Year 5 Reading Comprehension (autumn): Two Birds

This Year 5 reading comprehension unit is based on Two Birds, an original poem by acclaimed children’s poet Joshua Seigal.

The poem is a cinquain – a five-line form that follows a set syllabic structure – and explores themes of freedom and confinement through two contrasting images of birds. You can also use this poem as a model text (WAGOLL) to support creative and structured poetry writing in KS2.

You can teach this unit on its own or as part of a themed reading sequence alongside fiction and non-fiction texts. It forms part of our Real Comprehension whole-school programme, which provides high-quality, thematic reading resources for every year group from Year 1 to Year 6.

Teacher support

The text is available in three formats: plain PDF, illustrated PDF and annotated PDF for teacher support. PowerPoint versions of the poem are also included, with and without highlighted vocabulary.

The close reading version offers discussion prompts and suggestions for where to include drama, visualisation or discussion to support understanding.

The unit includes two fully resourced lessons with an explicit vocabulary focus. The first explores the word caged, using synonyms, antonyms and grammar-based activities. The second focuses on ablaze, analysing its meaning and asking pupils to write sentences using the word in context.

Teaching notes guide you through a suggested sequence of activities, including layered reading, performance reading, discussion and writing in role. Pupils explore the structure of cinquains, practise visualising imagery, and reflect on how form and meaning are linked.

The pack also includes images of birds in flight and in cages to support visualisation tasks, and Big Questions resources to encourage deeper thinking. Pupils revisit the text using targeted comprehension questions and personal response prompts.

This Year 5 poetry comprehension resource includes:

• Poem Two Birds by Joshua Seigal in plain, illustrated and annotated PDF formats
• PowerPoint versions of the text (with and without highlights)
• Vocabulary Focus PowerPoints
• Big Questions PowerPoints and worksheets
• Full teaching notes with suggested teaching sequence
• Background notes on cinquains and prior knowledge