About Curriculum

    Poetry of Fables, Fairies, and Fauna Fables, Fairies, and Fauna    

Lesson 57: Willie Winkie

by William Miller

Performer: Librivox - Kara Shallenberg


Wee Willie Winkie runs through the town,

Upstairs and downstairs, in his nightgown,

Tapping at the window, crying at the lock,

"Are the weans in their bed?-for it's now ten o'clock."



Hey, Willie Winkie! are you coming in?

The cat's singing gay thrums to the sleeping hen,

The dog's spread on the floor, and don't give a cheep;

But here's a wakeful laddie that will not fall asleep.



Anything but sleep, ye rogue! glowering like the moon,

Rattling in an iron jug with an iron spoon,

Rumbling tumbling round about, crowing like a cock,

Shrieking like a kenna-what-waking sleeping folk.



Hey, Willie Winkie – the wean's in a creel!

Wriggling off a body's knee like a vera eel,

Tugging at the cat's ear, and ravelling all her thrums

Hey, Willie Winkie – see, there he comes!"



Weary is the mother that has a dusty wean,

A wee stumpie stoussie child, who can't run on his own,

That has a battle with sleep before he'll close an eye

But a kiss from off his rosy lips gives strength anew to me.

    Poetry of Fables, Fairies, and Fauna Fables, Fairies, and Fauna    

Lesson 57: Willie Winkie

by William Miller

Performer: Librivox - Kara Shallenberg

Directions

Study the poem for one week.

Over the week:

  • Read or listen to the poem.
  • Review the synopsis.
  • Complete the enrichment activities.
  • Study the review questions.

Synopsis

Wee Willie Winkie runs through the town, making sure the children are in bed. Some interpretations of the poem view Willie Winkie as a personification of sleep visiting all the children.

Vocabulary

Wean: Child.
Thrum: Song
Laddie: Boy
Rogue: A dishonest or unprincipled man.
Jug: A large container for liquids, with a narrow mouth and typically a stopper or cap.
Creel: A wicker basket for carrying fish.

Enrichment

Activity 1: Recite the Title, the Poet's Name, and the Poem

  • Each day this week, recite aloud the title of the poem, the name of the poet, and the poem. Instructors may need to prompt children line-by-line.

Activity 2: Study the Poem's Companion Painting

  • Study the painting below, and describe it in your own words.

Find the following in the companion painting:

  • Stairs
  • Shutter
  • Window
  • Cap
  • Nightgown
  • Bench

Activity 3: Narrate the Poem

  • After reading or listening to each verse of the poem, narrate the verse events aloud using your own words.

Activity 4: Color the Poem   

  • Click the crayon above, and complete page 60 of 'Poetry Coloring Pages for First Grade.'

Review

Question 1

What is the title of the poem?
1 / 5

Answer 1

The title of the poem is 'Wee Willie Winkie.'
1 / 5

Question 2

What happens in the poem?
2 / 5

Answer 2

Willie runs through the town, making sure the children are in bed.
2 / 5

Question 3

Where does the poem take place?
3 / 5

Answer 3

The poem takes place in a town.
3 / 5

Question 4

Who are the characters in the poem?
4 / 5

Answer 4

Willie and the townsfolk.
4 / 5

Question 5

Does the poem teach us anything?
5 / 5

Answer 5

It is important for children to go to bed early and get their sleep.
5 / 5

  1. What is the title of the poem? The title of the poem is 'Wee Willie Winkie.'
  2. What happens in the poem? Willie runs through the town, making sure the children are in bed.
  3. Where does the poem take place? The poem takes place in a town.
  4. Who are the characters in the poem? Willie and the townsfolk.
  5. Does the poem teach us anything? It is important for children to go to bed early and get their sleep.

Contact  Privacy Policy  Terms of Use © 2023 Under The Home Online Homeschool Curriculum
Contact      Privacy      Terms
youtube icon twitter icon pinterest icon facebook icon
© 2023 Under The Home