Poets of Nature, Revelry, and Rhyme Nature, Revelry, and Rhyme    

Lesson 32: Friends

by Abbie Farwell Brown

Performer: Librivox - Michele Eaton

Directions

Study the poem for one week.

Over the week:

• Read or listen to the poem.
• Review the synopsis.
• Study the vocabulary words.
• Read about the poet.
• Complete the enrichment activities.
• Discuss the review questions.

Synopsis

The narrator describes their Friends, the Sky, the Sunshine, and the Wind.

Vocabulary

Friend: A person whom one knows and with whom one has a bond of mutual affection.
Lace: A fine open fabric, typically one of cotton or silk, made by looping, twisting, or knitting thread in patterns and used especially for trimming garments.
Scarcely: Only just; almost not.

Concepts

1. Abbie Farwell Brown was born in 1871 in Boston, Massachusetts. See her picture below.

2. Zoom in and find Brown's birth state of Massachusetts (MA) on the map of the continental United States.

3. Brown founded her high school newspaper, 'The Jabberwock', which is one of the oldest newspapers in the United States.
4. Brown also helped write 'On the Trail', the official song of the USA Girl Scouts.
5. Brown died in 1927 at the age of 55 from cancer.

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.

Activity 2: Study the Poem Picture

• Study the poem picture, and describe how it relates to the poem.

Activity 3: Narrate the Poem

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

Activity 4: Color the Poem   

• Click the crayon above, and complete page 34 of 'Poetry Coloring Pages for Second Grade.'

Review

Question 1

What is the title of the poem?

1 / 5

Answer 1

The title of the poem is 'Friends.'

1 / 5

Question 2

What is the name of the poet who wrote 'Friends?'

2 / 5

Answer 2

The name of the poet is Abbie Farwell Brown.

2 / 5

Question 3

What happens in the poem?

3 / 5

Answer 3

The narrator describes their Friends - the Sky, the Sunshine, and the Wind.

3 / 5

Question 4

Who are the characters in the poem?

4 / 5

Answer 4

The characters are the narrator, the Sky, the Sunshine, and the Wind.

4 / 5

Question 5

Do you believe the Sky, the Sunshine, and the Wind can truly be our friends? What about animals? Why or why not?

5 / 5

Answer 5

Answers vary. Our definition of friends includes the criterion of 'mutual affection.' Can the Sky show us affection? Can an animal show us affection?

5 / 5

❮ ❯

1. What is the title of the poem? The title of the poem is 'Friends.'
2. What is the name of the poet who wrote 'Friends?' The name of the poet is Abbie Farwell Brown.
3. What happens in the poem? The narrator describes their Friends - the Sky, the Sunshine, and the Wind.
4. Who are the characters in the poem? The characters are the narrator, the Sky, the Sunshine, and the Wind.
5. Do you believe the Sky, the Sunshine, and the Wind can truly be our friends? What about animals? Why or why not? Answers vary. Our definition of friends includes the criterion of 'mutual affection.' Can the Sky show us affection? Can an animal show us affection?

References

'Abbie Farwell Brown.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.