I’m Staying Home from School Today
by Kenn Nesbitt
I’m staying home from school today.
I’d rather be in bed,
pretending that I have a pain
that’s pounding in my head.
I’ll say I have a stomachache.
I’ll claim I’ve got the flu.
I’ll shiver like I’m cold
and hold my breath until I’m blue.
I’ll fake a cough. I’ll fake a sneeze.
I’ll say my throat is sore.
If necessary, I can throw
a tantrum on the floor.
I’m sure I’ll get away with it.
Of that, there’s little doubt.
But even so, I really hope
my students don’t find out.
Alex’s Allergy
by Kenn Nesbitt
Alex had an allergy
that no one could explain.
It made him wheeze and cough and sneeze
and moan and groan in pain.
A single slight exposure,
and he’d start to squawk and squeal.
A second time ensured
that he’d be barking like a seal.
He’d salivate and slobber
as his nose began to twitch.
He’d squirm and say his body felt
like one gigantic itch.
At last they found the cause,
which Alex thought was pretty cool.
So now he stays at home;
he is allergic to his school.
Allergic
by Robert Pottle
I’m allergic to pencils
allergic to ink,
allergic to markers
and crayons, I think.
I’m allergic to homework,
allergic to rules.
To sum it all up:
I’m allergic to schools.
I’m staying home from school today
Pre-reading:
Hand out the cards to your students. Make sure you have an even number (if
not, play along yourself). On each card is a physical complaint written. The
students have to find the card that matches theirs. After your students found
each other, make sure they sit together.
Now, write down all the words on the whiteboard. Discuss the meaning with your
students.
Ask your students some of the following questions:
- how often are you sick?
- have you ever been sick because you didn’t want to go to school?
- how sick do you have to be before you decide to stay in bed?
- do you ever overreact?
etc.
(While) reading:
Hand out the first paragraph of the poem:
I’m staying home from school today.
I’d rather be in bed,
pretending that I have a pain
that’s pounding in my head.
Ask your students what they think might happen. (do not spend too much time
on this topic, just a short prediction before handing out the entire poem)
Hand out the entire poem and read it to your students.
Have them explain the story.
Post-reading:
Hang this poem, and the two other ones before the lesson starts in your
classroom (use 3 different walls to do so).
Have every pair pick one of the 3 poems. For every poem there is a different
assignment. Your students get the assignment from you (they don’t know this
when choosing the poem, otherwise they’ll choose just because of the
assignment)
Assignment poem 1
I’m staying home from school today.
Role-play.
Divide parts. One of you will play a student, the other one the aunt.
Your parents are on vacation and your Canadian aunt is visiting. She is taking
care of you. Today you have a big test at school and you forgot to study for it.
So you want to stay at home. You have to persuade your aunt into calling in sick.
Your aunt, of course, doesn’t believe you. Try to make up as many excuses you
can think of.
First, write down the story below. Then practice.
You will have to perform your role-play in class.
Write down your story here:
You: …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Aunt: …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
You: …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Aunt: …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
You: …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Aunt: …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
You: …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Aunt: …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
You: …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Aunt: …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
You: …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Aunt: …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
You: …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Aunt: …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
You: …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Aunt: …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
You: …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Aunt: …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
You: …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Aunt: …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Assignment poem 2
Alex’s Allergy
* Read the poem.
* This poem is written in 3rd person. Rewrite in into first person (use I instead of
he).
* Now, write a letter to your classmates, explaining why you’re not coming to
school anymore.
3rd person
1st person
Alex had an allergy
…………………………………………………………
that no one could explain.
…………………………………………………………
It made him wheeze and cough and sneeze …………………………………………………………
and moan and groan in pain.
…………………………………………………………
A single slight exposure,
and he’d start to squawk and squeal.
A second time ensured
that he’d be barking like a seal.
……………………………………………………
……………………………………………………
……………………………………………………
……………………………………………………
He’d salivate and slobber
as his nose began to twitch.
He’d squirm and say his body felt
like one gigantic itch.
……………………………………………………
……………………………………………………
……………………………………………………
……………………………………………………
At last they found the cause,
which Alex thought was pretty cool.
So now he stays at home;
he is allergic to his school.
…………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………
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…………………………………………………………
Dear class,
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
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Kind regards,
………………………………………………………
Assignment poem 3
Allergic
Read the poem.
Name 6 things you can be allergic to.
…………………………………
…………………………………
…………………………………
…………………………………
Turn this poem into a collage.
Make sure you put in all of the allergies.
You will have to present your collage in class.
…………………………………
…………………………………
the flu
diarrhea
an itch
a fever
a muscle ache
an earache
a cold
a stomachache
a sore throat
to sneeze
a cough