Crumbs (Hal Sirowitz) poem

Crumbs

Don’t eat any more food in your room, Mother said. You’ll get more bugs. They depend on people like you. Otherwise, they would starve. But who do you want to make happy, your mother or a bunch of ants? What have they done for you? Nothing. They have no feelings. They’ll eat your candy. Yet you treat them better than you treat me. You keep feeding them. But you never offer me anything.

UNDERSTANDING

20 Work with the poems

a) What are these poems about? Point to examples from the two texts and describe what they are about.

b) Reread the comments the mother makes to her child. Why do you think she acts this way? How would you describe her? Write at least three sentences. and use examples from the poem.

c) Choose one of the poems and draw a comic strip of four to six frames. Include wording from the poem. You could also add your own comments or headings for each frame.

d) Which of the poems do you like best? Give reasons for your opinion.

bug insekt starve sulte o er tilbyde Go to connect.alinea.dk and listen to the text. If you prefer, you can listen to the glossary.

Suggestion

Let the students write a short poem about something trivial that ends in catastrophe. Starting points can be not tying their shoelace, not drinking their milk, leaving the television on, oversleeping, etc. They can print out their poems, decorate them with colours and illustrations and display them in the classroom.

Suggestion

Let the students record a recital of the poems digitally.

Suggestion Task 20c

Let the students choose whether to draw the comic strip by hand or use one of the comic strip tools. Ask them to display their comic strips in class.

Suggestion Task 21

If possible, let the students use costumes and/or props while performing. This will make them feel less exposed and boost their con dence. They can also be given the choice of performing live or making a digital recording.

Sca olding Task 22

You can nd several poetry slams online. Watch some examples with the students before they recite poems themselves. Encourage students to identify the way voice and body language are used for emphasis.

Suggestion Task 22

Give the students the choice of reciting their poems in class or make a digital recording – either a sound recording or a video recording.

Task 22

Organise a ’class poetry slam’ where the students can perform their own poems. If some of them are uncomfortable with reading their own poems, they can perform one of Sirowitz’ poems. You can nd more of his poetry online. TALKING

21 Finish the dialogue

Work with a partner. Choose one of the poems. Imagine that you are going to continue the dialogue between the mother and the child. What will they say? Write the lines. Practise with your partner and memorise the lines. Perform in front of a small group or in front of the class.

22 Recite poetry

Choose one of the poems and practise reciting it. Get together in groups of four and take turns reciting the poems you have chosen. Use your body language and voice to create drama and emphasize di erent parts of the poem.

23 Talk about advice

a) We have all been given advice at some point in our lives.

List some of the advice your parents, grandparents, teachers or other people have given you over the years.

Share your list with a partner. Are there any similarities?

b) What would be the best advice you would give to your parents?

Good advice can be anything from brushing your teeth to making important choices in your life.

WRITING

24 Write a poem

Use your list of advice from task 23 to write your own poem in the same style as Crumbs and No More Birthdays. Expose and share your poems in class.