Volcanic Poetry at Shire Oak Primary - with James Nash

 

Volcanic poetry from Year 3

It was a Thursday afternoon assembly at Shire Oak Primary School and Year 3 were erupting. With excitement. They had been working with local writer and poet James Nash and were there to share their brilliant poetry about volcanoes with Years 2 and 6 and many of their parents. It was a proud moment for all.

It all began on an afternoon earlier in the week when James introduced himself to the class, finding out what they knew about the topic and outlining what they were going to do. After reading them some of his own poems or couplets to start the lava flowing, he led an ‘ideas’ session. This helped the seven/eight-year-olds to gather their first thoughts and suggestions. He posed them a series of questions which they answered in the first person as if they were a volcano. The next session was all about editing and redrafting and working their first versions into a draft. They thought about a poem’s 'shape' in terms of verses and line length, and how to make an impact with their opening lines.

 

‘I am volcano and I don’t care’

‘I am a lion, red blood drips from my teeth’

And,

‘I just want to kick my legs’.

 

Mr Martin, Year 3 teacher, had this to say about the children’s responses to the activity: ‘It gave them purpose, and an outcome they could reach towards’. Mrs Strange, classroom support for Year 3, was able to add, ‘The writing ignited their imagination. They accessed the poetry very quickly’.

They shared their writing with each other, working on their drafts and paying particular attention to their forthcoming performance. Even the shyest found a confident voice and it was clear that Year 3 were very busy and engaged. And they had fun.

One said, ’It was really good working with a poet who was there to give advice’. And another said,’ I loved gathering my ideas for my writing and then learning how to make that into a poem’.

So here they were in front of a live audience, some reading a few lines from their writing, others sharing the whole poem. One parent remarked that it was striking how confident and audible they were, and another said how enthused they had become about writing poems. Amongst the many hugely positive comments were, ‘I am so impressed by the use of language – of explosive language. And the references to Pompeii too!’ and ‘ Very impressive how learning about a science topic can lead to such creative work, while still meeting curriculum requirements’.

It was left to headteacher, Ms Jane Devane, to sum up the whole experience. ‘As always, it’s a joyous highlight to the year when our Year 3 children work with James and produce such wonderful poems. They learn such a lot from working with a real poet, and having a live audience helps them shape their words with purpose and deliver with confidence’.

Headingley LitFest is very grateful once again for support for this project from the Area Management Committee of Leeds City Council and the local councillors who allocate the grant.