https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/Teachallenjoy

Fact Box 1:

Summer temperatures in the Arctic

remain cool, hovering around zero in

many places, from June through

September.

During the Arctic winter, from

December to March, most areas in

the Arctic have an average daily

temperature which is less than -20°C.

A lot of fish, birds, geese and many

other animals migrate (move away)

before the winter because it would be

too cold for them. They come back

when the weather warms up again.

Snow Fox

By Liz Brownlee

In the Arctic summerthe cloud-grey foxlistens for preyin the low shrubs and rocks

grizzled and stillas the permafrost groundhis senses vividwith scent and sound

when lemmings are hiddenunder the snowthe wild geese are flownand biting winds blow

a horizon-less whiteshrouds the Arctic foxin clouds of snow furfrom tail-tip to socks

he haunts frozen seaas thin as the airhoping for scrapsmissed by polar bear

or curls in his tailfrom the star-cold whitechewing on hungerthrough long Arctic nightand waits for spring sunand pale Arctic dayto melt tundra snowand his white coat away

Read Snow Fox and Fact Box 1 and answer the questions.

1. Why is it easy for the fox to hunt in the summer months?

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. Permafrost means “any ground that remains completely frozen for at least two years straight.” Which two real words

combined to make the word “permafrost”? Tick one.

Permanent and roast

Polar and frost

Permanent and frost

Permission and frost

Permitted and frost

3. Why have the wild geese flown?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. Circle the correct option for each sentence:

At the start of the poem the fox is in the Arctic Summer/Arctic Winter. At the end of the poem, the season has changed to the Arctic

Summer/Arctic Winter.

5. In summer, what colour is the fox’s coat?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6. In winter, what colour is the fox’s coat?

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

7. What will happen to the fox’s coat in spring?

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

8. Find and copy the simile in stanza 5.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

9. Re-read the line, “He haunts frozen sea”

In this line, the poet is comparing the fox to something else – what?

Why is this a good (effective) comparison?

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Remember – a haiku is a poem that follows the structure below:

• Line 1 - 5 syllables

• Line 2 - 7 syllables

• Line 3 - 5 syllables

• REMINDER - a syllable is the number of ‘beats’ or ‘claps’ in a word e.g.

hare = 1 syllable

Polar = 2 syllables pol ar

Explorer = 3 syllables ex plor er

Task 1

Read the haikus and guess which animals they are describing

Padding over iceFluffy white hunter of deathMother of life

Stealthily creepingEyes dark stars in the white nightThick tail swishing lies

Hefty weight creakingHungry tusks nimbly dancingWrinkly flippers dry

Walrus

Arctic Fox

Polar Bear

by Teachallenjoy

Crowned with winter treesShadows with mane of white snow Search through bright powder

Horns smiling wide inDense dark fur, shy noses sniffWhile heavy heads drop

Bounding high off thinFeet, dusty ears surrenderBall of fur quivers.

Muskox

Arctic Hare

Reindeer

by Teachallenjoy

by Teachallenjoy

Have a go at writing your own haikus about these animals or find your own pictures to write about.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5 syllables7 syllables5 syllables

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5 syllables7 syllables5 syllables

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5 syllables7 syllables5 syllables

Cinquains were invented by Adelaide Crapsey in 1915. Inspired by Haiku and Tanka, they generally follow rules such as this:

• Line 1: Noun (2 syllables)

• Line 2: Description of Noun (4 syllables)

• Line 3: Action (6 syllables)

• Line 4 Feeling or Effect (8 syllables)

• Line 5: Synonym of the initial noun (2 syllables)

• REMINDER – a synonym is a word that has a similar meaning to another e.g. happy and joyful

Task 1

Read the cinquains and see if they follow the pattern that is described above. Can you underline the syllables in the words?

IcebergTowering, whiteDrifting, creaks, glisteningTaste of glacier, mirror sunMountain

GlacierAncient, ruggedNibbling, deliveringRocks like a sleeping snake, silentRiver

by Teachallenjoy

by Teachallenjoy

NarwhalGraceful, magicRolling, meanderingThrough chilling water, spiral toothPorpoise

WinterClear skies, long darkEncompassing, rulingAround, within, below, aboveNorth Night

by Teachallenjoy

by Teachallenjoy

Now have a go at writing your own cinquain. You can use one of my pictures or choose your own from the internet.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Line 1: Noun (2 syllables)

Line 2: Description of Noun (4 syllables)

Line 3: Action (6 syllables)

Line 4 Feeling or Effect (8 syllables)

Line 5: Synonym of the initial noun (2 syllables)

• An Etheree consists of 10 lines, of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 syllables.

• You can have a reversed Etheree starting with 10 syllables.

• Or a double Etheree starting from 1 to 10 to 1 again.

• As the lines grow longer the poem slows down, or if shorter it speeds

up.

ArcticMounds and crumbs.White frosting,the birthday cakeicing we devourbitter sweet nibbles ofthe shrinking life source we love.One by one the candles will goout. Will pictures be all that is left?Who will sacrifice their birthday cake treat?

by Teachallenjoy

Blackand white.Arctic Summersand winters arenot this simple theyare a rainbow of light.The blue haze of winter darkstreaked with sunset stains and dawn scars.Cosy rooms of candle lit gold watchnights bright with enchanted fairy rivers.Summer arrives with turquoise ocean skies;the white watchful sun always driftingbouncing above the frosted edge.Soft shadows play hide and seek;cliffs of grey ice crumbledark blue sea eats up the white statues.The goldeneye ofnight.

Arctic Day and Night

A double Etheree poem

by Teachallenjoy

Have a go at writing your own Etheree poem. You could choose to do a forwards one from 1 – 10 syllables; a backwards one from 10 – 1 syllables or challenge yourself to write a double Etheree poem from 1 – 10 – 1 syllables. I can’t wait to read them. There are some pictures on the next slide that you can use as inspiration if you would like to.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Friday 15th

January

Picture News

Your Task

Choose one of the following options:

1. Write a paragraph explaining why you own a pet and how it helps you. Think about the responsibilities that you might have but also all the fun things that you get to do with your pet. How does your pet help other people in your family too?

If you don’t own a pet, you could write a paragraph explaining why you would/wouldn’t like a pet.

2. Write a letter to an animal charity such as the RSPCA or a local Cats/Dogs Protection centre to thank them for the work that they do. Use the following structure:

▪ Why are you writing? ▪ What do you admire or like about their work? ▪ Tell them about your favourite pet and why you like it. ▪ Share any ideas, suggestions or hopes you have for the future.

You could actually send your letter and maybe even receive a response.