A Classroom Speaks - Poem & Activity for National Poetry Day (theme: Messages)

A Classroom Speaks

The window says “welcome”,
the door says “come in”.
The whistle says “quiet”,
the book says “begin”.

The paper says "write"
and the snack says “yum yum”.
The carpet is sighing
“please sit on your bum”.

The test says “no way”
but the sticker says “try”.
The pencil says “greetings”,
the rubber “goodbye”.

The paint says “clear up”
and the sink says “splish splosh”.
The glue yells “yahoo!”
but the apron shouts “wash!”.

The clock says “it’s over”,
the bell bellows “dash!”
and that is the end of
the big classroom bash.

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step (1) read the poem above, and test the children's memories of it (e.g. "what does the clock say?")
step (2) Everyone thinks of their own place. It could be a bedroom, a classroom, a playground, or something else entirely.
step (3) Have a think about all the object you might find in that place. Write them down in a list, then have a think: if they could talk, what might they say? What messages might they have for us?