Joey, the Snowman wishes he had hands!
Hi and welcome back to Attentionology for K – 5 Teachers!
If you’re looking for a new way to catch and keep kids’ attention AND help struggling students shine like stars in the new year, set up Center Stage in your classroom.
Invite class participation to “bring poems to life” with simple dramatizations that “act out what the poem is about.”
Center Stage can be any central part of your room; nothing more than a space that all students can easily see. If you want to add a theatrical touch, go for it.
For example, you can designate Center Stage to be in front of a SmartBoard and project an online stage curtain behind where you and students will stand together.
Following are quick and easy poetry-based tricks with the tools you need to bring special magic to school – the magic to maintain focus, develop language arts skills AND help students who need to build self-esteem.
One poem I’ve written is about a snowman on a gift bag who wishes he had hands. Joey, the Snowman wants to be an awesome drummer in the best of bands. The class gets to help Joey achieve his dream, with some surprises thrown in.
My second poem is about a snowy queen who helps children share wishes and learn to show the valued character trait of kindness.
Copies of both poems in decorative print with illustrated borders are included in this post.
Enjoy this wintry writing and share it with your class when the season is right in your part of the world!
Joey, the Snowman and Snowy Queen are couplet poems. Every two lines rhyme. Traditionally couplet poems are published with space between each pair of lines. I’ve skipped the spaces to save space on each poem page.
Penguins in this print of Joey, the Snowman laugh at Joey’s antics.
Joey, the Snowman teaches kids to write what they SEE. The poem describes the snowman gift bag itself.
When I present this poem in K – 2 classes I place small soft white and blue “snowballs” inside the bag.
I select a volunteer boy to “act out” Joey and to reach into the gift bag at the right moment in the reading of the poem and throw the mini-snowballs up in the air.
Children are delighted with this activity!
Joey, the Snowman
Joey, the snowman stands by a bright streetlight,
As the snow falls softly on a winter’s night.
His yellow scarf blows in a chilly breeze,
Joey has a carrot nose; he smiles with ease.
Joey’s eyes are black as coal; he wishes he had hands,
To be an awesome drummer in the best of bands.
Let’s help Joey pretend to drum,
Rum-pi-tee-tump-tum; (with me) rum-pi-tee-tump-tum! (Repeat)
Joey loves to throw mini-snowballs, blue and white.
He carries them in a bag covered in snowflakes bright.
Grab a snowball or two, (direction to Joey) throw them up high.
How high will holiday magic let them fly?
After you invite students to star on your Classroom Center Stage and act out what the poems are about as you read them aloud, use these wintry poems to lead into a writing lesson.
Ask the class to write couplet poems of their own about a character who faces a difficult challenge or wants to share wishes with children around the world, like Snowy Queen.
Post the poems on a board as writing models for the class. Discuss the poems’ structures and how to write with rhyming words at the end of each two lines that rhyme. The key in couplet poetry writing is that the ENDING words in each couplet rhyme with each other.
Snowy Queen’s tiara cost all of one US dollar. It’s value to help struggling students? Priceless!
Snowy Queen teaches kids to be kind. This poem is about feelings.
I select a volunteer girl to “act out” Snowy Queen when I present this poem to early learners. I ask her to wear a tiara with sparkly snowflakes that I bought for this activity.
I also ask her to hold a “royal” staff with starry gems and wave her staff over the audience when I read the poem line, “Snowy Queen, please make a wish with your star.”
Snowy Queen’s (plastic) staff has star power worth its educational value in real gems!
With dramatic flair, my student volunteer also takes a bow on cue, and the audience applauds loudly with joy.
Snowy Queen
Snowy Queen, Snowy Queen, teach us to feel
The joy when children laugh or squeal.
Snowy Queen, your Royal-like Highness,
Help us love others, and show care and kindness.
Snowy Queen, please make a wish with your star.
All children share wishes near and afar.
Snow Queen, bow like a dancer on cue.
Our audience wants to applaud for you!
Snowy Queen is fittingly printed on paper with a border of stars.
Snowy Queen teaches the value of showing love, care and kindness.
Some of the best tools and tricks for catching and keeping kids’ attention are ones that draw positive attention to struggling students.
Remember, you don’t need to be a magician to work magic in any instructional setting!
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Talk with you again soon,
Barbara ♥ The Lovable Poet
