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Before You Read
You might want to point out Oxford, England, on a map of the world. Explain that this is where Charles Dodgson the professor of mathematics became Lewis Carroll, the author of Alice in Wonderland.. It began one summer day in 1863 while Charles Dodgon (also Lewis Carroll) enjoyed a picnic with the family of the dean of the college where he taught. Little Alice Liddell, the dean's daughter, became the model for a character named Alice in a fairy tale that Lewis Carroll made up to amuse the children during their afternoon together.
Classroom Activities
Praise a Meal
After students read the poems "Beautiful Soup" on page 9, they might enjoy writing a poem that praises a favorite food or meal. Have them
- consider how the food looks, smells, tastes, and sounds as it is prepared or eaten.
- list active verbs that describe characteristics of the food.
- list descriptive words that help readers envision what this food is like and why it is so wonderful.
A Voice from Nature
In Lewis Carroll's poems, readers learn what many different animals have to say, including a lobster, rabbit, turtle, and walrus. These creatures are as funny as they are clever or wise. Students might create a poem for an animal they admire. The poems might
- be written by the animal itself, using the pronoun "I."
- be written by a speaker other than animal, describing or telling about the animal.
- include the animals thoughts and feelings as well as descriptions or explanations.
- include the animal's exact words in conversation with a human.
More Words for Old Father William
In "Father William" on pages 12-13, students read stanzas that alternate between the youth's questions to Father William and Father William's often silly replies. Encourage students to add two more stanzas to this poem. The stanzas should:
- present a question by the youth in the first stanza and a reply by Father William in the second stanza.
- use direct quotations for the exact words spoken by the youth or Father William.
- be humorous in a style similar to that presented in the stanzas in the original poem
- follow the stanza form (including number of lines and rhyme patterns) of the original poem only if students' care to write rhymed poetry.
Lessons for Siblings
Students who have brothers or sisters might enjoy writing a poem about these kind of relationships. Like the poem "Brother and Sister" on page 15, suggest that students:
- include a specific example of how brothers and sisters act toward one another.
- add a moral, or lesson learned, at the end of their poem.
- write in rhyme only if they care to.
Talk to an Animal
Lewis Carroll created fascinating conversations between humans and animals, like in "The Walrus and the Carpenter, on pages 23-24. Students might like to imagine that they go on an adventure with an animal of their choice. They can write a narrative poem that tells the story of what happens on this adventure. The poems might:
- begin with an introductory stanza in which the two characters and the adventure is introduced.
- include dialogue between the human and the animal.
- emphasize a mood, such as humorous, serious, or frightening.
Sense and Nonsense
When students read "Jabberwocky" they might enjoy how Lewis Carroll makes up words whose sounds often convey meaning in the sentences in which they appear. Students might want to write a poem about a made-up creature like the Jabberwocky. The poems should:
- name the creature.
- describe the creature, using the five senses (sight, smell, taste, touch, hearing).
- tell what the creature does or how it moves.
- include made-up nonsense words that describe objects and actions about the creature.
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