Teaching Package
All My Great Excuses
Poem by Kenn Nesbitt
Gijs
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Astrid
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Poetry teacher’s pack
All My Great Excuses, by Kenn Nesbitt.
Criteria
The poetry lesson needs to meet the following criteria:
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A 30- 50 minute lesson around an accessible poem
Interesting for students of 12 – 15 years
Clear learning goals
Worksheets with pre-, while- and after-reading activities for students
Clear instructions for teachers
Lesson aims
1. Show the pupils that poetry can be fun
2. Encourage the pupils to think of their own (part of a) poem.
Introduction
The poem is about a student who uses every excuse there is to condone the fact that he or she failed
to do his homework. It has a nice rhythm and an easy structure. The student will recognize the
situation this student is in. It’s a topic they can relate to.
Teacher’s information:
This poetry lesson is made for young students, so it’s most suitable for the first years’ students at
VMBO. Maybe even last year of the primary school.
In this package you’ll find teacher information with instructions and links, the poem and worksheets
with pre-, while and after reading assignments.
If you want to differentiate it’s best to make groups of pupils with different English language skills.
The best ones can help out the ones which needs more help. Another way to differentiate is to let
them write down the answers in Dutch and translate it together with the class.
To prepare your lesson you will need to print worksheet 1,2 and 3. You can print them as a package
(page 3-7).
Page 8 is an extra assignment on the past simple tense. So the poem can also be used in a grammar
lesson.
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The lesson
Introduction (pre-reading):
1. When you have enough time you can start a discussion on excuses. As an introduction you
watch the YouTube clip about someone having all kinds of excuses at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBdoBFL8SYw together.
Talk about experiences of being late, the feeling you get when you are late, what do they feel
when others are late, the cultural differences of being on time etc.
2. Then move on to the subject of excuses for not having made your homework. Let the pupils
(individually) write down several excuses in English on worksheet 1. Then talk about these
excuses in class and write them on the board in short. Let students pick five and copy them
on worksheet 1.
3. Read the poem out loud or show them this YouTube clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8PpbAm8g7U
Discussion (While-reading):
1. Hand out the poem and ask the pupils to read it for themselves. When they are finished
reading they start with the questions on worksheet 2.
2. Tip: Let them write the difficult words at the back of worksheet 2 (and a supposed meaning).
They can compare their answers with a classmate.
3. Discuss Worksheet 2 in class. Look at the questions, especially question 6 and 7. Also let
students share the difficult words they wrote on the back.
Create (After-reading)
1. Divide the students in pairs
2. Let them write at least three extra verses using the excuses they picked on Worksheet 1.
3. Hand out worksheet 3. The final version of their verses can be written on Worksheet 3.
Students can use pictures and drawings to make it attractive. It is also possible to make the
final version on the computer.
4. All poems are handed in, made in to a book or used to decorate the classroom.
Extra worksheet:
The poem is a perfect start for a ‘past simple tense lesson’. There’s an extra worksheet for that at the
last page of the teacher’s pack.
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Worksheet 1 Pre-Reading
Write down at least 3 excuses for not doing your homework (in English). Be ready to share in
class.
Example:
I had a flat tire.
My cat puked on my shoe.
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After the class discussion: pick 5 excuses from all the excuses that are written on the board.
1. ____________________________________________________________________
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2. ____________________________________________________________________
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3. ____________________________________________________________________
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4. ____________________________________________________________________
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5. ____________________________________________________________________
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All My Great Excuses
By Kenn Nesbitt
Now read the poem below and answer the questions.
I started on my homework
but my pen ran out of ink.
My hamster ate my homework.
My computer's on the blink.
I accidentally dropped it
in the soup my mum was cooking.
My brother flushed it down the toilet
when I wasn't looking.
My mother ran my homework
through the washer and the dryer.
An airplane crashed into our house.
My homework caught on fire.
Tornadoes blew my notes away.
Volcanoes struck our town.
My notes were taken hostage
by an evil killer clown.
Some aliens abducted me.
I had a shark attack.
A pirate swiped my homework
and refused to give it back.
I worked on these excuses
so darned long my teacher said,
"I think you'll find it's easier
to do the work instead."
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Worksheet 2 Questions about “All my great excuses” by Kenn Nesbitt
1. What happened to the pen?
a) There is no ink left
b) The ink went running
c) The ink has the wrong color
d) The ink is working perfectly
2. In the line "My notes were taken hostage," what does "taken
hostage" mean?
a) Stolen
b) Destroyed
c) Lost
d) Kidnapped
3. Who was cooking soup?
a) Mum
b) Dad
c) The clown
d) The pirate
4. What did the brother do?
a) He eat the homework
b) He threw the homework in the toilet
c) He blew the homework away
d) He cut the homework into small pieces
5. What did the teacher say would be easier than making up excuses?
a) Tidying the bedroom
b) Cleaning the windows
c) Doing the work
d) Baking cakes
6. What do you think the word 'abducted' means?
_________________________________________________________________
7. What are in your opinion the best excuses. Put together a top three of the best excuses
mentioned in the poem.
1. ______________________________________________________________
2. ______________________________________________________________
3. ______________________________________________________________
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Possible difficult words
Het moeilijke woord
Probeer de mogelijke
betekenis af te leiden (uit
zin/woorden die er op
lijken)
Uiteindelijke betekenis
(overleg met een
medeleerling, als je er niet
uitkomt, dan vraag je aan je
docent)
Compare you words and definitions with a classmate, make corrections if you think this is necessary.
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Worksheet 3
In pairs write three extra verses to the poem. Use at least three excuses. Use the excuses you choose
on worksheet 1. You can use pictures and drawings to decorate your verses. Use the poem of Kenn
Nesbitt look at the words and the rhythm. It can help you form your own lines. If you are ready you
can draw a cartoon of one of your excuses underneath.
1. ____________________________________________________________________
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2. ____________________________________________________________________
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3. ____________________________________________________________________
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Extra worksheet: past simple tense
The poem can be used to teach Past Simple. If that is the aim of the lesson, then start with
the version poem below. Let students listen to the poem (read it yourself or use an audio
fragment) and students fill in past simple. Deduct the rule together with the students and
add exercises (form a/your course book) to practice and produce Past Simple.
Bron: www.poetry4kids.com
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