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:

Download a PPT slide version of the poem:

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

Hi fellow teachers! This fun, top-down and bottom-up acrostic poem is all about Spring in Canada, and can be used to tie into spring activities, including spring animals, nesting, habitats, migration, or animals in different provinces. For more advanced students, you can also use it as an example of an acrostic poem before asking students to write their own acrostics.

Alternatively, let the video of the poem, read aloud by me, the poet, play after recess or before moving to a new activity as a creative time filler or moment of calm and focus.

See the teaching ideas below and grab the PPT version or print-ready PDF to use in your classroom. You have full permission to use the poem for teaching 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 “Spring from Coast to Coast” poem below.

SPRING from Coast to Coast

Squirrels sniff the melting snow
Pups and kits get ready to go
Robins sing their cheery song
Insects hatch, growing strong
Newborn lambs skip and play 
Grazing goats jump in the hay
Goslings follow mom and bond
Newts and toads find a pond
Inchworms creep, looping on trees
Rabbits nibble, enjoying the breeze
Puffins gather on ocean rocks
Sparrows nest and fly in flocks

SPRING is here from coast to coast
Which part of spring do you love the most? 

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

Download a PDF, black & white, printable version of the poem – includes a page with a simple explanation and example of an acrostic poem:

Download a PPT slide version of the poem – includes a slide with a simple explanation and example of an acrostic poem:

Teaching Ideas

• Introduce acrostic poems, then ask students to write their own acrostics using simple SPINE words
• Complement classes on spring animals – use inquiry questions to discover what the animals in the poem do during spring
• Complement classes on different Canadian provinces – use inquiry questions or research to discover which animals live in which Canadian provinces
• Fine arts activities – students draw a scene from the poem or draw a picture of an animal of their choosing in spring
• Animals featured in the poem: squirrels, foxes, robins, insects, lambs, goats, goslings, newts, toads, inchworms, rabbits, puffins, sparrows

Happy Teaching! Kim x

Hi fellow teachers! Are you looking for a new fun poem to tie into your Valentine’s Day projects and activities? “A Valentine’s Day Wish” is about a perfect day spent with a grandparent, but can be interpreted in many ways. You could use it to ask your students how they would spend a perfect day, what activities they would do with a grandparent or other family member, or what activities they like to do in February.

You have full permission to use the poem for teaching 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 “A Valentine’s Day Wish” poem below. This “Poetry Pause with Dr. Kim” version includes a short interactive mindfulness introduction before the poem. You can let the video play while you tidy or prep!

Let’s play some games and tell some tales
Then follow friends through snowy trails

Let’s build a fort and eat some cheese
Then watch the birds hop through the trees

Let’s make a card and paint a rock
Then sew a face onto a sock

Let’s snuggle up and read a book
Then find our aprons on the hook

Let’s bake some cakes and tasty treats
Then share our yummy homemade sweets

Let’s swap a gift and show we care
Then blow some bubbles in the air

Let’s hug goodbye and dream of when
We’ll get to do it all again!

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

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

Download a simple PPT slide version of the poem:

Teaching Ideas. Use the poem to …

• Introduce or complement your other Valentine’s Day activities.
• Practice representing: ask students to draw one of the activities featured in the poem
• Introduce a craft activity: choose one of the activities in the poem and have your students do the activity (rock painting, making cards, etc.).
• Practice or complement creative writing: ask your students to list 5 activities they would like to do in a “perfect day”. For older students, you can ask them to write a short paragraph about their activities.
• Complement drama or performing arts activities: ask students to act out the day they heard about in the poem.
• Introduce or complement Show & Tell time: ask students to choose one activity they do with a grandparent or other family member and tell the class about it.

Happy Teaching! Kim x