Adapted from the poem
by Bruce Lansky in If Pigs Could Fly…And Other Deep Thoughts, published by Meadowbrook Press.
Summary:
A child wonders why his mother no longer likes to hear him burp.
Presentation Suggestions: Have the students read or perform
the poem in front of the class. Have the students act out the different lines
while they read them.
Props: Real
or fake food would be great, but they’re optional for performing the poem.
Delivery:
The
lines of the poem need to be read with poetic rhythm. For more information on
poetic rhythm and how to perform poetry in classroom, please read the Performing
Poetry section under the Teacher’s Resources.
Characters:
Narrator
Mother
When I Was a Baby
Narrator:
When I was a baby, I
burped a good deal,
most often just after a rather good meal.
I burped after carrots. I
burped after peas.
I burped after crackers. I
burped after cheese.
Whenever I burped, it was
quite a sensation.
My mother applauded my
brilliant creation.
She oohed
Mother:
Ooh!
Narrator:
and she aahed.
Mother:
Aah!
Narrator:
She clucked
Mother:
(Clucks tongue)
Narrator:
and she cooed.
Mother:
(Coos)
Narrator:
But now when I burp mother
shouts,
Mother
(shouting):
“YOU’RE SO RUDE!!!”
©
2000 by Bruce Lansky. Adapted from the poem in If
Pigs Could Fly…And Other Deep Thoughts, published by Meadowbrook Press. This classroom theater
play version of “When I Was A Baby” is © 2008 by
Meadowbrook Press.
Permission
is given for individual school classes to perform this play and to make as many
copies of the play as are needed for the students’ use. All other reproduction
and performance is prohibited under penalty of law. For use of this play
outside individual classes, please contact info@meadowbrookpress.com
for permission.
Click on the book
below for more information about
“If Pigs Could Fly…And
Other Deep Thoughts”