Mrs. McKeown's Poetry
Movement

Home

Why Bother With Poetry
A Concrete or Shape poem
Free Verse or Unrhymed Poem
A Student's Poem
Stump the Teacher
My Poem
Poetry References
Poet Study - Poems
Poet Study - Biography
Poet Study-Jack Prelutsky
International Poet
Native American Poet
Naoshi Koriyama (extra)
Asian American Poet
Hispanic/Latino Poet
Gary Soto extra
African American Poet
Nonfiction
Picture Book
Science
Mathematics
Social Studies
Poem /Sung
Linearound
Movement
Two Groups
Refrain
Lee Bennett Hopkins
Douglas Florian
Judith Viorst
Jack Prelutsky 2
Jack Prelutsky
Shel Silverstein
Folk Poem
Song Lyrics
Classic Poetry
Mother Goose
Picture Book Poem
Arthur Guiterman

***

Boa Constrictor

Introduction:
Model the hand movements for this poem. As the snake devours the narrator, the students move their hands from body part to body part till they cover their head with their hands. Another idea is to decorate a large piece rolled paper with the face of a snake. Make it long enough to hide behind. As you read the poem, move the paper snake up from your toes and move it up to cover the top of your head.

heart.gif

I'm being eaten by a boa constrictor,
A boa constrictor,
A boa constrictor,
I'm being eaten by a boa constrictor,
And I don't like it one bit.

Well what do you know?
It's nibblin' my toe.
Oh gee, it's up to my knee.
Oh my,
It's up to my thigh.
Oh fiddle,
It's up to my middle.
Oh heck,
It's up to my neck.
Oh dread,
It's upmmmmmmmmffffffffff...

--Shel Silverstein --

heart.gif

From Where the Sidewalk Ends, by Shel Silverstein, published by HarperCollins,1974.

Extension:
Have the students make their own boa constrictor to hide behind.