
A printout of the poem is available on enrollment and is helpful to have ready for class.
1 file available upon enrollment
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Teacher expertise and credentials
Writing is my passion and as well as majoring in English at university, along with Theatre Arts, I've almost 20 years of experience in teaching English in primary schools. Over those years, I have worked regularly with groups of children specifically on English writing skills and teaching creative writing online.
Exploring the different aspects of poetry and producing a piece of creative writing based on the poem is something that I have worked with in various classes and I enjoy seeing the various ways that students interpret the poem and the ideas they produce.
Reviews
Live One-Time Class
$13
per classMeets once
55 min
Live video meetings
Ages: 10-13
1-6 learners per class