Understanding and writing descriptions of place are important skills for pupils, and Walter Scott's descriptions are second to none. Walter Scott lived in the Scottish Borders and often wrote about places that were local to him, though he also wrote about distant lands and imagined places, too. This activity is about a passage in which Scott encourages his readers to visit Melrose Abbey, indicating when the best time to visit is, and what they will see. It can be used to discussion place more generally, including places which are local to us and which may have meaning. The activity begins with a starter in which pupils describe and discuss different places from around the world. It then introduces them to Walter Scott and some of the vocabulary in his poem before giving them a poem to read and answer questions on.
Our Teacher's Note (Writing about Place Teacher Guide PDF) complete with activity guide can help teachers to prepare for and teach this lesson.
This PowerPoint can be used in teaching the lesson, and exploring writing about place more broadly. Writing About Place PPT
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This work was supported by the Arts and Humanities Research Council Grant Number AH/V011111/1.
It is part of The Edinburgh Edition of Walter Scott's Poetry: Engaging New Audiences. It was developed by Dr Anna Fancett as part of the Walter Scott Research Centre at the University of Aberdeen with the support of Abbotsford, Scott's home in the Scottish Borders and The Association for Scottish Literature.
