This
resource has been developed for use across the range of ability, with
multisensory activities suitable for children who have special educational
needs, and adults who find it easiest to access poetry through action and
experience.
We make explicit links between Christabel and the Ancient Mariner, but you can do either poem independently.
We selected verses from the poem, rather than trying to do all of it.We use a lot of drama, acting the poem out.
We use as much of the actual language of the poem as we can. Sometimes in dialogue you may want to use simpler words, but keep to the rhythm.
Encourage people to join in with well known phrases (the ice was here… water water…), and strong rhyming words.
Use art workshops and outings to create the resources with your group –
drawings, paintings and photographs.
Read each poem until you are familiar with it. Think through which verses
to use and which you might omit. Look at the resource and check which
activities go with which verses. You may think of other activities yourself
– or you can workshop it as we did, with your group and get their ideas.
Print out a copy of the poem and annotate with your cues.
Talk about the poems with your group first:
It’s about an old sailor with a terrible story to tell. It’s about a voyage
to icy places. It’s about a magical bird. It’s about a mistake when someone
does something very wrong and what happens.
It’s about a young girl who finds a mysterious stranger in the wood, who
puts a spell on her. It takes place at night in a castle and a forest.
Show the pictures, and practise some of the sounds and actions you will use
during the poem.
Some people may find these poems extremely frightening. It’s important to think carefully about the needs of your group – we must not underestimate the sheer power of poetic imagery and language. Try reading it through to people before you work on it, and allow people to opt out if they are not happy.
Click here to download the
Coleridge resource in PDF format.
