CONTENT	PROCEDURE
Step 1: "The Cat" by W.H.Davies The cat as a holy animal in Egypt. What attitude to cats does the following poem express?	Preparation for Experience Through teacher board sketches, an earlier poem is recalled by children. Reference is made to the cat's worth in other times and a question is posed.
Step 2: A Cat She had a name among the children; But no one loved though someone owned her, locked her out of doors at bedtime, And had her kittens duly drowned. In Spring, nevertheless, this cat ate blackbirds, thrushes, nightingales, And birds of bright voice and plume and flight, As well as scraps from neighbours' pails. I loathed and hated her for this; One speckle on a thrush's breast was worth a million such; and yet She lived long, till God gave her rest. Edward Thomas	The Experience Teacher expressively reads poem as children listen.   As children follow the revealed board copy, the teacher reads the poem a second time.
Step 3: Children's comments.       Vocabulary: plume = feathers, speckle = spotted, pail = bucket, loathe = dislike intensely What feeling does the author have towards (a) the cat (b) the birds? What indicates this? Compare the poet's indifference to the death of kittens, neglect by cat's owners, to his sympathetic view of birds. Examine simple but effective vocabulary in "had her kittens duly drowned", "In Spring, nevertheless, this cat...", "I loathed and hated.." Note balance through contrast: Known to children vs unknown owner (perhaps cared for) (neglected) Eating beautiful birds vs scraps from pails Author's loathing vs God's implied love One speckle worth million cats Compare mood with that of Davies' poem.	Discussion Following a short period for reflection, children comment freely on the poem, quoting sections deemed effective or interesting.   Vocabulary and comprehension difficulties are treated prior to a closer analysis of the poem. Questioning, board sketching and impromptu dramatisation may be employed in clarification and extension of observations.
Step 4: The poem	Renewed Experience Selected students and teacher read the poem aloud. Teacher commends individuals for contribution to discussions/dramatisation. Children commence copying poem into books

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