Song 7: There Was a Man of Newington

Song 7: There Was a Man of Newington

Song 7: There was a man of Newington

Title page for song/KS2 subject areas:

There are six suggested subject areas for this song:

  • ECL[Link]Understanding English, communication and languages;

Nonsense poetry

  • S/T [Link]Scientific and Technological understanding;

Light and Eyes

  • ICT[Link]Information and Communications Technology;

Word processing, paint and internet

  • H/G/S[Link]Historical, geographical and social understanding;

Find the origins of the poem

  • P/D/H/W [Link]Understanding physical development, health and well being;

Understand mood and how it can change

  • A [Link]Understanding the arts;

Cartoon artistry

Understanding English, communication and languages

What a bizarre poem! The children will probably love the gruesome nature of the eyes being scratched out.... and in again.

Edward Lear was also prone to writing nonsense poetry. Edward Lear was an English artist, illustrator, author, and poet, renowned today primarily for his literary nonsense, in poetry and prose, and especially his limericks, a form that he popularised.
Lear was born into a middle-class family in the village of Holloway, the 21st child of Ann and Jeremiah Lear. He was raised by his eldest sister, also named Ann, 21 years his senior. Ann doted on Lear and continued to mother him until her death, when Lear was almost 50 years of age. Due to the family’s failing financial fortune, at age four he and his sister had to leave the family home and set up house together.

Have a look at this website:

The words of ‘there was a man of Newington’ will be very simple to learn and perform as would many Lear poems.A poetry competition would be a possibility for the class, year group or school.

Type up and illustrate nonsense poem favourites.

Scientific and Technological understanding

Although we touched on Light in the tragic story, the topic could be covered more fully here.

Pupils should be taught:

Everyday effects of light:

  • That light travels from a source
  • That light cannot pass through some materials, and how this leads to the formation of shadows
  • That light is reflected from surfaces (for example, mirrors, polished metals), etc.

Seeing:

  • That we see things only when light from them enters our eyes

If you are not too squeamish, you could have a look at this dissection of a cow’s eye ... but it comes with a health warning. (Not usually done at KS2.)

http://www.exploratorium.edu/learning_studio/cow_eye/step12.html

Historical, Geographical and Social understanding

Discover stories surrounding this poem.Why did Britten choose it?Research all places named Newington.Which one was theNewington?

Understanding physical development, health and well being

You could take the jumping theme here – please make it long jump, triple jump or high jump rather than jumping into a bush!

Mood could also be touched on again.How do gruesome, nonsense or funny poems make you feel?

Understanding the Arts

I am sure you could imagine a cartoon being drawn of this wondrous wise man from Newington who jump’d into a quick-set hedge.Ask the children to draw the image they have in their heads.

If possible, it would be a great opportunity for the pupils to invite Curtis Jobling to your school.He provides great entertainment and is a super cartoon artist.

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