Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Poetry Break - NCTE Award-Winning Poet

Introduction
Ask your audience the question: What are these? Hopscotch, hide and seek, jacks, tag, bike riding, roller skating, tree climbing, etc. Can they guess these are outside games and activities played by children?

Tell children your favorite outside game or activity as a child. Was morning, afternoon, or evening the best time to play it? The neighborhood kids where I lived always played hide and seek after the sun went down, in that magical twilight time before everyone was called home to eat dinner. This poem reminds me of that special time of day.


OUT IN THE DARK AND DAYLIGHT

by David McCord


Out in the dark and daylight,

under a cloud or tree,


Out in the park and play light,

out where the wind blows free,


Out in the March or May light

with shadows and stars to see,


Out in the dark and daylight…

that’s where I like to be.


A JAR OF TINY STARS, Boyds Mill Press, 1996


Extension

David McCord says “children love words, rhythm, rhyme, music, games.” Follow up reciting the poem by playing another game: Name That Game. Ask your children to think of a favorite game they like to play or activity they like to do. Choose a child to describe their actions while doing the activity and where it is played or perhaps perform the actions as if they were playing charades. Can the other children guess the name of the game described?

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