Caterpillar

Worksheet  Biography Planungroup

Compose a poem making use of the techniques evident in the poem, Caterpillar. 

Read the poem together as a class. Ask students the following questions:  

• Who is the poem addressing? (Answer: This poem is addressing the caterpillar as it transforms into a butterfly).  
• What does the poet hope will happen for the caterpillar (Answer: The poet hopes that the caterpillar will not be eaten by a toad or bird, and will safely be able to transform into a butterfly) 
• What is the rhyming pattern? (Answer: The rhyming scheme is AABBCCDDEE – 5 sets of rhyming couplets) 

Prior to the lesson, cut out a range of random pictures of objects and animals from magazines, catalogues and newspapers (Things like pets, flowers, watering cans, insects, hats, shoes, electronics, fruits and vegetables would work well – but not people.) Spread these pictures out on a desk at the front of the room or to one side. Allow students to come to the front and select one of the pictures to take back to their desk with them. 

Once students have chosen their image, they are to plan and compose a poem addressed to that object/animal. Students should complete the following steps: 

• Create a mind map of words and phrases relating to the picture they have chosen – include verbs, adjectives and nouns. 
• Look at the words in the mind map, and circle the words that will work well together in a poem. 
• For each word circled, list words that rhyme. 
• Decide what you hope will happen for the object in the picture. 
• Piece together the ideas into a poem that uses direct address and a rhyming scheme made up of rhyming couplets. 

Sample poem – using a picture of a red wheelbarrow 

Glossy and red 

By the garden bed, 

You roll along 

To your gardener’s song. 

May you never be overloaded 

As you are paraded, 

May you have shelter from rain 

so you’ll never complain 

about corrosion and rust, 

nor shall you collect dust.