It is with all of these factors in mind that I have developed a curriculum unit in which I use the poetry of Shel Silverstein to motivate students to write poems, create narrative pieces, and develop expository essays. Along with his works of prose, which are praised by many, Silverstein has written a number of books containing his poetry. These books include
Where the Sidewalk Ends, A Light in the Attic,
and
Falling Up
. His collections are quite popular with young readers. He creates his own illustrations to accompany most poems. These intriguing sketches serve to attract and delight the reader while giving them additional insight into the poem's contents and message. Though his poems may be silly or nonsensical, they often contain a deeper message to which most students can easily relate. They provide elementary students with enjoyable pieces to read and often to interpret creatively. After reading Silverstein's "Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout Would Not Take the Garbage Out," all of us should be able to tell our own story of the consequences we have faced by avoiding unpleasant tasks.
