Synopsis
‘Half-Caste’, the title poem of this collection,
is one of the set poems for GCSE English for AQA A,
the largest spec with 375,000 candidates. But its influence
and presence extends well beyond the ‘AQA’
schools, making John Agard one of the most popular,
well-known and respected poet-performers on the schools
circuit.
Through his 45 poems, John Agard explores a wide
variety of themes: racial harmony, tension and diversity;
war and religion; society, patriotism and politics;
as well as more personal ideas on relationships, love
and attraction. This is all delivered with a range
and depth in terms of content, language, poetic form
and technique that will engage and motivate KS3 and
KS4 pupils while developing their understanding. An
ideal collection to sit at the heart of a scheme of
work on cross-cultural themes.
Cross-curricular links and
themes
- History
– central black figures and heroes in history;
the slave trade; the Crimean War; British political
history.
- Geography –
global warming.
- RE –
discussions about religious belief; looking for
God within ourselves.
- Citizenship and PSHE
– voting and politics; racial stereotyping
and mixed race relationships; bullying.
- Art –
poems as stimulus for pupils’ own work; Picasso.
- Music –
rhythms of poetry and music; stimulus for pupils’
own composition.
- Themes: racial
harmony, tension and diversity; war and religion;
society, patriotism and politics; love and attraction.
| ISBN
0 340 92585 X £6.99
January 2006 80pp |
|
