This Year 1 reading comprehension unit is based on the original poem ‘The Power Within’ by celebrated children's author, Joshua Seigal. You can also use this poem as a model text (WAGOLL) for developing KS1 writing skills.
We've included illustrated and plain versions of the text for sharing and display. There are also PowerPoint presentations available, with or without highlighted text.
An annotated version supports teachers with close reading, offering guidance on where to focus clarification, drama, discussion or visualisation to enhance understanding.
The poem celebrates the surprising strength and impact found in small things. Its message encourages readers to recognise that size doesn’t determine strength or importance, reminding us that even the smallest things can be mighty.
Three-part teaching sequence
The unit comprises a structured three-part teaching sequence. The lessons feature a variety of reading approaches such as model reading, echo reading and drama activities. These help to engage pupils and deepen their connection to the text.
You'll explicitly teach vocabulary through dedicated PowerPoints and word cards, exploring challenging words such as ‘miniscule’, ‘tough’, and ‘grain’. Pupils will explore meanings, synonyms and antonyms. They'll also use these words in context to build their language skills.
Comprehension activities cover key skills including retrieval, sequencing, prediction and inference. Pupils will engage with tasks like 'Difficult Easy' questions and personal response exercises, encouraging them to express opinions and make connections to themselves, other texts and the world.
This unit builds on prior learning within the ‘Small but Mighty’ theme, linking to related fiction and non-fiction texts that explore concepts of strength and power in small things.
It forms part of the Real Comprehension whole-school programme, which offers thematic fiction, non-fiction and poetry units to develop reading comprehension and promote deeper understanding across KS1 and KS2 (Years 1 to 6).
This Year 1 reading comprehension resource pack includes:
- Original text PDFs – plain (ink-saver), illustrated, and annotated
- Original text PowerPoints – with and without highlights
- Resourced teaching sequences – parts 1, 2, and 3, each with vocabulary focus PowerPoints
- Big Questions PowerPoints and worksheets to promote oral discussion
- Revisit-the-text worksheets, including retrieval and personal response tasks
- Full teaching notes with suggestions for drama, visualisation and close reading strategies