A Riddle
Some of my recent posts have been about how I’ve introduced and excited kids about poetry –
see my entries dated June 11, June 13, and June 24. Also, on June 18, I wrote about a very quick and easy high impact activity that helps kids feel comfortable in voicing their opinions when discussing and analyzing poetry.
Another very quick but effective activity that supports students having a voice in class discussions involves a riddle: Ask your students, “What is one thing you can sit on, sleep on, and use to brush your teeth?” Allow for plenty of wait-time, and be sure to repeat the question once or twice: “What is one thing you can sit on, sleep on, and use to brush your teeth?”
Once the students have pondered the brainteaser for a bit, give them the answer: “A chair, a bed, and a tooth brush.” Yes, the answer was “as plain as the nose on your face,” as the saying goes* – and yet more than likely students were afraid to give such a response so as “not to get it wrong.” With this lesson (and like the one described in my blog post dated June 18) you can help set the stage for students to feel comfortable in offering their thoughts and views when discussing and interpreting poetry.
*Speaking of noses - if I remember correctly I believe I heard this riddle in the movie "Roxanne" - the spoof of "Cyrano de Bergerac" starring Steve Martin.
see my entries dated June 11, June 13, and June 24. Also, on June 18, I wrote about a very quick and easy high impact activity that helps kids feel comfortable in voicing their opinions when discussing and analyzing poetry.
Another very quick but effective activity that supports students having a voice in class discussions involves a riddle: Ask your students, “What is one thing you can sit on, sleep on, and use to brush your teeth?” Allow for plenty of wait-time, and be sure to repeat the question once or twice: “What is one thing you can sit on, sleep on, and use to brush your teeth?”
Once the students have pondered the brainteaser for a bit, give them the answer: “A chair, a bed, and a tooth brush.” Yes, the answer was “as plain as the nose on your face,” as the saying goes* – and yet more than likely students were afraid to give such a response so as “not to get it wrong.” With this lesson (and like the one described in my blog post dated June 18) you can help set the stage for students to feel comfortable in offering their thoughts and views when discussing and interpreting poetry.
*Speaking of noses - if I remember correctly I believe I heard this riddle in the movie "Roxanne" - the spoof of "Cyrano de Bergerac" starring Steve Martin.
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