Now We Are Six

Now We Are Six

By: A.A. Milne

Published By: Puffin Books

Copyright: 1955

Now We Are Six is a collection of poems to be shared with children who can use their imagination and find a love for rhymes. Boys and girls might find some familiar characters in these poems such as a cuddly bear who loves honey. 

Reading Level: Grades K-3

Suggested Delivery: Read Aloud

Web Resources:

How to teach Poetry: This link includes suggestions on how to teach poetry to students. It provides a definition of poetry, how to introduce poetry to beginner and middle poetry readers, examples of poems to share with students and so much more. One of the examples comes straight for the book Now We Are Six called "Forgiveness". 

Poetry in Centers: Here is a link from a reoccurring lesson for centers from ReadWriteThink.org. Although this lesson includes other aspects of reading and writing, there is a specific center for poetry where students will read and identify rhyming words. Now We Are Six would be a great collection of poems to include in this center.

Key Vocabulary:

• Supercilious
• Fortune
• Minstrels
• Tribute
• Particular
• Humbly
• Descending
• Seized
• Hurtled
• Mumps
• Conjurer
• Blips
• Buffetings
• Frequent
• Battlements
• Triumphant
• Knickers
• Sulky
• Murmur

Suggestions for Activities for Students:

During Reading/ After Reading -

This collection of poems would work great as a way to introduce poetry to young students. After reading one or two poems a day aloud the teacher and students could discuss the rhyming words in the poem(s), what the poem is about, and what specific words in the poem mean. Have students discuss their interpretations of the poem based on words, expressions, or phrases. If possible, it would be a great idea to have the students create a Poem Journal where they can write responses to the poems and exercise their ability to communicate through writing their thoughts of the poems and respond to the poem by stating what each was about. In their journals they can also record vocabulary words and record definitions of those words to expand their vocabulary.  

For students who are working with poems at an accelerated pace, they could begin practicing writing their own poems that follow the same format or structure as the poem or poems that were read that day.

Awards and Acknowledgements:

School Library Journal Review -

Grade all levels?Penguin's production amplifies the fact that A.A. Milne has created some of the most memorable poetry and prose in children's literature. Charles Kuralt narrates all the tapes. When We Were Very Young resounds with Kuralt's lively reading of the nonsensical and onomatopoetic rhymes that fill the heads of toddlers. Opposite these poems, the narrator reads, with loving care, the verses about the real and imaginary playmates that warm youngsters' hearts. Now We Are Six reflects the growing complexity of a child's world. The narrator's voice is soft and vulnerable when reading of the innocent, inquisitive thoughts that preoccupy children, yet Kuralt speaks with a touch of exasperation when reading the poems depicting the young's struggle to understand the adult world. He does equally as well with Milne's stories. All the inhabitants of the Hundred Acre Wood are introduced and their humorous escapades chronicled in Winnie-the-Pooh. While portraying the characters, Kuralt's child-like tone reflects their goodness, innocence, and wee intellect. The House at Pooh Corner continues the adventures of Pooh and introduces the bouncing, pouncing, lovable Tigger. Besides the delight children will experience when listening to the light-hearted, captivating stories, young listeners will also identify with the universal hopes, fears, and wishes of the characters. Kuralt's deep, learned-sounding voice gives the narration a fatherly, comforting feel. Libraries will want to acquire these high quality productions.?Mark P. Tierney, William B. Wade Elementary School, Waldorf, MD

Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.