This week in Year 3 we explored the powerful poem Good Hope by the famous poet Benjamin Zephaniah. The children spent time reading and discussing the poem and thinking about its important message about hope, kindness and believing in people.
We talked about what the poet means when he says “I believe” and the class shared their own ideas about what they believe in and what gives them hope in the world. The poem helped us think about how people from different religions, cultures and backgrounds can live together peacefully and treat each other with respect.
The class also enjoyed performing the poem aloud. We practised reading it with expression, clear voices and confidence. Some children performed in small groups, using actions and different voices to bring the poem to life. It was wonderful to see everyone working together and sharing the poem’s message.
We also looked closely at the illustrations in the poem and discussed what the growing hands might represent. The children had some thoughtful ideas about how hope can grow when people help each other.
Questions to ask your child at home:
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What is the poem Good Hope about?
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What does the poet say he believes in?
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Why do you think the poem repeats the words “I believe”?
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What do you believe in?
