Teaching notes and ideas- short version
Name of
resource:
EAL Nexus
To a Mouse
Age group(s)
Subject(s)
7 to 11
English
Topic
Language Level
Poetry
Intermediate, Advanced
Description of resource
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PowerPoint presentation of the poem
Comprehension text explaining the meaning of the poem
Comprehension activities
Story sorting activity
Poem vocabulary match
Definitions match
Preparation needed
You will need:
 a smart board to display the PowerPoint presentation of the poem
 copies of all sheets per learner/pair of learners.
You will need to:
 use the PowerPoint presentation to display the poem and discuss the language
used in it
 print, laminate if required, and cut up Story sorting activity and Definitions
match.
Curriculum objectives
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To build key vocabulary related to the poem ‘To a Mouse’
To recognise old Scots language
To examine and interpret poetry
To read a text and complete activities based on it
 To work collaboratively in small groups or pairs
Language/Literacy objectives
Functions
Structures
This project and its actions were made possible due to co-financing by the European Fund for the Integration of Third-Country Nationals
© British Council 2015
EAL Nexus
Defining
 It means …
Recounting
 The mouse was …
 He was born … He worked …
Summarising
 The poem is about …
Discussing
 I think this is the first section.
 Does … mean …?
Vocabulary
 Scots language, for example sleekit, snell, foggage
 Vocabulary definitions linked to the text.
This resource could be used:
 whole class
 as differentiation within class
 one to one or small group
Ideas for using the resource
What to do
 Show the PowerPoint presentation of the poem to the whole class or group to
introduce new vocabulary to the learners.
 Print the presentation and give each verse to a small group or pair so that they
can discuss their thoughts on the meaning of the Scots language in the poem.
 The poem vocabulary match can be carried out individually or in a pair.
 The comprehension text can be used to explain the meaning of the poem to the
learners.
 The story sorting activity is a collaborative activity and should be used after
reading the text.
 The definitions match should be used as a collaborative activity and
completed prior to completing the comprehension activities.
 The comprehension activities are a scaffold for writing and the previous
activities should have provided a good grounding for completing this.
Other ideas for making the best use of this resource
 The vocabulary match game could be used as a barrier game where one pupil
has the words and the other has the definitions and they have to find the
matching pair.
This project and its actions were made possible due to co-financing by the European Fund for the Integration of Third-Country Nationals
© British Council 2015
EAL Nexus
 Learners could be asked to retell or rewrite the story of ‘To a Mouse’ in their
own words or in their first language.
 The comprehension text or parts of it could be introduced as a dictogloss
activity.
 Once the learners have reviewed the poem and have reached a fairly good
level of understanding, they could try to order the poem or they could try to
rewrite the poem in standard English.
 Opportunity could be given to learners to speak about the activities in first
language.
Possible extension activities
 Linking in to studying Robert Burns and Scotland.
 The learners could research another famous Robert Burns poem and learn to
recite it.
 The learners could research other famous Scots.
 Learners could discuss famous poems and poets from their home countries and
share this with the class.
This project and its actions were made possible due to co-financing by the European Fund for the Integration of Third-Country Nationals
© British Council 2015