1. The poems can be used as a filler - you know those last few calming moments before recess or hometime and is like a literary blessing- for example Eric Rolls:

Miss Strawberry Cat and the Bouncing Rat
Once there was a bouncing rat,
long and lean and very fat

Here is a witty little narrative poem full of sound words associated with cats, rats - a great, fun way to savour language, just for the sake of enjoyment, no literary strings attached, (well obvious ones anyway).

2. Action for impromptu drama - Skateboard, by Max Fatchen. The very format of this poem suggests zig zag, up down skateboard movement. A great way to springboard children into imaginative play and the variety of action words is a "breathtaking trip " Or Wind by Steven Herrick, which also explores some of the movement and wordplay possibilities - a poem to use as a launching pad for a class poem.

3. Poems about the human tendency to be a collector - David Bateson has written a poem called Kim's collection . This is a list poem and it’s great stimulation for children to list off what they collect and why and can even incorporate that perennial game called Kim’s game- you know, different objects on a tray- viewed and memorized for several moments, then write the contents from memory. A good lead into memory by association, grouping.

4. Bunyip - does such an animal exist? It is part of Australian Aboriginal mythology and in this collection there are several poems by Kath Walker- Bwalla the Hunter, and The Bunyip. Great poems to explore the Australian heritage. and also a stepping stone to other hard to sight animals like the reputed black panther, Tasmanian tiger. List a character profile of the Bunyip, or the Tasmanian tiger- what do they look like? Draw them.

5. Conversation poems , Dulcie Meddows has written a great poem based on a one sided phone conversation- Hello Grandma. This could be changed to Hello Superman, Hello Prime Minister. Two children could script a poem, then read out aloud.

“Hello Grandma? Yes it's me.
Can I speak to Grandad please? ”

6. What if poems. What if a House was on its own? What if you were a giant? Here are two poems by different poets who take a leap of imagination to look at everyday life from a different angle- a great way to stimulate creative thinking. and a great teaching point about poetry- that poetry looks at life from a different angle.

7. Rhythm in history - and what a topic- bushranger days. Fifty Burly Bushrangers and Thunderbolt are two different poems, but written in rhyme.

Fifty burly bushrangers
went out to steal some gold,

There is scope to develop poems from these starting blocks and of course to look at Bushrangers too.

8. Tickle your funny bone poems . Goosey goosey gander and Onions, Bunions are but two examples. Laughter is needed in everyone’s day and what could be better than a chuckle as your class leaves for the day? It also sends a message that poetry is fun, can be fun.

9. Shorties - there are lots of very short poems scattered through the book. A great idea is to provide your class with paper and pencils. Ask the children to close their eyes as you read them the poem. What do they see? Now draw it. A poem can be read over several times, to create atmosphere. A great example of a short poem is Janeen Brian’s Fish. “Down by the sea- there, in the shallows” Or Waltz by Linda Smallman. “The wind sings with his froggy voice.”

10. Animal poems - children love animals and so much about life can be learnt from animals such as The Donkey, Snake, Night Birds, Catnap.

“S...s...snake is very slippery. ”

“My cat sleeps/with her claws clasped/and her long tail/ curled. ”

PS. Just one extra idea - some seasons in life are hard to express to children- what is drought to a child who does not come from a farm? We have recently experienced one of Australia’s most devastating droughts and what better way to experience the essence of a drought than through a poem- ‘To Solve a drought” is my contribution to this collection. Poetry can move across many time frames and into the metaphysical. This poem has elements of this.

I highly recommend this anthology- it allows much individual dipping and explores new Australian poetic gems than the traditional ones of Henry Lawson or Banjo Patterson.

First published in Literature Base 2003 (C) Lorraine Marwood