Reading As WritersReading As Writers

POETRYPOETRY

As effective readers, we need to:

• Read carefully and with understanding• Be able to visualize (or picture) what we are

reading• Think about what we could ‘borrow’ or use to

improve our own writing.

“To read is to fly: it is to soar to a point of vantage which gives a view over wide terrains of history, human variety, ideas, shared experience and the fruits of many inquiries.” 

TASK:

• Use our close reading skills to examine and discuss ‘Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening’ by Robert Frost.

• Are there any questions that we need to ask about the poem?

Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening

Whose woods these are I think I know.

His house is in the village, though;

He will not see me stopping here

To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer

To stop without a farmhouse near

Between the woods and frozen lake

The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake

To ask if there is some mistake.

The only other sound's the sweep

Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark, and deep,

But I have promises to keep,

And miles to go before I sleep,

And miles to go before I sleep.

Robert Frost

TASK:Choose your favourite line(s) from the poem and write it in the middle of your snowflake.•What does this line mean? Write it on one the lines.•What does this line make you think of? Write it on another line.•What mood do you think the poet has created here? Write it on another line.•Which word(s) do you think are most effective/important and why? Write it on another line.•What colours do you visualise, (picture) and why? Write it

on another line.•What do you think Robert Frost’s message to the reader

might be – what does he want us to think about and why?

Write it on another line.

Creating A Snowstorm!

• Using the blue-tak, you can now choose where to display your snowflake in the classroom.

• As you do so, you will need to give a personal comment about the poem in as much detail as you can.

• Did you enjoy the poem? Did you

have a favourite part? JUSTIFY!

What Ideas Can You Remember From The Poem?• How did Robert Frost help you to imagine

his vision of a snowy wood?

• What could you Develop, Adapt or Borrow?

DAB Robert Frost’s ideas all over your writing.

TASK: using the iPads, you will need to quickly find a picture of a snowy wood that fits with your visualisation of the poem.

SAVE THIS PHOTO.

TASK: Type Draw App• Using the Type Draw app on the iPads, we are

going to practise our descriptive writing skills.

• Think about how Robert Frost helped you to visualise his woods and then use these ideas to DAB on your work.

• Remember to add similes and WOW • words, and to consider the

five senses.

HomeworkPrepare for the ‘Big Writing’ task: ‘Describe, in detail, a wood in the day time and then in the night time.’

•You may want to bring in images.

•What WOW words/similes will you use?

•What connectives/openers could you include to make your description flow in an engaging way?

•Do you need to revise any punctuation or spelling words?

•Remember to look back at your targets after the Eighth Wonder and Abandoned description tasks and the DIRTy work you completed to your new higher standard.

You should be writing like a reader. How will you help your reader to imagine your wood? They need to be able to experience your idea in vivid and clear detail.