Freeze Tag with a Goat, Grades 1-3

Posted byKim HarrisonPosted inresourcesTags:, , , , ,
freeze response poem elementary

Hi fellow teachers! “Freeze Tag with a Goat” is a fun poem read-aloud that you can use to complement or introduce classes about the freeze response in both animals and humans. For example, for Grade 1 classrooms, it can be used as part of science classes that explore daily and seasonal changes. For Grade 2, it can be used in units that explore growth and changes in animals, including behavioural adaptations. You could also use it in Grade 3 when introducing the fight, flight, freeze responses as part of Health and Physical Education.

You have full permission to use the poem for teaching or entertainment purposes within any educational setting, including online learning and homeschool.

Let me know if you use the poem – I’d love to hear how it goes.

Watch a video of the “Freeze Tag with a Goat” poem below.

Freeze Tag with a Goat 

Freeze tag with a goat
Is harder than you think
You sprint and stop, skip and drop
The goat won’t even blink

Freeze tag with a toad
Will make your elbows whir
You jump and hop, dodge and flop
The toad won’t even stir

Freeze tag with a mouse
Will make your eyeballs itch
You dance and bop, dash and plop
The mouse won’t even twitch

Original poem by Kim T. Harrison. Video created in Canva.

Download a PDF, black & white, printable version of the poem:

PRINT-FreezeTagWithAGoatDownload

Download a PPT slide version of the poem:

PPT-FreezeTagWithAGoatDownload

Teaching Ideas

  • To complement Grade 1 science classes about daily and seasonal changes
  • To complement Grade 2 classes about growth and changes in animals
  • To complement Grade 3 Health and Physical Education classes about the fight, flight, freeze responses
  • Ask students to act out the movements in the poem while you read it aloud
  • Ask students to draw a scene from the poem
  • Inquiry questions: what other animals freeze as a response to a threat? How long do they stay frozen? What do they do after the freeze response? What other responses do animals have when they feel threatened?
  • Opinion questions: Do you think freezing is a good response to a threat for animals? Why, why not? If you were a goat, when do you think you would freeze?
  • Animals featured in this poem: goat, toad, mouse

Happy Teaching! Kim x

Leave a comment