This document provides an overview of poems that will be used to teach Year 4 pupils in primary schools in Malaysia. It introduces 8 poems covering topics like holidays, playgrounds, sounds, grandmothers' houses, playing with friends, noisy foods, woodpeckers, and sandcastles. It discusses the importance of listening to, reading aloud, and memorizing poems to help pupils appreciate the meaning, atmosphere, rhythm and use of language. Teachers are encouraged to experiment with different methods for engaging with each poem.

1. WALKING
THROUGH THE
GENRES
POEMS
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2. POEMS
Eight poems have been chosen to be used for Year 4
pupils in primary schools in Malaysia.
The poems are:
Holiday Memories by June Crebbin
At The Playground by Brian Moses
Sounds Like Magic by Celia Warren
Grandma’s House by Pamela Mordecai
Clap Your Hands by Pam Gidney
Noisy Food by Marian Swinger
Woodpecker by Brenda Williams
Sand Castle by J. Patrick Lewis
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3. LISTENING TO POEMS
Some poems need to be read to
and with, the pupils. Listening to
poems read aloud can be of
special value in helping the
children to enjoy a poem. At the
same time, the pupils will learn
how to read poetry aloud
themselves.
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4. READING POEMS ALOUD
 Pupils need to read poems aloud because it helps them to
appreciate each poem’s meaning, atmosphere and
rhythm; and in the case of their own poems, to think of
changes which might improve them.
 Individuals, pairs or groups can read the parts of different
characters, or read individual lines, groups of lines and
stanzas.
 The way in which a poem is spoken can make a valuable
contribution to the children’s understanding, appreciation
and enjoyment of it.
 Teachers can experiment with different methods,
depending on the poem.
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5. MEMORISING POEMS
 when pupils memorise poems, they increase their
vocabulary and develop the skill of using it expressively;
 they build up a rich store of creative ways in which words
can be used, and they begin to use them themselves.
 to help pupils memorise a poem, read it aloud to them,
then repeat it, encourage them to join in.
 display an enlarged copy of the poem, or work with a
small group of pupils who each have their own copy to
follow.
 read a line, then cover it and ask the pupils to repeat it,
building up the number of lines covered, until the pupils
can recite the entire poem.
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6. HOLIDAY MEMORIES
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7. HOLIDAY MEMORIES
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8. ABOUT THE POEM
The poem is about the writer’s adventures
during his imaginary holiday. Some of the
adventures were wrestling a jaguar, boxing
a kangaroo, reaching the moon, travelling to
Mars, and grappling a Grizzly bear.
MESSAGE OF THE POEM
Be imaginative and adventurous.
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9. AT THE PLAYGROUND
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10. ABOUT THE POEM
The poem is about a child having
fun at the playground.
MESSAGE OF THE POEM
 Have fun
 Be careful
 Love your parents
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11. SOUNDS LIKE MAGIC
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12. ABOUT THE POEM
The poem is about a child’s
imagination of sounds from the
objects stated in the poem.
MESSAGE OF THE POEM
 Be observant
 Be creative and imaginative
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13. GRANDMA’S HOUSE
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14. ABOUT THE POEM
This poem talks about the things that one can
find in a grandmother’s house and also about
the warmth of sharing tea with one’s
grandmother.
MESSAGE OF THE POEM
 Always love and care for your loved
ones.
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15. CLAP YOUR HANDS
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16. ABOUT THE POEM
This poem talks about having fun while
playing with your friends.
MESSAGE OF THE POEM
 Have fun with your friends.
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17. NOISY FOOD
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18. ABOUT THE POEM
It is an onomatopoeia poem revolving around a child
who enjoys eating noisy food. Although the mother
tries to advise the child that eating quietly is polite, the
child on the other hand thinks otherwise. He/ She
enjoys eating the food noisily.
MESSAGE OF THE POEM
Appreciate and enjoy your food.
Practise good table manners when you eat.
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19. WOODPECKER
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20. ABOUT THE POEM
This short poem revolves around a woodpecker
pecking tirelessly at a tree without getting any
benefit or result.
MESSAGE OF THE POEM
 Strategise
 Do things which are beneficial
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21. SAND CASTLE
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22. ABOUT THE POEM
The poem is about the poet’s excitement and creativity
in building a sandcastle. The poet describes in detail
how she builds the sandcastle from scratch. She is
disappointed when it gets washed away by the waves.
MESSAGE OF THE POEM
 Appreciate and enjoy nature
 Be strong when you are faced with
challenges
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23. LET’S HAVE FUN
Shape
Shape
Poems
Poems
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24. LET’S HAVE FUN
Shape
Shape
Poems
Poems
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25. LET’S HAVE FUN
Crackling
Yummy
Yummy
Circles
Circles
Sucking
Crunching
Pupils
Popping
Munching
Slurping
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26. Tunku Ireneza Marina Tunku Mazlan
ireneza@moe.gov.my
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