Poem 4: Geography Lesson

Which of the following lines are a rhyme?

• known from maps/ longed to be

• warm blue sea/ longed to be

• narrow and grey/ he could see

Which of the following lines is an image?

• known from maps

• narrow and grey

• sweet-scented jasmine

• why he never left

"And green leaves burning on an orange tree."

What kind of impression does this create of the place?

• Cold and dull

• Colourless and grey

• Vibrant and tropical

• far away

He spoke of the lands he longed to visit,

Where it was never drab or cold.

I couldn't understand why he never left,

And shook off the school's stranglehold.

What does this tell you about the place where the teacher lives? Choose all that apply.

• It is an exciting place, full of warmth

• It is a cold, dull place

• It is a scary place

• It is a suffocating place

Then halfway through his final term

He took ill and never returned,

What had happened to the teacher?

• He ran away to his dream place

• He travelled the world

• He had fallen sick and passed away

• He did not want to return to school

The maps were redrawn on the classroom wall;

His name was forgotten, it faded away.

What does this tell us about the school experience? Choose all that apply.

• School life is exciting.

• In school, there are changes.

• In school, students do not remember their teachers.

• Classrooms are a comforting place.

Which of the following pairs is a rhyme?

• never returned/ orange trees burned.

• it faded away/ knew he taught

• green leaves burn/ glass-clear and blue

• taught me to love/ never knew.

What do you think is the lesson his geography teacher has taught him?

• To stay in his comfort zone.

• To become a teacher.

• To take risk and travel whenever it is possible.

• To be kind to others.

What feelings do you have about the teacher? Click all that apply.

• I am happy for him because he got to travel to his dream place.

• I feel sorry for him because he never got to travel.

• I feel excited.

• I feel disappointed for the teacher.