Teacher Puts Students in Pairs. Pairs Sit Close to Teacher As Teacher Reads the Poem, Awful

Teacher puts students in pairs. Pairs sit close to teacher as teacher reads the poem, “Awful Ogre Dances” from the book of poems “Awful Ogre’s Awful Day”- by Jack Prelutsky.

Pairs are given a copy of the poem. Teacher guides students through poem helping them answer these questions:

1. Read the first 4 lines. Talk to a partner about what “frequently” and “expanse” mean. Teacher and class discuss quickly.
2. Read the second 4 lines. What does the author mean when he says “music That swims in my head?”
3. Read the next 4 lines. What does intricate mean?
4. Read the last 4 lines on the first page. What does “right side up” mean?
5. Read the first 4 lines on the second page. How is the ogre dancing during the first two lines? What does carom mean?
6. Read the next 4 lines. What does panache mean?
7. Read the next 4 lines. How does the ogre best dance?
8. Read the last 4 lines. What does hazardous mean?
9. Graceful means pleasing and attractive, elegant and beauty of form. Which picture best shows a graceful ogre dancing? Why?

With your partner you need to create an “Awful Ogre” dance by using the sequence of moves in the poem. Teacher has them practice the dance as described in the first 8 lines of the poem, then students dance as teacher reads those lines aloud them.

First 4 lines: Dance near your partner, traveling in the “forest expanse.”

2nd 4 lines: Dance in your self-space to your own beat that “swims” in your head.

Then teacher has them practice next 8 lines, then students dance as teacher reads them as students follow the dance.

3rd 4 lines: Partners dance some kind of foot pattern that repeats

Last 4 lines on first page: Dance over mountains, into town, right side up, and upside down

Then teacher has them practice next 8 lines, then students dance as teacher reads them as students follow the dance.

First 4 lines on second page: Dance wildly, then carom off boulders, then beat on chest

Next 4 lines: Spin wildly, leap around with power and grace

Then teacher has them practice next 8 lines, then students dance as teacher reads them as students follow the dance.

Next 4 lines: Do a dance move with your partner, then by yourself facing your partner having a ‘dance off’

Last 4 lines on second page: Dance in your garden picking and eating the hazardous plants, then do a final pose

Allow pairs to show dance to class.

Above activity takes about 30 minutes.

If time allows. Give students copy of “Analysis of Baseball” poem by May Swenson. Source:

Read it to them. Ask them to compare and contrast the two poems. Discuss likes and differences of the poems.