MORISSET Public School students have been studying the classic Australian Poem The Man From Snowy River by Banjo Paterson and were treated to a visit from the legendary drover.

Teacher Anna-Lee Webeck said a lot of her year 5 and 6 students hadn't come across some of the words used in the poem.

"Some of Paterson's vocabulary was new to the students, words such as 'spurs' and 'lash'," Ms Webeck said.

"Many of the kids had never heard of whip cracking - fortunately that is something my family is very good at.

"My family grew up on a farm and our grandfather had a farm at Taree.

"We've got drovers and farriers on both sides of the family."

Ms Webeck invited her brother Andrew to play the part of the Man from Snowy River and give the students a whip cracking demonstration.

She also brought along her grandfather's 60-year-old spurs.

Ms Webeck said the students have done a lot research into the older language Paterson used.

"The kids were very interested and asked plenty of questions," she said.

The students said they now understand many of the literal techniques Paterson used such as imagery, metaphors and similes.

"And now I know what a whip crack sounds like," said student Ben Smith.