Have each student take one line of this poem; Lines are nubered for this exercise only. Encourage them to be expressive!
The Detested Radishark
1 In the middle of the ocean,
2 In the deep deep dark,
3 Dwells a monstrous apparition,
4 The detested RADISHARK.
5 It's an underwater nightmare
6 That you hope you never meet,
7 For it eats what it wants,
8 And it always wants to eat.
9 Its appalling, bulbous body
10 Is astonishingly red,
11 And its fangs are sharp and gleaming
12 In its huge and horrid head,
13 And the only thought it harbors
14 In its small but frightful mind,
15 Is to catch you and to bite you
16 On your belly and behind.
17 It is ruthless, it is brutal,
18 It swims swiftly, it swims far,
19 So it's guaranteed to find you
20 Almost anywhere you are.
21 If the RADISHARK is near you,
22 Pray the beast is fast asleep
23 In the middle of the ocean
24 In the dark dark deep.
Prelutsky, Jack. 2002. Scranimals. Illus by Peter Sis. New York: HarperCollins Publishers/
Greenwillow Boooks. ISBN0688178200.
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Extension
It seems to me the best extension of this fun poem is to read more poems in Scranimals,
and have a great time discussing how funny they are! Try to guess what the animals are made of by listening to the poem
and then wagering guesses. If you are relaxed and enjoy yourself, the kids will follow suit.
