Poetry

On 12th June 1940, Jack Low was a 21 year-old Scottish soldier with the Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders. He was also part of the 21,000-strong 51st Highland Division who that morning had been forced to surrender to the Germans at St. Valery-en-Caux in France. Marched and then put on cattle trucks to POW camps in […]

Davy Steele and the Battlefield Band’s haunting song ‘The Beaches of St. Valery’ is at once a hymn to soldiers and heartfelt tribute to Davy’s father and uncle who were involved in the last stand at St. Valery-en-Caux. Listen to this achingly moving song here. Questions are included to help young learners / home-schoolers reflect […]

Visual Display of War Poems Challenge. Learners are challenged to discuss two war poems, ‘In Flanders’ Fields’ by John McCrae and ‘Dulce Est Decorum Est’ by Wilfred Owen, and then use their thoughts to create a visual display or pictorial representation of the poems that would inform an audience about war. Teacher’s notes and students’ notes […]

Poetry Challenge (Early/First Level). Learners are challenged to use their senses both in a local context e.g. nursery or school garden and a variety of audio-visual stimuli to create a poem which represents their garden, the poppy as a flower, poppy fields or for older children, the poppy as a symbol of remembrance. Teacher’s notes and […]

Poetry Challenge (Second Level). Learners are challenged to research published works and then create own book or collection. This challenge provides learners with the opportunity to use IT skills, work collaboratively and share their findings. Teacher’s notes and students’ notes are combined into one easy to download document which is available as a Word or […]

Copy of the poem ‘In Flanders Fields’ by John McCrae.

Scottish War Poets Challenge and ‘In Flanders’ Fields’ Challenge. Learners are challenged to read and research Scottish War poets and learn about the poem ‘In Flanders’ Fields’ by John McCrae. They are also challenged to use their research to create a biographical piece about one of the poets. Learners are also encouraged to use their imagination and knowledge […]

Assembly PowerPoint presentation highlighting the role of poetry in remembrance.

Copy of the poem ‘Dulce et Decorum Est’ by First World War poet Wilfred Owen.