Refrain

 

Silverstein, Shel. Where the Sidewalk Ends. Harper Collins Publishers. New York, NY. 2004

(special 30th anniversary edition)

Introduction:  The teacher, a student or both could be jumping rope as the class comes into the library.   After all students are seated and wondering what is going on, turn out the lights and turn on the overhead that has the poem written on it.

Read the poem out loud.

Jumping Rope

by Shel Silverstein

This started out as a 

jumping rope

You probably think that

I'm a dope

But this started out as a 

jumping rope

And now I fear there is

no hope

But this started out as a 

jumping rope.

Give the students a few minutes to ponder the poem, then ask them to close their eyes and listen to it again. This time read the poem a little slower with a strong emphasis on the refrain line "this started out as a jumping rope".

Turn on the lights and ask students to brainstorm what they think happened, and why the poet keeps repeating that line over and over in the poem.  

After hearing ideas, open a copy of the book and show them the illustration that accompanies the poem.

www.shelsilverstein.com