What Did You Learn in School Today by Tom Paxton (1964): Poems ESL Listening

(TESOL Worksheets--Poems ESL Listening)
Transcript: drive, docs, pub, homework: docs, pub
Video: HERE





I think this is originally a song, not a poem.  But 3 years ago, when I was researching poems to use in schools, I found this as an example (this article HERE, if memory serves).  So I added it to the collection.

What Did You Learn in School Today? by Tom Paxton (1964): poems

Video: https://youtu.be/5lGpeLt8D8U

What did you learn in school today,

Dear little boy of mine?

What did you learn in school today,

Dear little boy of mine?

I learned that Washington never told a lie

I learned that soldiers seldom die

I learned that everybody's free

And that’s what the teacher said to me

And that’s what I learned in school today,

that’s what I learned in school.

What did you learn in school today,

Dear little boy of mine?

What did you learn in school today,

Dear little boy of mine?

I learned the policemen are my friends

I learned that justice never ends

I learned that murderers pay for their crimes,

Even if we make a mistake sometimes

And that’s what I learned in school today,

That’s what I learned in school

What did you learn in school today,

Dear little boy of mine?

What did you learn in school today,

Dear little boy of mine?

I learned that war is not so bad

I learned about the great ones we once had

We fought in Germany and in France

And some day I might get my chance.

And that’s what I learned in school today,

That’s what I learned in school

What did you learn in school today,

Dear little boy of mine?

What did you learn in school today,

Dear little boy of mine?

I learned our government must be strong

It's always right and never wrong!

Our leaders are the finest men

And we elect them again and again

And that’s what I learned in school today, That’s what I learned in school