Success in NSS

Poem Skills

Rhymes

A rhyme is a word which has the same last sound

as another word.e.g. Rain and pain

Sing and ring

Right and bite

Cry and sigh

Note that the last sound of a rhyme does not necessarily spell the same as another word.

Read the poem.Hong Kong

We all love our city Hong Kong

So how about writing a song?

We can tell of her joys,

Her fun and her toys;

We can shout to the people

From the top of a steeple;

There’s nowhere quite like Hong Kong!

How many pairs of rhyme are there?

Which words should be put in the poem?

My Classmates

John is tall and jolly

He loves to play about;

His girlfriend is called (1) -

They hold hands when they go (2) !

(1) Jenny, Amy, Molly, Grace

(2) shopping, out, home, along

Molly

out

Which words should be put in the poem?

Anna’s talking in the house

Everything she loves to share.

Seeing a cockroach or a (3) ,

She screams and stands up on a (4) !

(3) rat, mouse, fly, beetle

(4) sofa, table, chair, bed

mouse

chair

What words should be put in the poem?

Bob is kind and (3) ,

He does his work without wait;

Kate’s smart but forgetful

Her homework’s always (4) !

helpful

late

Listen to stanza 4 and answer the question.

In stanza 1, ‘jolly’ and ‘Molly’ are two rhyming words. Find one word that rhymes with ‘hair’ in stanza 4.

_______________ there

Alliteration

Alliteration means some words starts with the

same sound.

Alliteration can make an expression more catchy.

e.g. Ben buys a book

a jar of jam

sweet smell of success

Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers

Read the poem.Merry Children

We’re all cheerful children

Singing songs every day.

Whenever we are free

Exciting games we love to play.

We’re all friendly children

Helping each other every day.

Whenever good or bad things happen

Warm words we love to say.

How many examples of alliteration are there?

Read the poem and answer the question.

Couch Potato

In the morning I see a fairy

Playing games with Peter Pan.

In the afternoon I see a cook

Frying sausages in a pan.

At night I see a Chinese bride

Smiling sweetly in her sedan.

Line 2: ‘Playing games with Peter Pan.’ is an example of alliteration.

Find another example in the poem.

____________________________________

Smiling sweetly in her sedan.

Onomatopoeia

Onomatopoeia is using words of sounds.

e.g. meow (the sound of cats )

ring (the sound of telephone )

splash (the sound of water )

smash (the sound of breaking glass )

These words are usually used as verbs and nouns to show the sounds of action.

e.g. He rings Cherry to ask her to the party.

There were several splashes of paint.

Read the following words aloud.

crunch drip woof

bang quack murmur

slurp beep roar

whisper pop crackle

ding-dong munch hiss

Which are the words about eating? Which are the words about animals? Which are the words about talking? What sounds do the other words refer to?

Read the poem and answer the question.

StormI stay at home during the stormWhen the rain goes out to play.Pitter-patter, pitter-patterThe rain sings happily all day.Cars splash rainwater on the streetMaking people wet in this way.Thunder also wants to join the rainIt roars as if saying ‘Hurray!’

1. Find two words in the poem which sound like the noises of water.

_____________ and _____________

2. Find one word in the poem which sounds like the noises of thunder.

_____________

pitter-patter splash

roars

Metaphors

A metaphor says something is another thing because of

their similarities.e.g. Newspaper is my spiritual food.

A rainbow is a bridge in the sky.

Do you know the similarities between the two things?e.g. newspaper = food

(Both can feed a person.)rainbow = bridge(Both stretch across two places.)

Read the poem.My mum

My mum is the sun Giving me strength and energy.My mum is a lighthouseGuiding a boat in the sea. My mum is a fireAs warm or fierce as she can be.My mum’s words are medicineSometimes bitter, but good for

me.How many examples of metaphors are there?

What are the similarities between ‘my mum’ and these things?

Similes

A simile says something is like another thing because of

their similarities.

e.g. Simon is as cunning as a fox.

Her tears drop like falling rain.

Do you know the similarities between the two things?e.g. Simon = fox

(Both are cunning.)her tears = rain(Both are falling continuously.)

Read the poem.My mum

My mum is like the sun Giving me strength and energy.My mum is like a lighthouseGuiding a boat in the sea. My mum is as warm as gentle fireBut as fierce as it gets out of control.My mum’s words are as bitter as medicineBut they are always good to me.

How many examples of similes are there?

Read the poem and answer the question.

TimeTime is a doctorWith a magic to heal.The farther it passes byThe less painful people feel.Time is moneyWith it you can gain a lot.But it flies like an arrowAsk it to stay? We cannot.

1. Line 1: ‘Time is a doctor’ is an example of metaphor. Find another example in the poem.

__________________________

2. Find an example of simile in the poem.

__________________________

Time is money

But it flies like an arrow

Summary

When you read or listen to a poem, pay attention to:

• Rhymes

• Alliterations

• Onomatopoeia

• Metaphors

• Similes

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