Question
Would you like
to say Hi
to a beetle?
A beetle would
like to say Hi
to you. . .
by Katherine Gallagher
A RHUPUNT FOR SPRING
Spring’s colour thrills
when daffodils
and bold jonquils
burst into bloom.
Tulips tower,
freesias flower,
colours shower,
banishing gloom.
All spring we’re blessed;
bulbs give their best,
’til time to rest
in a dark room.
James Aitchison
A RHUPUNT (pronounced hree’-pint) is a Welsh poem with some curious rules:
April Fool
I’m looking for Spring
as so many do
for blossom and bulbs
shy violets hold dew
What greets me is change
Winds, rain and shine
It’s now Autumn here
but there’s no call to pine
There are strawberry guavas,
feijoas and pears
very few flowers
but no one much cares
We’d rather our garden
is brimming with fruit
There’ll be time in September
For Flora’s fair loot
Virginia Lowe
Sally’s Treasure
Sally McPhee’s a collector of keys.
She keeps them concealed in a drawer.
Some she has found just lying around.
But several she stole from next door.
She has keys that fit windows
and keys for the shed.
She’s got keys for a diary
she hasn’t yet read.
She has keys for a money box
owned by her brother.
And keys for the Volvo,
She has keys for a tool box,
her father’s great treasure.
To see him in search mode
gives Sally such pleasure.
She has keys that are ancient
and keys that are new.
Well, people are careless,
that’s Miss Sally’s view.
Sally McPhee’s a collector of keys.
She keeps them concealed in a drawer.
Her intention is clear.
That year after year,
she’s going to collect hundreds more.
Teacher Notes: by Jeanie Axton
What are the keys to engage children with poetry?
Check out this site especially the “Ten Top Tips to Engage Kids with Poetry”
https://www.thebookchook.com/2014/04/ten-top-tips-to-engage-kids-with-poetry.html
There is even a link to The Australian Children’s Poetry website.
Veggie Monster – teacher notes –
Activity – Class debate on “Advertising and Prime Time TV, Their Role in Demonising Vegetables”
Activity – Make up an advertising campaign to popularise vegetables. Research TV advertisements and prime time TV shows to see what sort of food is promoted and how. I can think of one popular TV soapie, which has its cast eating pizza and drinking beer in most episodes. What does this say to young viewers.
Note what sort of advertisements come on between 4.00pm and 8.00pm, the time many children, families and young folk would be watching TV. How might you use your campaign to change this?
Activity – Make up recipes with vegetables as the main ingredients – they must be delicious enough that YOU would want to eat them! If there are any vegetarians in the class, ask them to be a consultative panel and to judge the result of the class cooking attempts to make veggies into taste tempting foods!
Let’s Pretend
I am so popular, I’m so in
I always have the next best thing!
You can see how good I am, it’s up to me
How in with the it-crowd you will be.
Always sure and what’s more, not scared one bit
For I know, I am a wonder, a big hit!
Never failing, never losing and never unsure
Do you believe me? Okay, I’ll stop now and lie no more.
Elizabeth Mary Cummings
Australian Children’s Poetry 