Mini-beasts are what they're talking about nowadays in the schools and out of the schools. To you or me: insects.
When you and I have gone to bed
And the moon shines from above
From underneath the earth you’ll hear
Some chirpy songs of love.
It’s choir practice at Cricket Hall.
Just listen to their songs
A hundred little cricket boys
Who sing the whole night long.
They serenade their girlfriends
They sing their songs of war.
As they never go to bed at night
You’ll never hear them snore.
Then when the sun is in the sky
They also do not sleep.
You’ll see them playing in the fields -
On gigantic legs they leap.
If you could jump as high as they -
My! What a big surprise!
You’d jump over your housetop
And win yourself a prize.
Copyright 2008
www.whitehead.co.uk |
Written by Phil (6435 comments posted) 2nd May 2008 |
You could be on a winner here. There's a move to introduce science topics in primary schools in different was - one way through poetry. Stuff enough hints of real science in your poems and they could be quite commercial.
Personally - while I'm all for kids enjoying their work- I think it dumbs down the subject. As mnemonics, poems are fine, as a way into science - they just seem to put another space between the children and learning.
Enjoyed this one, Josie.
Phil |
Written by Josie (2536 comments posted) 2nd May 2008 |
| I think that since we have Michael Rosen as children's laureate, he wants to put "poetry" at the centre of many lessons Phil. The children could perform a poem in a lesson, and something like this could lead on to a discussion which they would remember. For example, when I do a bit of research for my poems I learn some useful things: Japanese and Chinese people used to keep crickets as pets, preferably in pure gold cages. They would keep them in their bedrooms because their songs soothed them to sleep. Have you found a better way to be soothed to sleep - - - or shouldn't I ask? ha ha. Now see what a topic I have stirred up on GW. What soothes my readers to sleep? Don't forget that this is a children's page. Answers in the poetry forum please! ha ha |
Written by Phil (6435 comments posted) 2nd May 2008 |
I've never had any problems sleeping, Josie. Clear conscience, see? 
Phil |
CRICKETS UNDER THE BED
Written by Josie (2536 comments posted) 2nd May 2008 |
| Very glad indeed to hear it Phil. You don't need a cage of crickets under the bed then? ha ha I was thinking of an usual birthday present for you. |
Written by Fledermaus (3160 comments posted) 2nd May 2008 |
| Mini beasts? Well, they are of course. Nice poem! |
Fantastic!
Written by Katanga (805 comments posted) 3rd May 2008 |
Simply wonderful, Josie!
I have to disagree with Phil for once - I don't think that poems 'put another space between children and learning'.
Quite the opposite, in fact. Okay, not ALL children, probably not even a hugely significant number, will be stimulated into scientific learning by this sort of thing, but think of the ones that are!
As for 'dumbing down the subject' - absolutely not, in my opinion! For teenagers, yes possibly, but not for the tender age of child that this poem is presumably intended for.
Respect!
Cheers!
John X |
I agree John
Written by Josie (2536 comments posted) 3rd May 2008 |
| I do agree with you John. I think that, especially with younger children, you could get them to read this poem the night before. I have voice recordings to accompany my poems on my own website. The children study words, learn spellings, look up information (such as keeping crickets as pets in China etc) and when they come to the class, the introduction to the lesson could be that either individually, chorally or in a small group taking individual parts, the children recite the poem in an interesting way, and from this you lead into the main part of the lesson, with discussions etc. I will be backing Michael Rosen up to the hilt with this sort of thing. You could use this sort of thing in your English language classes. Excellent! |
Josie
Written by meadowcroft1964 (82 comments posted) 4th May 2008 |
Hi great poem
If all teachers were like you children would learn more and enjoy their lessons (hope I have used the correct word there), you seem able to communicate on their level. On the subject of dummimg down I personally would have welcomed anything that made learning easily and more enjoyable. If I been given a better education I need not have been a school cleaner for 13 years.Keep up the good work. |
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