Year 7 Poetry Unit – Ten
Little Schoolchildren
Ten little schoolchildren
standing in a line.
One opening her mouth too far
and then there were 9.
Nine little schoolchildren
trying not to be late.
One missed the school bus
then there were 8.
Eight little schoolchildren
in the second eleven.
One twisted an ankle
and then there were 7.
Seven little schoolchildren
trying out some tricks.
One went a bit too far
then there were 6.
Six little schoolchildren
hoping teacher won’t arrive.
One flicked a paper dart
and then there were 5.
Five little schoolchildren
standing by the door.
One tripped the teacher up
and then there were 4.
Four little schoolchildren
longing for their tea.
One was kept in after school
and then there were 3.
Three little schoolchildren
lurking by the loo.
Teacher saw a puff of smoke
then there were 2.
Two little schoolchildren
think that fights are fun.
One got a bloody nose
and then there was 1.
One little schoolchild
playing in the sun.
Whistle blew, buzzer went,
then there were none!
TASKS
1. Cut up the poem in ten sections for pupils. Put the verses into an
envelope, and ask the pupils to reconstruct the poem. Teacher tells the pupils that there
are 4 lines per verse, and every 2nd and 4th line rhyme.
2. When pupils have glued the reconstructed poem onto a piece of paper,
ask them to do the following annotations:
underline all lines that are repeated in each verse.
list all of the things that the school children did in a day.
each second line starts with a action word: list them, and give the
proper name for a doing word.
label any examples of alliteration (when two words in a line start
with the same letter i.e. sizzling sausages).
3. Read and learn the poem in pairs. Create actions to go with each
verse and then perform the poem for the class.
4. Finally, make their own poem in this pattern about one of the
following:
10 little disco dancers
10 little footballers
10 little pop stars
10 little teachers
Use this template to structure the poem, counting down from 10 to
1:
10 little ______________
_____ing __________ line.
_____________________
and then there were nine.
NOTE: the words in italics are only examples. You will use different
words but they must rhyme, like line and nine or eleven and seven.
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