Welcome to the English department. We are very excited to meet you when you start Year 7 in September. But, over the Summer we thought you might enjoy some creative activities which you can tell us about when we meet you the Autumn term. At St Gregory’s we all love to read and we are really looking forward to learning about some of the books/stories/ poems/magazines/comics and everything else that you love to read. Perhaps you could take some photographs of an unusual place that you have been found reading over this Summer holiday? Or maybe you will write some poetry and learn it off by heart, to remember forever! Or you might decide to design your characters, create a concertina book, or a miniature book. Just have a look at the different slides on this document and click on the web links to find our more.Have a wonderful summer.

Poetry (slides 2-8) Summer reading challenge (slide 9)

I am a reader I am creative (slide 10 + 12)

Learn a poem that YOU have written by heart.

Write your own poem about how you are changing.

file:///H:/Downloads/British-Library-National-Writing-Day-Resource-2021.pdf

Get involved with the Silly Squad Summer reading Challenge.https://summerreadingchallenge.org.uk/news/general/silly-squad-coming-soon (get out their website for games, tips on how to access books + lots more)

You could take photos of the most unusual place you have been found reading.

Write reviews of anything you have enjoyed reading to share with your friends and your new teachers.

Get some inspiration the author Zanib Mian whowrote ‘Omar Boy’ to design your own characters.

Make a concertina book with Mara the storyteller.

Make a miniature book.

Write your OWN poem and learn it by heart.

You could have a look at some of the top tips from

the British Library and Joseph Coelho, Grace Nichols, James Berry.

file:///H:/Downloads/British-Library-National-Writing-Day-Resource-2021.pdf

Poem name ‘Growing up’ by AA Milne

‘Russian Dolls’ by Rachel Rooney

‘Mirror’ by Rachel Rooney

‘Man .. I had it made’ by Joseph Coehlo

Suggested task

What can you do now that you could not do when you started Primary school?

Describe the dolls inside you

Think about who you see in a amirror.

Write about yourself starting with the lines: I am

amazing……

TRANSFORMATION poetrySuggested task: 1. On the next few slides there is a selection of poetry for you to listen to, to read, to watch. 2. You could complete some of the suggested activities that are attached to each poem.3. You could write your own poem about growing up and change. 4. You could paint/ draw a self portrait which shows how you see yourself in the mirror.

Growing Up by AA MilneI’ve got shoes with grown up laces,I’ve got knickers and a pair of braces,I’m all ready to run some races.

Who’s coming out with me?

I’ve got a nice new pair of braces,I’ve got shoes with new brown laces,I know a wonderful paddly places.

Who’s coming out with me?

Every morning my new grace is,“Thank you, God, for my nice braces:I can tie my new brown laces.”

Who’s coming out with me?

https://voetica.com/voetica.php?collection=3&poet=685&poem=3338

Suggested activity: What can you do now that you could not do when you started Primary school?

https://vimeo.com/162519272(reading of ‘Russian Doll’) by Rachel Rooney

‘Russian Doll’ by Racchel RooneyAll you see is outside me: my painted smile,the rosy-posy shell, the fluttery eyes.A butter-won’t-melt-in-my-mouth-type meBut inside there’s another me, bored till playtime.The wasting paper, daytime dreamer.A can’t- be-bothered-sort-of me.And inside there’s another me, full of cheek.The quick, slick joker with a poking tongue.A class-clown-funny-one-of meAnd inside there’s another me who’s smaller, scared.The scurrying, worrying, yes miss whisperer.A wouldn’t-say-boo-to-a-goosey meAnd inside there’s another me, all cross and bothered.The scowling hot-head, stamping feet.A didn’t-do-it-blameless meAnd inside there’s another me, forever jealouswho never gets enough, compared.A grass-is-always-greener meAnd deepest down, kept secretlya tiny, solid skittle doll.The girl that hides inside of me.From The Language of Cat.

Suggested activity:•Why not try describing the dolls inside of you.

Mirror by Rachel RooneyOne was beautiful, silken hair to her waistand dutiful, kept it neatly in place.Please and Thanks were words she’d use.Cleared up the dishes, polished her shoes.One was wild, a mop of woolly tresses,Barefoot, grubby, never wore dresses.Snot on her sleeve, she spat and sworeranted and raged, then slammed the door.They stared at each other, the same green eyesand what they saw they recognised.You’re me! Said the first How do you do?Watch out! Said the other I’m You.From The Language of Cat.

Why not try...•thinking about who you see in the mirror – does it give a reflection of who you think you are?

You can watch Rachel read her poem here:

https://vimeo.com/162519269

But one day I wake upNot feeling my bestI look down and countOne… two… three… Three!Hairs on my chestI call to my mummuM… muM… MUM!But my voice sounds like a foghornI look at my noseAnd it’s got a pimple on!I feel my chinAnd it’s feeling kinda rough!And I keep getting emotionalAbout really silly stuff.

I say, ‘Man… I didn’t have it made.’

I put on my jacketAnd went to first classAvoiding the girlsAfraid they would laughFirst class was scienceAnd everyone was silentThe topic was ‘puberty’And no one had revised itWe learnt about hormonesAnd things getting biggerAbout personal hygieneAnd BO being the triggerThen Sir puts on a filmAnd there’s a boyWho looks like meHe’s got a deep voiceHis chin’s a bit stubble

‘This boy… is becoming a MAN!’

Said the teacher with a smileWell.. I took my cueWhipped off my jacketAnd the girls went wildThey took pictures of my pimplesAnd clippings of my chest hairI said, ‘Easy ladies, these fellers are rare.’The other guys were jealousBut I didn’t careBecause I was becoming a man

And Man… I HAD IT MADE!

‘Man .. I had it made’ by Joseph CoehloMan… I Had it MadeI’m amazingSeriously I’m really very coolWhen I went to schoolWith the headmasterI drafed the rules.

We studied my hairMy caresThe clothes that I wearIn athletics we worked in pairsLeapfrogging over teachers.

I say, ‘Man… I had it made.’In assemblyAll praised meWhilst I sat serenelyUp on the stageThe deputy headKneeling as my pageThe girls played with my hairPutting it into braids.

I say, ‘Man… I had it made.’

School holidays were hadIn celebration of my greatnessWhen the Queen came to visitShe called me Her LiegeAnd we sat in the staffroomDrinking the teacher’s teaEating their cookiesWe were hatedWe ate all the sweetiesFrom the cupboard of thingsConfiscated.

I say, ‘Man… I had it made.’

In maths we learnt trigonometryBy flying fighter planesIn science we studied biologyBy experimenting on living brainsGeography was gradedBy air miles flownAnd in technology – oh my days!We had to design our ownMobile phones.

Mine was blinged outCos I was the bestIt had an interfaceTo help me cheat on testsIt was an I-pod-PSP-MotorolaWith remote control for my dirt bikeA built-in sub-wooferTo ensure I was heard rightThe camera was built-inAnd came with a camera crewAnd the blue-tooth headsetWas set in ear muffsTo protect me from the flu.

I say, ‘Man… I had it made.’

You can watch here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIxNVb8mpho

https://www.thepoetryofjosephcoelho.com/about/

Suggested activity: Write about yourself starting with the lines: I am amazing……

How Easily… by James Carter the presentescapes into the past.Like raindrops on a lake,like moths into the dark.That afternoon you learntto swim. The nightyou tried to countthe stars. Ever passingthrough your hands,moments disappearlike sand. So catch them.Trap them. Write themdown. Preserve themas your memories.Turn them into

wordslike

these.by James Carterfrom Weird Wild and Wonderful (Otter-Barry Books, January 2021)

You can read it here:https://poetrysociety.org.uk/education/learning-from-home/a-million-brilliant-moments-by-james-carter/

Suggested activity: You could write a list of as many memories you have from Primary school.

https://summerreadingchallenge.org.uk/

https://www.bl.uk/collection-items/planet-omar-accidental-trouble-magnet-by-zanib-mian-illustrated-by-nasaya-mafaridik

• https://www.bl.uk/childrens-books/activities/step-inside-your-story

https://youtu.be/zrTjnEQqFl0https://youtu.be/zrTjnEQqFl0

https://www.bl.uk/childrens-books/activities/make-a-miniature-book

https://youtu.be/gZJwoJvgNxs