Beast feast is a collection of delightful short poems about a wide array of animals. Alliteration, rhyme, and metaphor are seamlessly used as educational knowledge is given about each creature. Visual imagery adds meaning and fun to Florian’s poetry. His anteater poem perfectly replicates the animal’s “snaking...snout”, while in a later poem the word “spew” is playfully splashed on the page. Full page watercolors also illustrate the poetry’s humorous look at each starring character, from the stern looking barracuda chomping on Earth to the smiling armadillo lying on in bed. Like each poem, every illustration is worthy of examination.
The Firefly
On August nights
The firefly lights
Blink
ON and OFF
Amongst the trees
But have no need
For batteries.
Presentation of Poem: Before reading this poem to younger children, activate prior knowledge of fireflies through questioning. With a large copy of the poem, read the poem out loud. Allow children to read it with you a second time. After this practice, demonstrate how flashlights can turn “on” and “off” like fireflies. Allow students to take turns turning flashlights on and off during subsequent readings.
Lesson: Teach the sight words "ON" and "OFF". Fold a sheet of paper in half and allow students to draw a firefly lit up on one side and one that is not on the other side. Students can then label each side with the words “ON” and “OFF.”
Extension Activity: Set up a poetry center with this poem displayed. Students can practice reading the poem with individual pointers and then act out the poem. Provide students with props for their pretend play. Possible props might include antennae (pipe cleaners), flashlights, insect nets, and clear jars.
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