Folk Poem

Mrs. McKeown's Poetry

Folk Poem

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Folk Poem

Playmate

Introduction:
It's important to stress that folk poetry has been handed down by word of mouth. You need to explain that they will see many versions of the same poems surfacing when they begin to search for this type of poetry. I have included my own version and another I found to show examples of this. This is a partner handclapping rhyme that I remember as a child. Talk about this type of rhyme with your students. Encourage your students to try and find their favorite and see if there is more than one version of it.

See, see, Oh, Playmate
Come out and play with me
And bring your dollies three
Climb up my apple tree

Holler down my rain barrel
Slide down my cellar door
And we'll be jolly friends
Forever more, more, more, more

See, see, Oh, Playmate
I cannot play with you
My dolly's got the flu
The mumps and measles too

Ain't got no rain barrel
Ain't got no cellar door
But we'll be jolly friends
Forever more more more more

My memories

Oh Playmate, Come Out and Play With Me

Say, say, oh playmate,
Come out and play with me
And bring your dollies three
Climb up my apple tree

Slide down my rainbow
Into my cellar door
And we'll be jolly friends
Forever more, 1-2-3-4

It was a rainy day,
She couldn't come out and play
With tearful eyes, she breathed a sigh
And I could hear her say:

Say, say, oh playmate
I cannot play with you
My dolly's got the flu
Boo hoo hoo hoo hoo hoo

Ain't got no rainbow
Ain't got no cellar door
But we'll be jolly friends
Forever more, 1-2-3-4

-- Author Unknown --

Found at:

http://www.kididdles.com/mouseum/o037.html

Extension:
After all the students have found at least two versions of their folk poem, have them create a poster with the poems included and decorate the poster to fit the poem. Have a time to share their poem outloud and after everyone has shared, allow the other students to go around the room and copy down their classmates poems to keep in a poetry book.