Homework Machine by Shel Silverstein (1981): Poems ESL Listening

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

Homework Machine by Shel Silverstein (1981): poems

Video: https://youtu.be/SBUZPANINIU

Quizlet: https://quizlet.com/_5vcug7

Suggested Use:

Step 1: Look at the vocabulary. Check any words that you don’t know in your dictionary.

Step 2: Listen to the video. (Listen only.  Don’t look at the poem yet).

Step  3: Practice the vocabulary on Quizlet 

Step 4: Watch the video again.  This time look at the poem. Read and listen at the same time.

Step 5: Practice the vocabulary on Quizlet again 

Step 6: Listen one last time.  The last time, don’t look at the poem. 

Vocabulary

as can be, contraption, dear, dear me, dime, drop, guess, homework, I guess, machine, perfect, plus, quick, snap, switch

Homework Machine by Shel Silverstein (1981): poems

The Homework Machine, oh the Homework Machine,

The most perfect contraption that’s ever been seen.

Just put in your homework, then drop in a dime,

Snap on the switch, and in ten seconds’ time,

Your homework comes out, quick and clean as can be.

Here it is—“nine plus four?” and the answer is “three.”

Three?

Oh dear me…

I guess it’s not as perfect

As I thought it would be.

Match the missing words to the blanks.  Then watch the video to check your answers

Video: https://youtu.be/SBUZPANINIU

Word bank

be, seen, three, time

Homework Machine by Shel Silverstein

The Homework Machine, oh the Homework Machine,

The most perfect contraption that’s ever been (1)_______________.

Just put in your homework, then drop in a dime,

Snap on the switch, and in ten seconds’ (2)_______________,

Your homework comes out, quick and clean as can be.

Here it is—“nine plus four?” and the answer is “(3)_______________.”

Three?

Oh dear me…

I guess it’s not as perfect

As I thought it would (4)_______________.

Answers:

Homework Machine by Shel Silverstein

The Homework Machine, oh the Homework Machine,

The most perfect contraption that’s ever been (1)seen.

Just put in your homework, then drop in a dime,

Snap on the switch, and in ten seconds’ (2)time,

Your homework comes out, quick and clean as can be.

Here it is—“nine plus four?” and the answer is “(3)three.”

Three?

Oh dear me…

I guess it’s not as perfect

As I thought it would (4)be.

Vocabulary

as can be - If someone or something is, for example, as happy as can be or as quiet as can be, they are extremely happy or extremely quiet.

contraption - a machine or object that looks strange or complicated

dear - used at the beginning of a letter, before the name of the person you are writing to:

Dear Amy

dear me - A polite exclamation expressing surprise, distress, sympathy, etc:

Dear me, I forgot to mail it.

dime - a US or Canadian coin with a value of 10 cents

drop - LET FALL

to let something you are carrying fall to the ground:

She tripped and dropped the vase.

guess - to give an answer or opinion about something without having all the facts:

Can you guess how old he is?

homework - work that teachers give students to do at home:

Have you done your homework yet?

I guess - used when you think that something is probably true or likely:

I've known her for about 12 years, I guess.

machine - EQUIPMENT

a piece of equipment with moving parts that uses power to do a particular job:

Clothes are generally sewn by machine these days.

perfect - without fault, or as good as possible:

James is a perfect husband and father.

plus - added to:

Five plus three is eight.

quick - FAST

doing something fast or taking only a short time:

I tried to catch him but he was too quick for me.

snap - to suddenly move to a particular position, making a short, loud noise, or to make something do this:

She snapped the book shut.

switch - a small object that you push up or down with your finger to turn something electrical on or off:

You can adjust the heat using this switch here.