Book Summary
How Long? is a collection of seven poems that introduce and reinforce measurement concepts in a fun way. The poem topics include geometry, place value, and time. Photographs and illustrations support the poems. Approximate book level: L.

Build Background
Ask students to explain what they know about poetry. Invite them to share favorite poems and/or poets. Explain that there are many different types of poetry. Invite students to identify types of poetry they know about.

Discuss poetry's rhymes and rhythms. Explain to students that the second and fourth lines in these poems rhyme. Write the word four on the board. Invite students to identify words that rhyme with four. Write these words on the board. Remind students that not all poetry rhymes. Some non-rhyming poetry also follows a beat based on syllables.

Preview the Poems
Show students the front and back covers of the book and read the title. Turn to the title page. Discuss the information on the page (title, author's name, illustrator's name). Discuss the photos and illustrations. Invite students to explain what they see in the photos and illustrations, and tell what they think the poems might be about. Discuss what students already know about shapes and telling time. Draw various shapes on the board and have students identify them. Use a clock to show different times and have students tell the time.

For detailed lessons on teaching the elements of free verse, click here.

During Reading
Have students listen as you read the poems. Read the poems expressively and emphasize the words that rhyme in each pair of sentences. Discuss the line breaks in each poem and how they affect both the reading and meaning of the poem.

Use think-aloud strategies to remind students to use what they already know to help make sense of each poem. React to parts of the poem with facial expressions and gestures. Allow students to stop to ask questions during reading, especially if they do not understand something.

After Reading
Reader Response
Ask students what they thought of the poems. Have them describe their favorite poem. Discuss the author's purpose for writing this collection of poems.

Comprehension
Ask specific questions that allow students to demonstrate their understanding of the poems.

• How is a pentagon similar to and different from an octagon?
• How many inchworms would it take to make three feet?
• What could you do in an hour that you can't do in a minute?