Introduction:

As a class make a list of characteristics of a giraffe. Encourage the children to describe a giraffe’s color and size, the shape of its head, neck and legs. Ask about the parts of the face and give hints to help the class remember that giraffes have tails. Then before reading the poem, define stilts and tree-tall. Try to use a document camera while reading the poem aloud, so that the words and letters are magnified enough for everyone to see how the words and letters relate to each other.
If not available, copy the poem out onto a large piece of paper.

Giraffe
By J. Patrick Lewis

T
r
e
e- tall
giraffe
u
p

t
o

h
i
s

n
e
c
k
in brown and yellow
patchwork quilts, turns t
and hobbles away a
on wooden i
s s s s l
t t t t
i i i i
l l l l
t t t t
s s s s
This poem cannot be seen clearly when typed into this blog, so please look at the picture of the page to see the beauty and cleverness of this poem.

From: Lewis, J. Patrick. 1998. DOODLEDANDIES: POEMS THAT TAKE SHAPE. Illustrated by Lisa Desimini. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers. ISBN 0-689-81075-X

Extension
Ask everyone about the characteristics of an elephant. What are its legs like? Is there something like an elephant’s ears? Does an elephant’s color remind them of something?
Let the class sketch elephants using just pencils. Then instead of coloring the pictures, they should try to fill the spaces with words that tell about the elephant.

Also show the children "Giraffe" by Maureen W. Armour which is found in
Janeczko, Paul B. ed. 2001. A POKE IN THE I. Illustrated by Chris Raschka. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Candlewick Press. ISBN 0-7636-0661-8

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