Where the Sidewalk Ends

 Where the Sidewalk Ends

Written and Illustrated by Shel Silverstein

Published in 1974

Grade Level: 3rd-4th grade

Synopsis: Where the Sidewalk Ends is a compilation of poems by talented writer and illustrator, Shel Silverstein.  He wrote many poems that would be appealing and relatable to young readers.  The poems in the book are often playful and are about unusual or far-fetched situations.  "Where the Sidewalk Ends" is the poem that the book is named for.  It is printed below for your reading pleasure.

Where the Sidewalk Ends 

There is a place where the sidewalk ends
And before the street begins,
And there the grass grows soft and white,
And there the sun burns crimson bright,
And there the moon-bird rests from his flight
To cool in the peppermint wind.

Let us leave this place where the smoke blows black
And the dark street winds and bends.
Past the pits where the asphalt flowers grow
We shall walk with a walk that is measured and slow,
And watch where the chalk-white arrows go
To the place where the sidewalk ends.

Yes we'll walk with a walk that is measured and slow,
And we'll go where the chalk-white arrows go,
For the children, they mark, and the children, they know
The place where the sidewalk ends. 

Theme/Skill: The poems in Silverstein's book do not directly relate to one another, yet they all create similar feelings of silliness and childhood.  This book of poems could easily be used to teach various elements of poetry such as personification, hyperbole, simile, metaphor, alliteration, etc. 

Pre-reading activities: Students will be given poems that exemplify a particular poetic element.  The teacher will guide the students to an understanding of that element and provide them with various examples of poems that incorporate that element.  Students will work in partners or small groups as they read poems and identify the poetic elements. 

Post-reading activities: After the students have had time to work with the poetic elements (this may take several days/lessons) they will begin reading selections from Where the Sidewalk Ends.  Students will read poems and identify the poetic elements.  Students will then write poems of their own that include elements of poetry.  These will be compiled into a portfolio that will monitor students' progress. 

Assessment: The poetry porfolios will be graded on neatness and presentation, a definition page of the poetic elements used, ten of their best poems (at least five different elements must be utilized), and a typed reflection in which students will talk about what they learned, what best helped them learn it, the meaning behind their poems, and how they will use poetry again in their future lives. 

Reflection: Where the Sidewalk Ends, A Light in the Attic, and Falling Up are three books by Shel Silverstein that I remember being on the bookshelves of my classrooms in elementary school and high school.  They were books that you could pick up and enjoy again and again.  You could read one poem at a time or read several in one sitting.  His poems could be silly, totally far fetched, relatable, or portray the childish concerns that we all had at some point in time.  That is what I like best about how Silverstein wrote and organized this book.  Some titles that I remember and suggest for any readers unfamiliar with Where the Sidewalk Ends are "The Edge of the World," "Eighteen Flavors," and "Dancing Pants."  If you purchase the thirtieth anniversary edition of the book, released in 2004, you will receive not only the original version, but twelve new poems included as well.