Over the Rainbow

1. Over the Rainbow Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high, There’s a land that I heard of, once in a lullaby*, Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue, And the dreams that you dare to dream, really do come true. Someday I’ll wish upon a star and wake up where the clouds are far behind me,

2. Where troubles melt like lemon drops, Away above the chimney tops*, that’s where you’ll find me, Somewhere over the rainbow, blue birds fly, Birds fly over the rainbow, why then, 10 Oh, why can’t I? Vocabulary *lullaby - a song sung to young children at bedtime *chimney tops – a structure on top of the roofs of houses

3. Think about rainbows. When do we usually see rainbows? How do you feel after seeing a rainbow? ____________________________________ After the rain, when the sun is shining… I feel… 1. In this song the rainbow is being used as a metaphor. What do you think the rainbow represents? __________________________ A happy place with no problems 2. In line 5, the word ‘clouds’ is another metaphor. What do you think the clouds are? _________________ problems/ worries

4. 3. In line 7, the poet uses a simile: ‘Where troubles melt like lemon drops’ What do you think this means? a. The poet likes to eat lemon sweets. b. The poet’s problems go away. c. The sweets melt in the sun. d. The poet feels worried.

5. 4. When do you think the poet first heard a song about rainbows and dreams coming true? a. When he saw a rainbow. • When it was raining. • When the sky was blue. d. When he was a child.

6. Which would be the best alternative title for the song? a. Rainbows Are Beautiful b. Birds Can Fly c. No More Troubles d. Blue Skies X

7. In some countries, when people ‘wish upon a star’ they think their wishes will come true. What do people in Hong Kong like to wish on?

8. I’ll Stand By You Carrie Underwood

9. Oh, why you look so sad? Tears are in your eyes Come on and come to me now. Don’t be ashamed to cry, let me see you through ‘Cause I’ve seen the dark side too. When the night falls on you, you don’t know what to do, Nothing you confess could make me love you less I’ll stand by you, I’ll stand by you, I won’t let nobody hurt you, I’ll stand by you.

10. So, if you’re mad get mad, don’t hold it all inside, Come on and talk to me now And hey, what you got to hide? I get angry too But I’m a lot like you. When you’re standing at the crossroads, don’t know which path to choose, Let me come along, 'cause even if you’re wrong I’ll stand by you, I’ll stand by you, I won’t let nobody hurt you, I’ll stand by you.

11. Take me in into your darkest hour, and I’ll never desert you. I’ll stand by you. And when, when the night falls on you baby, you’re feeling all alone, You won’t be on your own, I’ll stand by you. I’ll stand by you, won’t let nobody hurt you. I’ll stand by you Take me in into our darkest hour and I’ll never desert you I’ll stand by you. ooooh, I’ll stand by you. I’ll stand by you. Carrie Underwood

12. Now answer these questions about the song. • What do you think the title,” I’ll Stand by You” means? ____________________________________ • In this song, the writer is talking to someone who feels unhappy. Find 3 words in the song which tell us this. a) __________ b) __________ c) __________ I’ll support / help / look after you. sad tears cry

13. Don’t hold it all inside. 3. She advises her friend not to hide her feelings. Which words tell us this? ______________________________________ 4. What do you think “When you’re standing at the crossroads” means? _______________________________________ 5. How do you think people feel in their ‘darkest hour’? _______________________________________ 6. Do you think the writer of the song is a good friend? Give reasons for your answer. _____________________________________ You need to make a decision / choose what todo. Very sad/depressed. [open answer]

14. war Look at the pictures below. What is the topic of the pictures? ______________ Why do people fight wars? ________________ ______________________________________ To invade another country/ conflict over boundaries.

15. How wars begin. 1. What does Tom want to know? _____________________________ 2. Why does Mrs. Lee think Britain and the U.S. is a bad example to answer her son’s question? _____________________________ 3. Were Britain and the U.S. friends in the past? _____________________________ Britain and the USA are friends. No.

16. She says he is giving their son wrong answers. 4. Why does Mr. Lee shout at his wife? ___________________________________ 5. What does Mrs. Lee say about her husband’s friends? ___________________________________ 6. At the end of the story, why doesn’t Tom need an answer to his question any more? ___________________________________ ___________________________________ They are stupid. His parents have shown him, through their argument, how wars begin.

17. How long? How long before this world will be A safer place for you and me? How long before all wars will cease? How long before there’s lasting peace? How long before we speak no more 5 Of tanks and guns and nuclear war? How long before we see the birth Of true respect for Mother Earth? How long before we don’t need chains, And tolerance and patience reign? 10

18. How long before we see the light, And justice rules instead of might? How long before there’s no more hate? How long before it is too late? How long before humanity Can live in peace and harmony? How long before we all will see A world where everyone is free? How long before all this will be? It’s up to you! It’s up to me!

19. Now answer these questions on the poem. war 1. In this poem, the writer wants to see no more ____ and he wants everyone in the world to live in _______ . 2. Who does he think has the responsibility to make this happen? a) The reader b) The poet c) Everybody peace

20. 3. There is a lot of rhyme in the poem, e.g. ‘more’ and ‘war’. Find two more pairs of rhyming words. (any 2) a)________________________ b)________________________ ________________________ 4. Why do you think the poet repeats the words ‘How long’ so many times? ____________________________________________________________________ be and me light and might cease and peace hate and late birth and earth see and free We may need to wait a long time before there is peace in the world.

21. 5. Most of this poem is about war and the need for peace in the world. However, stanza 4 mentions another problem in the world today. What is that problem? ______________________________________________________________ People don’t respect the earth, so there is pollution and other environmental problems.

22. One Question from a Bullet I want to give up being a bullet I’ve been a bullet too long. I want to be an innocent coin In the hand of a child And be squeezed through the slot 5 Of a chewing gum machine. I want to give up being a bullet I’ve been a bullet too long.

23. I want to be a good luck seed Doing nothing in somebody’s pocket. 10 Or some ordinary little stone On the way to becoming an earring. Or just lying there unknown Among a crowd of other ordinary stones. I want to give up being a bullet 15 I’ve been a bullet too long. The question is Can you give up being a killer?

24. Now answer these questions on the poem. 1. The writer of this poem uses personification and describes the bullet as if it was a person. Why do you think he does this? ______________________________________ ______________________________________2. Why do you think the bullet says “I’ve been a bullet too long?” a) The bullet is too old. b) It is bored of being a bullet. c) It has killed too many people. It makes the poem more direct and so the message is clearer.

25. a coin a seed a stone 3. Name 3 things the bullet would rather be. i ii iii Why do you think it wants to be these things? a) It wants to eat chewing gum. b) It doesn’t want to hurt anybody. c) It wants to have good luck.

26. A gun/ the person who fired the gun/ the manufacturer of the gun/ the president of a country. 4. What or who do you think the word “you” refers to in the last line? _________________________________________ _________________________________________ _________________________________________ 5. Another technique used in the poem is repetition. Why do you think the poet keeps repeating “I want to give up being a bullet I’ve been a bullet too long.” ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ To emphasise that the bullet has killed so many people and wants to stop.

27. Colour of my Dreams I’m a really rotten reader, The worst in all the class, The sort of rotten reader That makes you want to laugh. I’m last in all the reading tests, 5 My score’s not on the page, And when I read to my teacher She gets in such a rage.

28. They say that I’m dyslexic, (That’s a word they’ve just found out) 10 But when I get some plasticine I know what that’s about. I make these scary monsters, I draw these secret lands, And get my hair all sticky 15 And paint on both my hands.

29. I paint these lovely pictures In thick green drippy paint That gets all on the carpet And makes the cleaners faint. 20 They give me diagnostic tests, They try out reading schemes, But none of them will ever know The colour of my dreams.

30. Now answer these questions on the poem. 1. The writer is good at _____________. a) phonics b) art and craft c) reading 2. When he reads, his teacher _________________. a) wants to laugh b) wants to draw a picture c) gets very angry

31. 3. The writer has problems _______________. a) reading words b) building models c) painting pictures 4. His pictures ___________. a) are covered in thick paint b) make the cleaners faint c) are painted on the carpet 5. Can you guess the meaning of ‘the colour of my dreams’? a) The writer has a lot of tests. b) The writer reads different kinds of books. c) The writer has a good imagination.

32. Schooldays STORY

33. Now answer these questions. 1. Why was Alice worried about her son? a) He didn’t do his homework. b) He slept too much. c) He wasn’t happy. d) He was often late for school. 2.Why didn’t John want to go to school? a) It was a holiday. b) He was ill. c) He was tired d) He didn’t like school.

34. 3. What does John do at the school? a) He is a teacher. b) He is the principal. c) He is a student. d) He is a bully. 4. How did you feel when you learnt that John was the principal?__________ 5. If you were John, would you go to school or stay in bed? Give reasons for your answer. ________________ surprised ( open answer)

35. “I don’t want to go to school” Distracted the mother said to her boy “Do you try to upset and perplex and annoy? Now, give me four reasons – and don’t play the fool – Why you shouldn’t get up and get ready for school.” Her son replied slowly, “Well, mother you see, 5 I can’t stand the teachers and they detest me, And there isn’t a boy or a girl in the place That I like or, in turn, that delights in my face.”

36. “And I’ll give you two reasons,” she said, “why you ought Get yourself off to school before you get caught, Because, first, you are forty and, next, you young fool, It’s your job to be there. You’re the head of the school!” 1. Which do you prefer, the story or the poem? Why?_______________ (open answer)

37. 2. There are some differences in the details of the two versions. How many can you find? What are they? _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ 4. Story: The principal is 35. The teachers bully him. Poem: The principal is 40. The teachers hate him. He doesn’t love the teachers. He doesn’t love the students.

38. 3. In stanza 2, find two words/phrases which mean hate. a) ________ b) _______________ 4. In stanza 1, boy rhymes with annoy. Can you find two more pairs of rhyming words? a)___________________________ b)___________________________ can’t stand detest fool and school see and me place and face ought and caught

39. 5. Imagine you are the principal. Answer the following questions which your mother asks. Do you like the teachers at your school? Why? _____________________________________ Do the teachers like you? Why? _____________________________________ Do you like the students? Why? _____________________________________ Do the students like you? Why? _____________________________________

40. Schoolitis You haven’t got a cough, You haven’t got mumps, You haven’t got a chill Or any funny lumps. You haven’t got tummy-ache, 5 You haven’t got a fever, You haven’t got a runny nose Or chicken-pox either. You don’t look a ruin, You don’t look a wreck, 10

41. You haven’t got toothache Or a pain in the neck. You’re as fit as a fiddle, You’re sound as a bell, In fact I’ve never ever 15 Seen you looking so well! You don’t fool me, I’m no fool. Now get out of bed AND OFF TO SCHOOL! 20

42. 1. Who do you think is the person who doesn’t want to go to school? ____________________________________ 2. Who do you think is telling this person to go to school? ____________________________________ a child mother

43. 3. There are lots of rhyming words in this poem, e.g. mumps and lumps. Can you find 2 more pairs of rhyming words? a) _____________________________ b) _____________________________ 4. ‘You’re as fit as a fiddle’ is a simile. Can you find another simile? __________________________ fever and either bell and well wreck and neck fool and school sound as a bell

44. Now finish the following similes. a) My brother is as tall as _______________________ b) My mother is as beautiful as ___________________ c) That dress is as white as ___________________ 5. Why do you think he/she doesn’t want to go to school? ________________________________ (open answer)

45. toothache, flu, runny nose, cold, ill, tummyache, cough, chill, lumps, fever, pain, mumps

46. POEM Emotional Poetry Choose a human emotion such as fear, hate, sadness, happiness or surprise. Write down all the words you can think of about this emotion in the box below.

47. Now read the following examples of emotional poetry. Fear Fear is black. It tastes like cold congee. It smells mouldy and damp. Fear looks like a dark lonely street. It sounds like the wind howling at night. Fear is horrible.

48. Happiness Happiness is bright yellow. It tastes of fresh lemons. Happiness is the smell of freshly baked bread Or a garden full of flowers. Happiness sounds like laughing and singing. Happiness is fun.

49. Both these poems use the senses to describe the emotion. Now you choose an emotion and write a poem that answers these questions. • What colour is the emotion? • What does it taste like? • What does it smell like? • What does it look like? • What does it sound like?

50. Onomatopoeia • Onomatopoeia is a difficult word for a very simple idea. It means when a word sounds like the noise of the thing or action it is describing. Look at these examples: • The bees buzzedaround the flowers. • I heard a loud bangwhen the man fired his gun. • The man dived into the swimming pool with a splash.