MUMMY SLEPT LATE ANDDADDY FIXED BREAKFASTBY JOHN CIARDI

Included: The poem and rigorous question set activities promoting higher level-thinking development

TIER 1

Poem

Jacob’s Ladder Goals & Objectives

Habits of Mind

Mummy Slept Late andDaddy Fixed Breakfast

Daddy fixed the breakfast.He made us each a waffle.

It looked like gravel pudding.It tasted something awful.

“Ha, ha,” he said, “I’ll try again.This time I’ll get it right.”

But what I got was in betweenBituminous and anthracite.

“A little too well done? Oh well,I’ll have to start all over.”

That time what landed on my plateLooked like a manhole cover.

I tried to cut it with a fork:The fork gave off a spark.

I tried a knife and twisted itInto a question mark.

I tried it with a hack-saw.I tried it with a torch.

It didn’t even make a dent.It didn’t even scorch.

The next time Dad gets breakfastWhen Mommy’s sleeping late,

I think I’ll skip the waffles,I’d sooner eat the plate!

Students will be able:

Ladder AA1: Sequencing-To list in order of importance specific events or plot summaries A2: Cause and Effect-To identify and predict relationships between character behavior and story events, and their effects upon other characters or events.A3: Consequences and Implications-To predict character actions, story outcomes, and make real-world forecasts.

Ladder FF1: Understanding Words – to identify and explain the meaning of figurative language or new vocabulary within the context of a story or poem.F2: Thinking About Words – to analyze the use of words within the context as related to the theme of a text.F3: Playing With Words – to accurately apply figurative language and new vocabulary to newly created contexts.

Habits of Mind

Working Interdependently

Thinking about Thinking (metacognition)

Innovating, Creating, Imagining

Refer to Jacob’s Ladder Story Table for Ladder A & F Thinking Questions.

TIER 2RIGOR

(Discussion)

High Level Strategies with

Ladder A & F Questions

Discussion Strategies: Think-Pair-Share, Write-around, Sequencing pictures, Role Play, Journaling, Picture Dictionary

Choose 3 of 4 questions below to complete.

A2: The author tells many causes and effects. For example, he tried to cut the waffle and it bent the fork. Create a chart of other cause and effect relationships in the poem. Write them in your own words.

A3: What do you see as possible outcomes of Dad’s poor cooking skills?

F1: The author uses hyperbole (exaggeration) to make the poem funny. Choose at least four exaggerations used in the poem; share all four with a friend. Make a picture of the funniest one.

F2: How does the use of a hyperbole make the poem funny? How would you generate 2 hyperboles to add to this poem?

TIER 3

Reflections/Relevance

Choose one of the ideas to complete.  Be creative. 

1. Prioritize the events in the poem. Design a visual picture of the events. Use one of the optional project strategies below. (A1)

2. Think of something that happened to you that is either really good or really unpleasant. Create a poem stanza and include an exaggeration to describe the experience. Use an optional project strategy below to convey your work. (F3)

Optional project strategies:  Commercial Role Play; Create a Puppet Show; Charts, Posters, Flyers, Brochures; Picture Dictionary, Comic Strip.