A Merry Christmas Night

2. Use rhyme to create our own Christmas poems, inspired by Clement Clarke Moore’s poem ‘T’was the night before Christmas’. Good use of a range of rhyming words Use of different verses to tell a story

4. How is the house described on Christmas Eve Night? What awoke the man from his sleep? How is Saint Nick’s clothing and appearance described in the poem? What did Saint Nick do when he entered the house? What did Saint Nick do and say before he left?

5. Rhyming words What rhyming words did we hear in the poem? Did any of the words have anything in common? Can you think of any other rhyming Christmas words you might use in your own poem?

6. Here are some rhyming words to help you write your poem! fire, choir, higher night, sight, light, good night star, far, afar holly, jolly ice, nice, slice, price, twice, mice tree, glee glisten, listen charades, parades dinner, thinner gift, lift scene, green, been ring, sing spices, slices, crisis elf, self that, fat, splat cake, bake, make birth, earth, worth manger, stranger Prancer, Dancer Vixen, Blitzen cold, old, gold Boom, room, zoom glove(s), love(s), shove(s) dashing, crashing, smashing fatter, chatter, clatter, matter fly, sky, good bye, bye, hi, high, nigh sleigh, yay, tray, play, grey noise, toys, boys, joys, enjoys sled, bed, red, read, sped, fled, fed, led, said Tree, see, me, merry, sherry, berry, cherry, very twinkle, sprinkle, tinkle, crinkle, wrinkle romance, chance, chants, prance, dance Cheer, reindeer, deer, hear, near, peer, year, Ringing, singing, bringing, carolling snow(ing), blow(ing), throw(ing), glow(ing), go(ing), tow(ing), flow(ing), slow(ing), show(ing), know(ing), snow, below, bow, and the examples above z

7. First, start with the first two lines of the original poem, to set the scene and help you get started: T’was the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse

8. Next, tell us how you discovered Santa Claus was flying by. Did he make a noise? Sleighbells, “Hohoho!”, Christmas music? Did you see something? Headlights, fairy lights, Rudolph’s red nose? What did you do then?

9. Next, describe Santa to the reader. What was Santa wearing? Red suit, leather belt, Santa hat, black boots, gloves How could you describe his appearance? Red cheeks, White beard, Round face, Kind smile, Big belly

10. Next, describe what did Santa did in the house. Did he leave presents under the tree? Toys in stockings? You might say exactly what he brought you! How did he leave afterward? Back up the chimney? Disappeared? Out the door?

11. Nearly finished! What did Santa do last? Feed his reindeer? Pack his sleigh? Check his naughty/nice list? Check his map?

12. Last thing… What did Santa say to you before he flew off?

13. Here is an example of what you might write: T’was the night before Christmas and all through the house Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse When suddenly outside I heard jingle bells And saw Santa and his reindeer and some of his elves. He was wearing a red suit and black boots and a hat He was big and strong and round and fat He put presents in stockings and toys under the tree And ate up the mince pies we had left for his tea. He went back up the chimney to see his reindeer And he checked his map to see where to go from here He started his sleigh and smiled and said “Merry Christmas to you – now get back to your bed!”

14. Try your best to make your poem rhyme. You can work with a partner to help you, and use your sheet of good rhyming words!