Our October poem

I know I have only recently shared with you about our monthly poetry baskets.  However, I wanted to write a quick post about our October basket for the benefit of any parents of my children who may read the blog (even though they don't tell me! haha) and want the words to the poem.  The photo below shows the pocket chart with the poem in it.  As before, we practiced the poem without print the first week, then added the print the second week (last week), and the poetry basket with objects this week.  Next week we'll practice reciting the poem from memory at group time.  My favorite part!

 

A reader had asked me after my first poetry post where I have my pocket chart located.  You can see below that it is right next to my calendar area.  I like having it here because it is readily available for me when I want to model reading and pointing at group time.  During our work period the children come up and use the pointer (on the floor in the photo) to read the poem on their own.  I love it when they do that!

 

Below are the contents of the basket:  a laminated copy of the poem with pictures, a basket of silk leaves (from Dollar General), three little pumpkins (they are real; they grew out of my compost bin at home after I threw out last year's jack-o-lanterns; I don't know why they are small instead of big though!) and a miniature "bonfire" from my oldest son's frontier play set.

 

 

 

When I demonstrated this basket during group time I had my assistant read the poem and point to the words (on the little laminated copy) while I "acted out" the poem with the objects.  I showed how to start with a few leaves on my open palm and then to blow them off when she said, "....the smallest breeze gives us a shower of autumn leaves."  Then I pointed to the bonfire and pumpkins at the appropriate time and picked up some leaves and let them fall when she said, "Leaves sailing down."  When she read, "October is red and golden and brown" I held up a red, yellow, then brown leaf. 

I just have to say how adorable it is to watch pairs of friends read and enact these poems.  It is truly so heart-warming. 

Comments

[Tjelle]

Hi, I recently started a blog as part of a class project and, being a Montessori teacher, of course had to search for Montessori blogs! I am really enjoying your lesson write ups and since my class is not Montessori-based I am also appreciating the Montessori immersion I'm finding here.

I love your October poem lesson. I had learned about the poetry basket with objects to illustrate the poem, but to have it up in a pocket chart for all the students to read together is an excellent addition!

Just wanted to share that I am really enjoying your lessons and look forward to more posts.

[izzy]

This is an interesting activity! May i know which age group is it best for?

[Liesl]

This is such a beautiful idea. It sounds like your kids responded really well to this activity. I love the poems you chose and may just try that out with my little ones too!

[The Acitvity Mom]

Thank you so much for sharing! Love it!

[Gigi]

I love, love, love this way of doing memorization work. I will be adding this to our homeschool. Not only with poems but prayers and bible verses.

[Stacy]

I LOVE your September and October poems!! I made an 'eye stick' today to use with my son. Any chance we can get the November poem soon so that we don't have to wait a year to use it? Thanks again!!

[Miss Balue]

What poem our you doing for November. Thanks for the object basket idea. I did a fall season color poem and they love having the basket of objects to act it out!