moonlight Posted May 5, 2012 Share Posted May 5, 2012 my 5 year old has to memorize a poem for the book club we are in. any poem ideas?? don't want anything too long. last year he did one by shel silverstein that went something like this: there's too many kids in this tub there's too many elbows to rub i just washed a behind that i'm sure wasn't mine there's too many kids in this tub something a bit longer would be good... seema Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Entropymama Posted May 5, 2012 Share Posted May 5, 2012 My little ones love Robert Louis Stevenson. Sadly the book is packed up right now because we're moving, but there are several one and two stanza poems that we've memorized. One of our favorites: Looking Forward When I am grown to man's estate, I shall be very tall and great, And tell the other girls and boys, Not to meddle with my toys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkateLeft Posted May 5, 2012 Share Posted May 5, 2012 My kids all memorized "The Caterpillar" by Christina Rossetti as their first poem. Brown and furry Caterpillar in a hurry; Take your walk To the shady leaf, or stalk. May no toad spy you, May the little birds pass by you; Spin and die, To live again a butterfly. My boys especially liked to act out the ending part. They'd fall down on "Spin and die" and then jump up on the last line. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrysalis Academy Posted May 5, 2012 Share Posted May 5, 2012 Well, it's a little longer, but I had to memorize Robert Louis Stevenson's "My Shadow" when I was in Kindergarten, and I still remember it :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ALB Posted May 6, 2012 Share Posted May 6, 2012 I agree with both the Robert Louis Stevenson and Christina Rossetti suggestions! We've done "Who Can See the Wind?" by Christina Rossetti, and "Bed in Summer" and "The Swing" by Stevenson. Another fun little one is Lewis Carrol's "The Crocodile". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JudoMom Posted May 6, 2012 Share Posted May 6, 2012 my 5 year old has to memorize a poem for the book club we are in. any poem ideas?? don't want anything too long. last year he did one by shel silverstein that went something like this: there's too many kids in this tub there's too many elbows to rub i just washed a behind that i'm sure wasn't mine there's too many kids in this tub something a bit longer would be good... seema Ooey Gooey is my ds6's favorite. Ooey Gooey was a worm A mighty worm was he. He stepped upon the railroad tracks, The train he did not see. oooooeeeey goooooey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverMoon Posted May 6, 2012 Share Posted May 6, 2012 The first page of The Goops book. The Goops they lick their fingers The Goops they lick their knives They spill their broth on the table cloth Oh they lead disgusting lives. The Goops they talk while they're eating And loud and fast they chew So that is why I am glad that I Am not a Goop. Are you? Robert Louis Stevenson has some great ones. The A. A. Milne (Winnie the Pooh) collection is perfect for that age, too. Christina Rossetti has many; Hopping Frog is a good little boy one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibraryLover Posted May 6, 2012 Share Posted May 6, 2012 (edited) Does he enjoy a little silly? Is he a nature type? Is he almost 6? If he is very close, I love this one. I taught it to all of my children right before their 6th birthdays. When I was one, I had just begun, When I was two, I nearly new, When I was three, I was ahrdly me, When I was four, I was not much more, When I was five, I was just alive. But now I am six. I'm as clever as clever. I think I'll be six now forever and ever! (That still makes me cry. lol) Or, for Spring- Rain (Robert Louis Stevenson): The rain is raining all around, It falls on field and tree, It rains on umbrellas here, And on the ships at sea. April Rain Song (Langston Hughes): Let the rain kiss you. Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops. Let the rain sing you a lullaby. The rain makes still pools on the sidewalk. The rain makes running pools in the gutter. The rains plays a little sleep-song on our roof at night. And I love the rain. Edited May 6, 2012 by LibraryLover Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morosophe Posted May 6, 2012 Share Posted May 6, 2012 Does he enjoy a little silly? Is he a nature type? Is he almost 6? If he is very close, I love this one. I taught it to all of my children right before their 6th birthdays. When I was one, I had just begun, When I was two, I nearly new, When I was three, I was hardly me, When I was four, I was not much more, When I was five, I was just alive. But now I am six. I'm as clever as clever. I think I'll be six now forever and ever! (That still makes me cry. lol) Wow, I was just about to suggest this, for much the same reasons! Here's another one that you may decide is or is not particularly appropriate for your child: Everybody Says by Dorothy Aldis Everybody says I look just like my mother. Everybody says I'm the image of Aunt Bee. Everybody says My nose is like my father's But I want to look like ME! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morosophe Posted May 6, 2012 Share Posted May 6, 2012 Or, if you want a short but challenging poem to remember fondly for the rest of his life, try Carl Sandburg's "Fog": The fog comes on little cat feet. It sits looking over harbor and city on silent haunches and then moves on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warriormom Posted May 6, 2012 Share Posted May 6, 2012 The Worm by Ralph bergengren When the earth turns into spring, The worms are fat as anything. The birds come flying all around, To eat the worms right off the ground. They like the worms just as much as I, Like bread and milk and apple pie. And once when I was very young, I put a worm right on my tongue. I did not like the taste a bit, So I did not swallow it. But oh it makes my mother squirm, Because she thinks I ate that worm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moonlight Posted May 6, 2012 Author Share Posted May 6, 2012 thanks for the great suggestions. ooey gooey was already on my short list.. i'm going to read a few of these to him and let him decide..he's only 5 1/2 so maybe we'll wait on the age one. thanks... seema Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kebo Posted May 6, 2012 Share Posted May 6, 2012 This one is easy and fun to say, and was a favorite of my kids: The Daddy Longlegs by Douglas Florian O Daddy Daddy O How'd you get Those legs to grow So very long And lean in size? From spiderobic Exercise? Did you drink milk? Or chew on cheese? And by the way, Where are your knees? O Daddy Daddy O How'd you get Those legs to grow? The book it comes from, Insectlopedia, has many good poems for that age. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
creekmom Posted May 6, 2012 Share Posted May 6, 2012 My favorites for little boys: The Sea-Monster’s Snack Deep down upon his sandy bed the monster turned his slimy head, grinned and licked his salty lips and ate another bag of ships. Charles Thomson Who’s There? If you hear a dinosaur Knocking loudly on your door, Through the keyhole firmly say, “Nobody is home today.†If the bell should start to ring, Tell the beast, “No visiting.†If you see there’s more than one, Turn around and start to run. Max Fatchen Hey, Bug! Hey, bug, stay! Don’t run away. I know a game that we can play. I’ll hold my fingers very still and you can climb a finger-hill. No, no. Don’t go. Here’s a wall – a tower, too, a tiny bug town, just for you. I’ve a cookie. You have some. Take this oatmeal cookie crumb. Hey, bug, stay! Hey, bug! Hey! Lilian Moore The Lizard The lizard is a timid thing That cannot dance or fly or sing; He hunts for bugs beneath the floor And longs to be a dinosaur. John Gardner The Toaster A silver-scaled Dragon with jaws flaming red Sits at my elbow and toasts my bread. I hand him fat slices, and then, one by one, He hands them back when he sees they are done. William Jay Smith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deniseibase Posted May 6, 2012 Share Posted May 6, 2012 My DD memorized this Shel Silverstein poem at age 5, with a new baby brother in the house ;-) She also loved to insert a big fake burp at the appropriate moment! Someone ate the baby it's rather sad to say Someone ate the baby so she won't be out to play We'll never hear her whiny cry or have to feel if she is dry We'll never hear her asking, "Why, why, why?" Someone ate the baby Someone ate the baby it's absolutely clear Someone ate the baby 'cause the baby isn't here We'll give away her toys and clothes We'll never have to wipe her nose Dad says, "That's the way it goes." Someone ate the baby Someone ate the baby, what a frightful thing to eat Someone ate the baby, though she wasn't very sweet It was a heartless thing to do The policemen haven't got a clue I simply can't imagine who would go and (burp) eat the baby Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frugalmama Posted May 6, 2012 Share Posted May 6, 2012 Our favorite is Ickle Me, Pickle Me, Tickle Me too I memorized it when I was about 5 and still remember it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moonlight Posted May 6, 2012 Author Share Posted May 6, 2012 My favorites for little boys: The Sea-Monster’s Snack Deep down upon his sandy bed the monster turned his slimy head, grinned and licked his salty lips and ate another bag of ships. Charles Thomson oh, i LOVE this...so cute! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ksoika Posted May 7, 2012 Share Posted May 7, 2012 something a bit longer would be good... seema Mine all memorized The Owl and the Pussycat. It's longer, sweet, and funny when you act it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wehave8 Posted May 7, 2012 Share Posted May 7, 2012 My 4 yo ds has memorized these, as well as many more :): A Wise Old Owl By Edward Hersey Richards A wise old owl lived in an oak; The more he saw the less he spoke; The less he spoke the more he heard: Why can’t we all be like that bird? There’s a Neat Little Clock Traditional Mother Goose There’s a neat little clock— In the schoolroom it stands— And it points to the time With its two little hands. And may we, like the clock, Keep a face clean and bright, With hands ever ready To do what is right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhaddon Posted May 7, 2012 Share Posted May 7, 2012 Ooey Gooey is my ds6's favorite. Ooey Gooey was a worm A mighty worm was he. He stepped upon the railroad tracks, The train he did not see. oooooeeeey goooooey Even my 3 year old loves this one and tells it to everyone :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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