: Little Poems
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Approach: One to one Level: Year 4 and year 8 
Focus: Comprehending meaning in poems
Resources: Audio recording on laptop computer

Questions/instructions:
This activity uses the computer. Click the Little Poems button.

You are going to listen to some short poems.
They are funny little poems with a twist. As you listen, think about what the poem is saying.


% responses
y4
y8
Click the Algy button.

1. Can you tell me what the poem was saying?
ALGY
Algy met a bear;
The bear met Algy:
The bear grew bulgy;
The bulge was Algy.
Relates meaning of poem:
(bear got fatter, by eating Algy)
both elements clear
1
11
one element clear
9
23
neither element clear
90
67
2. What was the odd or funny twist in what the poem said?
Explanation captured the odd or funny:
somewhat explained
6
16
not explained
94
84
Click the Grizzly Bear button.

3. Can you tell me what the poem was saying?
GRIZZLY BEAR
If you ever, ever, ever meet a grizzly bear,
You must never, never, never ask him where
He is going,
Or what he is doing;
For if you ever, ever dare,
To stop a grizzly bear,
You will never meet another grizzly bear.
Relates meaning of poem:
(avoid staying close to, stopping or talking to a grizzly bear)
both elements clear
7
16
one element clear
39
51
neither element clear
53
33
4. What was the odd or funny twist in what the poem said?
Explanation captured the odd or funny:
somewhat explained
17
30
not explained
83
69
Click the No Room to Swing a Cat! button.

5. Can you tell me what the poem was saying?
NO ROOM TO SWING A CAT!
My hotel room was tiny.
No room to swing a cat.
My cat was overjoyed and said
“Well, thank the Lord for that!”
Relates meaning of poem:
(room was too small to swing a cat, so cat was happy)
both elements clear
6
20
one element clear
41
45
neither element clear
53
35
6. What was the odd or funny twist in what the poem said?
Explanation captured the odd or funny:
somewhat explained
17
31
 
not explained
83
69
Click the Man in the Wilderness button.

7. Red herrings are fish.
Can you tell me what the poem was saying?
THE MAN IN THE WILDERNESS
The man in the wilderness said to me,
“How many strawberries grow in the sea?”
I answered him as I thought good,
“As many red herrings as grow in the wood.”
Relates meaning of poem:
(strawberries growing in sea unlikely, red herrings growing in a wood unlikely)
both elements clear
5
14
one element clear
15
20
neither element clear
80
67
8. What was the odd or funny twist in what the poem said?
Explanation captured the odd or funny:
somewhat explained
22
39
not explained
78
61
Total score:
8–11
1
8
6–7
5
15
4–5
12
25
2–3
38
33
0–1
45
19
Subgroup Analysis:
Year 4
Year 8
Commentary:
This task involving comprehension of metaphorical language was very difficult for both year 4 and year 8 students. Year 8 students did moderately better than year 4 students. At year 8 level, only 20 percent of Pasifika students scored more than three, compared to 55 percent of Pakeha students.
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