Poetry Break #1

Introduction: Almost Late to School and More School Poems is a collection of fun, humorous poems for elementary aged children. In "After School," the classroom comes alive at night after everyone goes home. Through personification of inanimate objects and the clever use of wordplay, lively images are created. The couplets with ending rhyme make the poem rhythmic, so perfect for a read aloud. Because it is set in school, kids will easily relate and identify the subject matter. The funny play on words will keep their attention. Before reading this poem, try asking the kids if they ever notice their things are out of place when they arrive at school in the morning. Ask them if they ever wonder why that is.

After School
By Carol Diggory Shields

Do you know what happens in school at night
When the teachers all leave and turn out the light?

The math books count out, "3,2,1!"
Then the clock on the wall shouts, "Time for fun!"

The erasers start to race around the floor.
The rubber stamps stamp right out of the drawer.

The scissors cut up, and the stickers peel out.
The paper clips twist, the globe spins about.

The flag waves, "Bye-bye! Don't be late!"
As the wall calendar goes out on a date.

The telephone gives the map a ring.
The ruler gets bossy and acts like a king.

The glue sticks together and the pencils point,
Till the class bell clangs, "Clean up this joint!"

So if something in your desk doesn't look just right,
Maybe it's because of what happened last night.

Shields, Carol Diggory. Paul Meisel, illus.2003. Almost late to school and more school poems. New York: Dutton Children's Books.

Extension: Discuss the different images presented in the poem picking up on why or how the play on words works. Encourage the students to come up with some clever stanzas of their own using different objects or things not mentioned in the poem. For example, numbers could count themselves out or chairs could have a seat. Ask the kids to illustrate their creations or pick their favorite stanza of the original poem and illustrate it.

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Thanks for visiting poemsforkids! This blog has been created specifically for a Poetry for Children course at Texas Woman's University. Please feel free to explore and enjoy.