Monster Themed Teatime - Poetry Teatime
Monster Themed Teatime

Monster Themed Teatime

Monsters, dragons, and beasts, oh my! Today’s teatime features all of the gnashing growling vermicious vile creatures you can imagine. Believe it or not, poetry is full of references to terrifying and terrific creatures of all shapes and sizes! In today’s teatime, you can not only read about them, but you’ll get to create your own.

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Let’s draw our swords and grasp our shields--for the monsters are about to be unleashed! First, we face Lewis Carroll’s famous Jabberwocky.

Jabberwocky

By Lewis Carroll

’Twas brillig, and the slithy loves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.

“Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!”

He took his vorpal sword in hand;
Long time the manxome foe he sought—
So rested he by the Tumtum tree
And stood awhile in thought.

And, as in uffish thought he stood,
The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,
And burbled as it came!

One, two! One, two! And through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back.

“And hast thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!”
He chortled in his joy.

’Twas brillig, and the slithy loves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.


Fantastic Food

  • Monster-themed food: Have fun making up monster-themed names for food. For example, deviled eggs can be dragon eggs (especially if you use food coloring to give the egg some “magic”), ritz crackers can be shields with designs made out of cheese, and gummy worms can be Medusa’s hair.

  • Eyes everywhere: Buy some googly eyes and put them on the cups, drink dispensers, and plates for a little extra monstrous delights! You can also have the kids stick pairs of monster eyes on objects around the house and have them write or tell a story from their new “monster’s” perspective.

Dreadful Decorations

  • Decorate mythical creature eggs and use them as your centerpiece (and be sure to label each one!). Inspiration: this illustration of dragon eggs from the Harry Potter wikia

  • Get glass jars and make a mini “terrarium” for a magical creature. Use objects from nature or print out and color in mythical creatures and place them into your terrarium. Inspiration: This amazing centerpiece by radchatterton on Instagram

Abominable Activities

  • Take a quiz: Find out what mythical creature you might be on this quiz from Blogthings.com.

  • Research your favorite mythical creature! It’s especially fun to explore creatures from continents you aren’t as familiar with. For example, did you know that a bake-kujira is a Japanese ghost whale? Use this fun infographic from Daily Infographic as a starting point, then use a website or a book to explore more!

  • Create a creature: Once you’re familiar with a whole host of monstrous beings, it’s time to make your own. You can use anything to create your monsters, from wooden spoons to paper airplanes (googly eyes are especially helpful). Check out the ideas below to help you get started!

Monstrous Books

Monster Museum, by Marilyn Singer

Creature Carnival, by Marilyn Singer

The Monsterologist: A Memoir in Rhyme, by Bobbi Katz

Making Friends with Frankenstein: A Book of Monstrous Poems & Pictures, by Colin McNaughton

The Gargoyle on the Roof, by Jack Prelutsky

Monster Motel, by Douglas Florian

Imaginary Menagerie: A Book of Curious Creatures, by Julie Larios

Zorgamazoo, by Robert Paul Weston (a novel in verse)


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