Sudden Storm

Sudden Storm

Pencil and paperOnline interactive
Overview
Using this Resource
Connecting to the Curriculum
Marking Student Responses
Further Resources
This task is about understanding the language used in a poem.

Read the poem Sudden Storm by Elizabeth Coatsworth (Junior Journal 5, 1990). Then answer the following questions. 

Question 2Change answer

a)  Why do the umbrellas appear?
     

Question 2Change answer

b)  What are "red, blue, yellow and green"
     

Question 2Change answer

c)  Write down the two words in the poem that describe how umbrellas "move like flowers".
        and  

Question 2Change answer

d)  The poem starts with the words, "the rain comes in sheets". What does this mean?
     

Question 2Change answer

e)  The poem says umbrellas "grow when it showers." What does this mean?
     
Task administration: 
This task can be completed with pen and paper or online (without auto marking).
Copyright: 
Text published by Learning Media Limited on behalf on the Ministry of Education. Copyright Elizabeth Coatsworth, 1996. Reproduced by permission of The Marsh Agency Ltd on behalf of the Estate of Elizabeth Coatsworth.
 
Source: Junior Journal, No.5, Learning Media, 1990.
 
Level:
2
Curriculum info: 
English, Making meaning, Reading
Key Competencies: 
Thinking, Using language, symbols, and texts
Keywords: 
poem, poetry, comprehension, metaphor, simile, junior journal, language features
Description of task: 
The use of metaphors and similes is explored in this poem about umbrellas in a storm. Text provided.
Curriculum Links: 
 
Links to the Literacy Learning Progressions for Reading:
This resource helps to identify students’ ability to:
  • use comprehension strategies
  • recognise and unpack figurative language
as described in the Literacy Learning Progressions for Reading at: http://www.literacyprogressions.tki.org.nz/The-Structure-of-the-Progressions.
Learning Progression Frameworks
This resource can provide evidence of learning associated with
Making sense of text: processing system, set 3
Reading for literary experience, set 3
within the Reading Learning Progressions Frameworks.
Read more about the Learning Progressions Frameworks.
Answers/responses: 
 

Y4 (11/2000)

a)

Any 1 of:

  • It starts raining.
  • There is a "sudden storm".
  • So the people won't get wet.

very easy

b)

The umbrellas/The colours of the umbrellas.

moderate

c)

"tilt""lean"

moderate

d)

Any 1 of:

  • The rain covers the sky like a sheet covers a bed.
  • The rain is heavy hard.
  • It is pouring/raining a lot.

moderate

e)

The umbrellas open/pop up/get bigger/appear/come out when it rains.

moderate