DRAFT

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Form 2
I wonder

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Table of Contents
Synopsis
Elements
Activities
Assessment
Answer Key
Glossary
Panel of writers

Curriculum Development Division.

Ministry of Education Malaysia

. 2010

I WONDER POETRY
The Poem

I WONDER
I wonder why the grass is green,
And why the wind is never seen?
Who taught the birds to build a nest,
And told the trees to take a rest?
O, when the moon is not quite round,
Where can the missing bit be found?
Who lights the stars, when they blow out,
And makes the lightning flash about?
Who paints the rainbow in the sky,
And hangs the fluffy clouds so high?
Why is it now, do you suppose,
That Dad won.t tell me, if he knows?
Jeannie Kirby

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I WONDER POETRY
Synopsis

The persona, a child, is wondering about the natural happenings, asking why the
grass is green (instead of being other colours) and why the wind is invisible. H
e or she
continues to ponder on how the birds know how to build nests without any instruc
tion and
why the trees shed their leaves in autumn. He also wonders where the other part
of the
moon is(when the moon shows up in the sky in a crescent shape).
He wonders about who makes the stars shine and what makes the lightning flash
about. He asks who colours the rainbow and puts the clouds high in the sky. His
father,
however, would not answer the child.s questions. He wonders why the father was u
nwilling
to give him the answers.
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I WONDER POETRY
Elements

Persona (Speaker)
- An inquisitive child who observes the world around him.
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Point of view
- First person ( I. Wonder)
Setting
- Outdoor; in the countryside, during the day
.
.
.
.

green grass
windy day
nests on trees
Autumn

- Outdoor during the night

. Stars in the sky
. A crescent moon
. A flash of lightning

- Outdoor after the rain

. Rainbow in the sky
. A crescent moon

- Indoors where the child is talking to his father

Theme
- Curiosity of a child
Children are by nature inquisitive and they like to ask questions. They do not t
ake things
for granted and they like to ask questions, seeking answers to things that puzzl
e them.
This is evident in the numerous questions about the surrounding that the child p
oses in
the poem.
- The wonders of nature
The poem shows readers of how majestic and awe-inspiring nature can be for those
who
take the time to stop and appreciate it. In the eyes of the persona, nature is j
ust amazing:
the various wonders of the sky, the complexity exhibited by a humble bird in nes
t-making,
the tide of time shown by the surrounding trees.
- The thirst for knowledge

Humans, by nature, are inquisitive beings. We have the innate drive to seek know
ledge
and information to better ourselves. It sets us apart from other creatures. As s
uch, we
strive to obtain as much information in our daily undertakings. Life is a consta
nt learning
process and this urge manifests itself from an early age. This is shown in the p
ersona.s
incessant questioning.

Moral Values
- Cultivating a desire for knowledge
As humans, we must never be satisfied with the level of knowledge that we have
acquired. We must continue to try to better ourselves through acquiring more kno
wledge.
- Caring for our environment
Through the eyes of the poet, nature is portrayed as majestic, mysterious and be
autiful.
As such, it gives readers a sense appreciation towards our environment. Therefor
e, it is
pertinent that we take measures to care for our environment.
- The existence of a creator or God
The poet exudes a sense of wonder at the grandeur and mystery of nature. He is a
mazed
that, even though he cannot see it, he knows that wind is there. He is also baff
led how a
bird that has never gone to school can build a nest, much like an architect, hav
ing gone to
university, constructs a building. In the last stanza, the father.s not answerin
g the poet.s
questions indicates how, for all our knowledge and technological superiority, hu
mans will
never be able to provide all the answers to life.s mysteries.
Structure
- 6 stanzas (6 couplets)
Rhyme Scheme
- Regular (aa bb cc dd ee)
Tone
- Questioning and curious. The child employs an almost interrogative aura while
posing
the questions. He gives us a glimpse of what goes on in his mind.
Mood
- Reflective
Language
- Simple, Wh-questions
Imagery
- Nature (grass, wind, bird, moon, stars, lightning, rainbow, clouds)
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Poetic Devices
- Personification ("trees...take a rest")
- And told the trees to take a rest
- Who lights the stars when they blow out
- Alliteration ("grass is green", "birds to build")

http://biteenglish.blogspot.com/2010/06/i-wonder-by-jeannie-kirby.html

I WONDER ACTIVITY 1

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And the answer is

Time : 80 minutes
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Materials

Aims

1
2
Handout 1
Worksheet 1

1
Responding to questions based on elements of
nature in the poem
2
Understanding the poem better by answering
pre-questions about the poem

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Steps

1
Organise students into groups of 3-4.
2
Distribute Handout 1 to the groups.
3
Instruct the groups to formulate Wh-questions and answers for each picture. Call
on
a few groups to pose their questions and get the other groups to answer them.
4
Distribute Worksheet 1 to the groups.
5
Instruct them to complete the worksheet. Discuss their answers in class.

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Notes

Encourage students to look up the possible answers using the Internet. This will
help
them to increase their knowledge for future activities.
Handout 1 can be flashed on the projector if colour print is unavailable.

Alternative: bring the class outside to experience nature first-hand.

I WONDER HANDOUT 1

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And the answer is

Pictorial Stimuli 1.jpg

I WONDER WORKSHEET 1

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And the answer is

Answer the following questions using short answers.

1. Why is grass green in colour and not blue?
___________________________________________________________________
2. How do we know that there is wind when we can.t see it?
___________________________________________________________________
3. How do birds know how to build nests even though they don.t go to school?
___________________________________________________________________
4. Why do trees turn golden brown during Autumn?
___________________________________________________________________
5. What does it mean when the moon is not a complete circle?
___________________________________________________________________
6. Why do stars twinkle in the sky?
___________________________________________________________________
7. Why is lightning dangerous?
___________________________________________________________________
8. Why does a rainbow have many colours?
___________________________________________________________________
9. Are clouds made of soft, fluffy cotton?

___________________________________________________________________
10. Does everybody know the answers to all of these questions?
___________________________________________________________________

I WONDER ACTIVITY 2

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Tell me

banners

Time : 80 minutes
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Materials

Aims

1
Worksheet 2
2
Colouring materials,
strings and glue

1
To appreciate the poem through recitation.
2
To recite the poem with expression.

3
To comprehend the poem through
visual/pictorial depiction of the poem.

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Steps

1
Phase 1: recite the poem with expression.
2
Students recite the poem, supervised by the teacher.
3
Teacher discusses the stanzas with the class
4
Phase 2: Distribute Worksheet 2 to the students. Instruct them to draw a visual
representation of the respective stanzas (i.e. draw the scene or image discussed
in
the stanza). Then, on the bottom space of the handout, students re-write the
corresponding stanza as creatively as they can.
5
Get some students to display their work at the English Corner.

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You may watch a sample video of the class from Youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbjXCJV_C-s
Activity adapted from The Big Book of Reading Response Activities 2007
Notes

I WONDER WORKSHEET 2

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Tell me

banners

Draw a picture or scene that depicts the stanza. Then, re-write that stanza crea
tively in
the space provided.

_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

STANZA : _________

I WONDER ACTIVITY 3

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Blast off!!!

Time : 40 minutes
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Materials

Aims

1
Worksheet 3

1
To identify the information that the students
have learnt from the poem.
2
To highlight possible issues in the poem.

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Steps

1
Distribute Worksheet 3. Students list THREE things they have learnt from the
poem.
2
Students list out TWO interesting facts about the poem.
3
Students list out ONE question on either the elements, facts and any other relev
ant
information found in the poem.
4
Select a few students to come forward and present their findings to the class.
Encourage the other students to answer the questions posed by the presenters.

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Notes

For more advanced students, they can compose short essays for each category inst
ead
of writing them in point form.

I WONDER WORKSHEET 3

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Blast off!!!

Fill in the Blow-out spaces with the items indicated in the rocket.
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I WONDER ACTIVITY 4

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That Makes You .

Time : 40 minutes
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Materials

Aims

1
Dictionary
2
Worksheet 4a
3
Worksheet 4b
4
Colour pencils

Analysing the character and his characteristics

in a poem.
2
To make word association through synonyms.

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Steps

1
Distribute Worksheet 4a. Students look up the meanings of the words in the
dictionary.
2
Students match words with their synonyms by colouring them in the same colour.
Use different colours for different pairs. Discuss the answers.
3
Distribute Worksheet 4b. Students study each stanza and decide on the character
traits demonstrated by the persona in I Wonder .

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Notes

For advanced students, the teacher can instruct them to justify their answers wi
th
reference to the poem.

I WONDER WORKSHEET 4a

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That Makes You .

Using a dictionary, find out the meaning of the following words. Then, match the
words with similar meanings by colouring the space with the same coloured colour
pencil.

Innocent

Curious

Confused

Mesmerised

Concerned

In awe

Inquisitive

Observant

Naive

Perceptive

Worried

Baffled

I WONDER WORKSHEET 4b

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That Makes You .

Read the following stanzas. Then, using the words from Worksheet 4a, decide what
character trait(s) the persona demonstrates in each of the stanza. You may use t
he
traits more than once.

CHARACTER TRAIT(S)

STANZA

I wonder why the grass in green,

And why the wind is never seen?

Who taught the birds to build a nest,

And told the trees to take a rest?

O, when the moon is not quite round,

Where can the missing bit be found?

Who lights the starts, when they blow out?

And makes the lightning flash about?

Who paints the rainbow in the sky,

And hangs the fluffy clouds so high?

Why is it now, do you suppose,

That Dad won.t tell me, if he knows?

I WONDER ACTIVITY 5

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Thoughts on Themes

Time : 40 minutes
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Materials

Aims

1
Worksheet 5

1
To identify possible themes from the poem.

2
To develop rationalising skills through
explaining one.s answers.

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Steps

1
Discuss possible themes with the students.
2
Instruct individual students to attempt to identify possible themes from the poe
m.
3
Distribute Worksheet 5.
4
Instruct students to complete the chart with possible themes based on the select
ed
lines.
5
Students justify their selection on the space provided.
6
Discuss the students. answers in class.

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Notes

For advanced students, they can use their answers to construct an essay.
The answers for the exercise may be used inter-changeably. Therefore, accept any
logical answers given by the students.

I WONDER Worksheet 5

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Thoughts on Themes

For the following lines from the poem I Wonder., provide a possible theme. Then,
justify your selection of theme on the space below.

In the spaces below, provide your explanation for your choice of themes.

Theme 1

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

Theme 2

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

Theme 3

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

Theme 4

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

I WONDER ASSESSMENT 1

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Assessment 1

Answer the following questions based on the poem I Wonder by Jeannie Kirby.
1. Match the phrases in Column A with the correct phrases in Column B:

Column A

Column B
The child wonders why the
grass
-

when the moon is not completely

round.
The child is amazed that
birds know
-

arch with brilliant colours across

the sky.

The child wonders where

the missing bits go
-

refuses to answers his/her

questions.
The child wonders who
makes the stars
-

is green in colour instead of other

colours.
The child wonders who
makes the rainbow
-

how to build nests without prior

training.
The child is slightly
disappointed that the father
-

twinkle brightly in the dark sky.

2. In your opinion, what does the poet mean by the phrase

a rest ?

told the trees to take

_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
3. Which line shows us that the child is questioning the father.s wisdom?
A. When they blow out (stanza 4)
B. If he knows? (stanza 6)
C. Where can the missing bit be found? (stanza 3)
D. I wonder why the grass is green, (stanza 1)

I WONDER ASSESSMENT 2

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Assessment 2

Extract the lines in the poem and categorise them in the right column.

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I Wonder
Go to fullsize image
Go to fullsize image
. .

1 __________________________

2 __________________________

3 __________________________

4 __________________________

5 __________________________

1 __________________________

2 __________________________

3 __________________________

4 __________________________

5 __________________________

Sky-based questions
Land-based questions

DISCUSSION QUESTION:
In approximately 50

100 words, discuss the following statement:

Children.s curiosity is natural and should be nurtured . Do you agree? Discuss

with reference to the poem.

I WONDER ASSESSMENT 3

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Assessment 3

Give short responses to the following questions.

1. What is the message of the poem?

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

2. What natural element of nature is discussed in stanza 4? How is this element

powerful?

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

3. In your opinion, how is this poem relevant to our personal life? Give your an
swer
with reference to the poem.

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

I WONDER ASSESSMENT 4

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Assessment 4

A. Select the correct answer.

1. The words

I Wonder. show that the persona is

A happy C curious
B careful D superstitious
2. What does the persona see after a downpour?

A stars C lightning
B clouds D a rainbow
3. Which element of nature in this poem is round and changes its shape with
time?

A star C moon
B clouds D rainbow
B. Provide short answers for the following questions
4. Who wrote the poem

I Wonder.?

______________________________________________________________
5. State one value that we can learn from this poem.

______________________________________________________________
6. In your opinion, why doesn.t the father answer the persona.s questions?

______________________________________________________________

I WONDER POETRY
Answer Key

ACTIVITY 1: AND THE ANSWER IS....

(These are suggested answers only. Accept any logical answers from the students)
1. Because it has a chemical called Chlorophyll that makes it green.
2. Because it is transparent to light.
3. They know it instinctively.
4. Because there is no sun in winter, so they don.t need leaves.
5. The sun shines on different parts of the moon.
6. It only seems to twinkle because of the gasses around our earth.
7. Because it can destroy anything it strikes.
8. Because the raindrops turn the sun rays into various colours.
9. No, they.re water turned to gas.
10. (Accept any logical answers)

ACTIVITY 2: TELL ME. BANNERS

(Sample picture of a completed product)

20081028_autumn_nest_final.jpg
The_Grasslands_by_midnightstouch.jpg

e16968image1.jpg
moon1.jpg

Dad Boy.jpg
rainbow1.jpg

ACTIVITY 3: BLAST OFF!!

(Sample answers. Accept any acceptable response)
blast off.jpg

ACTIVITY 4 : THAT MAKES YOU....

WORKSHEET 4a

Innocent

Curious

Confused

Mesmerised

Concerned

In awe

Inquisitive

Observant

Naive

Perceptive

Worried

Baffled

WORKSHEET 4b

CHARACTER TRAIT(S)

STANZA

Curious
Innocent

I wonder why the grass in green,

And why the wind is never seen?

Inquisitive
Perceptive

Who taught the birds to build a nest,

And told the trees to take a rest?

Baffled
Perceptive

O, when the moon is not quite round,

Where can the missing bit be found?

In awe
Worried

Who lights the starts, when they blow out?

And makes the lightning flash about?

Mesmerised
Baffled

Who paints the rainbow in the sky,

And hangs the fluffy clouds so high?

Naive
Perplexed

Why is it now, do you suppose,

That Dad won.t tell me, if he knows?

ACTIVITY 5 : THOUGHTS ON THEMES

(NOTE: The themes may be used inter-changeably.
A:
THEME 1: Thirst for knowledge
THEME 2: Greatness of the Creator
THEME 3: Wonders of nature
THEME 4: The mysteries of nature
B:
(Accept any answers the is logical, acceptable, and can be justified by the stud
ents)
Sample:
THEME 1: Thirst for knowledge.
I choose this theme because the persona shows a keen interest in finding the rea
son behind
the fact that he feels the presence of wind, even though he can.t see it.

Assessment1.JPG
ASSESSMENT 1
1.

2. The trees are shedding their leaves in preparation for the sunless winter.
3. b) if he knows? (stanza 6)

ASSESSMENT 2
I WOND1.JPG

DISCUSSION QUESTION:
AGREE
DISAGREE

- normal process of growing up

- helps children to learn about things

around them

- helps to develop their minds

- can expose them to undesirable

elements

- may lead to disappointment from

uncooperative adults

- can be dangerous

ASSESSMENT 3
1. Nature can be wonderful. It is beautiful and amazing for those who stop to no
tice it.
We must be responsible for taking care of our natural surroundings. Also, childr
en
have a natural sense of curiosity for wanting to know about things. Adults shoul
d
appreciate this nature and help them in any way possible.
2. Lightning. It is dangerous because of its destructive nature.
3. We are a part of nature in many ways. What happens to nature affects us direc
tly,
whether positively or otherwise. As such, it falls on us to be responsible human
beings and do whatever it takes to ensure that nature is preserved. In the poem,

the
child is amazed and inquisitive about nature and her happenings. He shows keen
interest in nature and wants to know as much about it as he can. This is in star
k
contrast to the father who appears uninterested. This is shown in his unwilling
or
unable to help the child answer his questions.
ASSESSMENT 4
A: 1. C curious
2. D a rainbow
3. C moon
B: 4. Jeannie Kirby
5. - appreciating nature
- thirst for knowledge
- existence of the Creator (choose one)
6. Maybe the father doesn.t know the answers. This shows that, even though adult
s
have learnt a lot of thing, there are still some things that remain a mystery. O
nly God
has the answer to these questions.

I WONDER POETRY
Glossary

WORDS LINE MEANING IN CONTEXT

take a rest 4 to stop producing
blow out 7 to stop shining
flash 8 sudden, bright light
paints 9 created
fluffy 10 puffy and soft

I WONDER POETRY
Panel of Writers

Coordinators
Diana Fatimah Bt Ahmad Sahani Bahagian Pembangunan Kurikulum, KPM
Masreen Wirda Bt Mohammad Ali Kementerian Pelajaran Malaysia
Tengku Ireneza Marina Tunku Mazlan Aras 4-8, Blok E9
Eileen Jessie Ah Guan Kompleks Kerajaan Parcel E
Ng Yew Kee Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan
62604 Putrajaya
Jimmy Then Choon Jing SMK Bintulu, Peti Surat 97
97007 Bintulu, Sarawak.
Panel of Writers
Andrew Leong Kong Meng SMK Air Itam, Jalan Thean Teik,
(Panel Head) 11500 Pulai Pinang
Adrian Robert SM La Salle, P.O. Box 10282
88803 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.
Vasanthi Sandra Gasam SMK Tun Habab, Jalan Tajul.
81900 Kota Tinggi, Johor.