I've been asked to visit one of our local school and encourage the children to write a poem about Autumn for their autumn harvest festival assembly. I wrote the poem called "The Winter Picnic" ( http://www.whiteheadm.co.uk/html/winter_picnic_2006.html#picnic2006) which describes Winter and Ice having a picnic, and everything is reversed compared to a picnic we would choose to have. Every time I read this poem, I have goose pimples on my arms because it is designed to make you shiver. Although the children won't see this poem until they have written their own, based on the above poem, you will have the opportunity to see it first and post a review. Some teachers visiting this website may like to use it to encourage their own children to write about an Autumn Visit in their part of the world.
I have come back to this poem several days after I had posted it on this website and am very surprised that it is so popular. Perhaps teachers are looking for autumn poems for their schools at this time of the year. To let you know: I have put this poem on my own website with a voice recording which children may enjoy: http://www.whiteheadm.co.uk/html/autumn_visit.html#autumnvisit
Autumn is wearing a bright golden crown -
She’s coming this morning to visit our town
And her best friend. Wind, will be joining her too.
Will they have a nice day? Just what will they do?
She’ll be changing the colours of leaves on our trees.
Wind likes to tease them with his cold playful breeze.
They’ll come tumbling down in a pile on the ground
Then he’ll take a deep breath and blow them around.
They'll both knock down conkers for children to find -
But nuts aren’t just there for the good of mankind.
The squirrels like nuts and they’ll store them away
Then out they will come on a cold wintry day.
What lunch do you think the two friends might eat?
What sorts of things would be good for a treat?
There’s sweet tasting berries and fruits of all kind -
Such wonderful treats for the two friends to find.
They’ll chase over the hills and along by the river –
Wind’s cold wintry breath will cause us to shiver.
Swallows will see them. then they’ll say their goodbyes –
Calling “See you next year” as they fly through the sky.
The sun’s going down - there’s no time left to play,
But the two friends have had such a marvellous day!”
When you look all around at this colourful scene,
For certain you’ll see where the two friends have been.
Copyright 2007
www.whiteheadm.co.uk |
Hi Josie
Written by gshelme (152 comments posted) 18th September 2007 | This is a lovely poem, I am sure the children will love it.
Gill  | To Gill
Written by Josie (2721 comments posted) 19th September 2007 | | The poem "The Winter Picnic" is very popular, and I notice it's also popular on GW. I've done this one with children working in groups of three in classes, and they have to decide who reads which part, and it's left to their own interpretation. I was interested to hear how they performed. Some children emphasised some parts, and others did others. One said: "Some freezing cold water?" as if it was a question, because in the middle of winter, who would want to drink freezing cold water in a field? Children are also so imaginative (more so than adults I think), and the ideas that came up for this picnic were excellent. I think the same could be applied for the other seasons. It would be nice to hear from teachers on GW. |
Written by Lizzy (783 comments posted) 19th September 2007 | Hi Josie
I see this as a good basis for all kinds of work.
Children would love to act it out and especially dress up in costumes they had designed. It would also give a great opportunity for art work. As you have personified Autumn and Wind they could draw/paint pictures of what they would look like.
Enjoyed this.
Lizzy | Exactly
Written by Josie (2721 comments posted) 19th September 2007 | The children's laureate, Michael Rosen, has said exactly what you have said about bringing poetry to life in classrooms. I would like to see children acting poems, with costumes, and taking it out of the classrooms - to perhaps take the poems into Old People's Homes etc and perform them in a fun way before an audience. It gives children confidence as well as fun. I'm taking the children's corner of the Ilkley Literature Festival again this year, and children from local schools will be doing just this. The winter picnic is one of the poems they're doing. The Fish that Swallowed Granny's teeth, and the two recent school poems: Where's Your Homework? and the one about snacks. One little girl from Leeds has a wonderful mermaid costume "that granny made for me" and she is keen to do my Little Sea Maiden, of course.
Are you a teacher Lizzy? |
Written by Lizzy (783 comments posted) 19th September 2007 | Hi Josie
A primary school teacher for 34 years, retired three years ago, I'd had enough, not of the children but of the 'expectations'. I felt that the 'child' was becoming lost and league tables and achieving levels was taking over. I do accept that some changes were for the good but not all. Maybe I'm old fashioned in thinking that education is not just about passing exams but more to do with enjoyment and promoting a thirst for knowledge and understanding.
I'll get off the bandwagon now.
My last class was lovely and one of the last 'performances' we did was some choral speaking, The Owl and the Pussycat, and the King's Breakfast. They all joined in , even the child with a statement and those having Special needs
I found that children loved poetry, both rhyming and non rhyming and enjoyed making up poems either as a class effort or individually.
Keep up the good work Josie helping children to understand and enjoy through words.
Lizzy | To Lizzy
Written by Josie (2721 comments posted) 21st September 2007 | | Hello Lizzy - It was so interesting reading your review above. I have to tell you that this morning I went to a local school. A class is performing "The Winter Picnic" (the first of the poems in this series), for the Ilkley Literature Festival. They had been divided into small groups and given the opportunity to do what they wanted with the poem. In an excited state, eyes shining, they couldn't wait to show me what they had done. One group of boys, ended the poem with a "snow fight" but when he punched another one, the teacher said that was "ENOUGH". Another group did the poem to "rap". Another group had a narrator, who changed from verse to verse, and others who mimed the actions. A group of girls (all in the school choir) sang the poem together beautifully. It was wonderful to hear all the variations and to see how they had brought the poem to life. Some of them brought hats to wear, and one, playing the part of "Ice" had a blue turban on his head. But I have to report that they had a wonderful time, and for me as the writer of the poem, I never enjoyed anything so much as to seeing my target audience enjoying my poem so much. They also did The Fish That Swallowed Granny's Teeth and were having lots of fun. I think it's nice for both poets and children to meet up sometimes for the benefit of both, Thanks again Lizzy | Remarkable indeed!
Written by Nance (86 comments posted) 7th October 2007 | Hi Josie,
The poem does make me shiver. I adore autumn time, it's so inspiring and touching, and you've portrayed it so well, with such mastery! It's amply proper for kids, but for sure grown-ups will find a secret hidden here two.
Thanks for this piece of work!
Best regards. |
Written by Merioneth (79 comments posted) 14th April 2008 | Josie,
the hit count on this poem is staggering! Have you published any anthologies of children's poems, or the like? | Hello Merioneth
Written by Josie (2721 comments posted) 30th May 2008 | | Merioneth, thanks for your review. It is astonishing isn't it? I think I was just meeting a classroom need at the time. I have some news, though, for readers of this poem: The answer to Merioneth's question is "Yes." My poems are on my own website (Google Josie's Poetry) and 2 weeks' ago, an educational publisher has taken all the poems I have written (410 then, 415 now) and is going to split them up for publishing for schools. I have lots of ideas also. I would like poems such as this made into birthday cards and would also like them to be put to animated film. I could well imagine that this poem would be an excellent candidate. So I thank all of you who have supported me both by reading my poems and especially for reviewing and encouraging me over the last 2 years (for it is just over 2 years that I have been writing). Thank you so much. |
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