Introduction: This poem may be read as a linearound, between two individuals, or between two groups. The lines are divided by colors.
The Pickety Fence By David McCord
The pickety fence, the pickety fence
Give it a lick, it's the pickety fence
Give it a lick, it's a clickety fence
Give it a lick, it's a lickety fence
Give it a lick, Give it a lick
Give it a lick with a rickety stick
Pickety
Pickety
Pickety
Pick.
or try it in a more challenging way:
The pickety fence, the pickety fence
Give it a lick, it's the pickety fence
Give it a lick, it's a clickety fence
Give it a lick, it's a lickety fence
Give it a lick, Give it a lick
Give it a lick with a rickety stick
Pickety
Pickety
Pickety
Pick.
From Knock at a Star: A Child's Introduction to Poetry; X.J. Kennedy & Dorothy M. Kennedy, Little, Brown. 1999.
Extension: Bring a section of picket fencing, a washboard, or anything that will make a clickety noise when dragging something (stick, pen, etc.) across it. Have some children create a rhythm band in the background to accompany the reading of the poem.
Introduction: Show children how poems with similar rhythms & patterns can be set to music. The following poem can be sung to the verse tune of Old Susanna.
The Cupboard By Walter De La Marc
I know a little cupboard,
With a teeny tiny key,
And there's a jar of lollipops
For me, me, me.
It has a little shelf, my dear,
As dark as dark can be,
And there's a dish of Branbury Cakes
For me, me, me.
I have a small fat grandmamma,
With a very slippery knee,
And she's keeper of the Cupboard,
With a key, key, key.
And when I'm very good, my dear,
As good as good can be,
There's Branbury Cakes and Lollipops
For me, me, me.
From A New Treaury of Children's Poetry, Selected & Introduced by Joanna Cole, Doubleday, 1984.
Extension: Explore other poetry books to see if students can come up with other poems that can be set to well-known tunes from other traditional songs.
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