This Year 5 reading comprehension unit is centred on the original poem Spring Cleaning Tips by children’s author Sue Hardy-Dawson.
You can teach this unit to develop pupils’ understanding of poetry through a close study of language, imagery and theme. At the same time you'll be building key comprehension skills such as retrieval, prediction, inference, sequencing and personal response.
The poem’s whimsical instructions on “removing winter” invite imaginative visualisation and discussion, helping children explore figurative language and the changing seasons.
The text also provides a rich context for vocabulary work and for developing children’s ability to express opinions and make connections to their own experiences, other texts and the wider world.
You will find multiple versions of the poem designed to support diverse teaching approaches and pupil needs. This includes plain and illustrated PDFs and PowerPoints with or without highlights for focused reading. An annotated version of the poem offers teaching guidance, pinpointing opportunities for drama, visualisation, and deeper discussion to enhance understanding.
Exploring meaning
The teaching sequence includes explicit vocabulary lessons focused on words such as persistent and donating. You'll encourage pupils to explore meanings, synonyms, antonyms and sentence construction. Big Questions resources prompt critical thinking and lively classroom debate about the poem’s themes and language.
You can use the layered reading strategies provided – model reading, echo reading, choral reading and paired reading – to engage pupils and support fluency and confidence.
Drama and visualisation prompts invite children to picture playful images, such as “combing the grass” or “scattering buds,” developing their imagination and interpretative skills.
This unit is ideal for standalone teaching or as part of a broader reading comprehension programme. It forms part of our Real Comprehension whole-school reading scheme, which spans Years 1 to 6 with carefully crafted fiction, poetry and non-fiction units to foster deep understanding.
This Year 5 reading comprehension resource pack includes:
- Poem PDFs: plain (ink-saver), illustrated, and teacher-annotated versions
- Poem PowerPoints: with and without text highlights for focused reading
- Three lessons with vocabulary PowerPoints focused on key words
- Big Questions PowerPoints
- Comprehension worksheets
- Full teaching notes with detailed guidance on reading strategies
Use this resource to engage your Year 5 pupils with a creative and thoughtful approach to poetry, building their comprehension skills while inspiring them to see language as playful and meaningful.