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A Note for Teachers

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This PowerPoint presentation has been created to be used in a S1-4 and KS3-4 assembly to inform students about Burns Night.

While you may need to modify this presentation to meet the needs of your students, please note that Facing History and Ourselves does not endorse your changes that alter the presentation's content or original layout.

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Burns Night

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Burns Night

What is Burns Night and why is it celebrated?

Courtesy of the University of Texas Libraries, The University of Texas at Austin

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What is Burns Night?

Burns Night is held to recognise and celebrate the Scottish poet Robert Burns, who lived from 1759-1796.
It is celebrated yearly on 25th January, which was Burns’ birthday.
Traditionally, it is celebrated through a dinner, during which people eat the traditional Scottish food haggis and listen to recitals of Burns’ poetry.

Courtesy of the University of Texas Libraries, The University of Texas at Austin

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Facts About Robert Burns

Robert Burns was born into a poor farming family in Scotland in 1759.
He wrote hundreds of poems and songs in Scots and English. Writing in Scots ensured his poems were accessible to non-educated Scots.
He wrote Auld Lang Syne, a song traditionally sung at New Year.
At the time he was writing, poets were often from privileged backgrounds. Much of his work explores poverty and inequality.
His work is famous worldwide and he is considered Scotland’s national bard (poet), however, he died in poverty and was only recognised widely after his death.
After Queen Victoria and Christopher Columbus, Robert Burns has more statues dedicated to him around the world than any other non-religious figure.

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Video: The Story of Robert Burns

Watch the video The Story of Robert Burns life. As you watch, think about the following questions:

What did you find surprising or interesting about the life of Robert Burns?
What is Burns lasting legacy?
Why do you think Burns continues to be remembered and celebrated today?

Play video on Youtube

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A poem begins as a lump in the throat, a sense of wrong, a homesickness, a lovesickness.

Robert Frost

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Think, Pair, Share

Discuss the following questions about poetry in pairs.

Which poems have you read/heard that have made an impression on you? Why?

Why do people write poetry?

What might they want to express?

Why do people read poetry?

What can they gain from reading it?

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To a Mouse

On Turning her up in her Nest, with the Plough, November 1785

Watch the animation of Burns’ poem To a Mouse. As you watch, think about the following questions:

What do you think the poem is about?

What general themes does it explore?

What in the poem most resonated with you?
Why do you think this poem is still read today over 200 years after Burns wrote it?

What does this highlight about the power of poetry?

Play video on Youtube

Explain to students that one of Robert Burns’ most famous poems is called ‘To a Mouse (On Turning her up in her Nest, with the Plough, November 1785)’. It is addressed to a mouse which has had its winter nest destroyed by a plough, possibly by Burns.

Play the video being sure to enable subtitles, so students can see how Scots is written, and invite students to discuss the questions after they have watched it, fielding feedback from the group.

You may wish to add that the poem reflects on general themes, such as: the impact humans have on the natural world; how people’s best laid plans often go wrong; and human suffering due to looking at the past and fearing the future. You could also inform students that the title of John Steinbeck’s novel ‘Of Mice and Men’ is taken from a line in the poem.

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To a Mouse

On Turning her up in her Nest, with the Plough, November 1785

But little mouse you are not alone

in proving foresight may be vain:

The best-laid plans of Mice and Men

Often go wrong,

And leave us only grief and pain,

Instead of the promised joy!

Still, you're blessed compared with me!

Only present dangers touch thee:

But, ouch!, behind me I can see

The hard times that have gone

While I guess and fear about

what is to come.

But Mousie, thou art no thy-lane,

In proving foresight may be vain:

The best laid schemes o’ Mice an’ Men

Gang aft agley,

An’ lea’e us nought but grief an’ pain,

For promis’d joy!

Still, thou art blest, compar’d wi’ me!

The present only toucheth thee:

But Och! I backward cast my e’e,

On prospects drear!

An’ forward tho’ I canna see,

I guess an’ fear!

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Exit Ticket

Take a moment to think about the following:

Burns Night celebrates ____________________

_____________________________________________

Poetry is ___________________________________ ________________________________________________�

If I was going to write a poem to express a view, feeling and/or experience, it would be about ____________________________________��

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