‘Mice’ by Rose Fyleman – comprehension activities

Name: ..................................................................... Date: .........................................................................

Read the poem ‘Mice’ by Rose Fyleman and answer the following questions.

1. What is the poet’s opinion of mice?

.......................................................................................................................................................................

.......................................................................................................................................................................

2. The poet includes a description of mice. Can you find:

a. five parts of a mouse’s body

.................................................................................

.................................................................................

.................................................................................

.................................................................................

.................................................................................

b. two adjectives

.................................................................................

.................................................................................

c. two colours

.................................................................................

.................................................................................

d. two things mice do

.................................................................................

.................................................................................

3. Can you find all the rhyming pairs in the poem? For example, mice – nice.

.......................................................................................................................................................................

.......................................................................................................................................................................

.......................................................................................................................................................................

© www.teachitprimary.co.uk 2017 29816 Page 1 of 4

 ‘Mice’ by Rose Fyleman – comprehension activities
4. When do mice run about the house?

.......................................................................................................................................................................

5. Do most people like mice?

.......................................................................................................................................................................

6. Do you like mice? Why or why not?

.......................................................................................................................................................................

7. Do you like this poem? Why or why not?

.......................................................................................................................................................................

8. Draw a mouse following the description given in the poem. Write a sentence or two to accompany your
picture.

We are going to follow the format of Rose Fyleman’s poem to inspire our own poems.

First, think of three things you like or think are nice!

1. ......................................................................................................................................................................

2. ......................................................................................................................................................................

3. ......................................................................................................................................................................

Now think of another word for ‘nice’.

1. .......................................................................................................................................................................

2. ......................................................................................................................................................................

3. ......................................................................................................................................................................

© www.teachitprimary.co.uk 2017 29816 Page 2 of 4

 ‘Mice’ by Rose Fyleman – comprehension activities
Choose one word from each list and use the structure below to help you to write your poem.

.......................................................... (title)

I think… ......................................................... are… .............................................................

(Describe your chosen subject. It doesn’t need to rhyme.)

.......................................................................................................................................................................

.......................................................................................................................................................................

.......................................................................................................................................................................

.......................................................................................................................................................................

.......................................................................................................................................................................

.......................................................................................................................................................................

.......................................................................................................................................................................

.......................................................................................................................................................................

.......................................................................................................................................................................

.......................................................................................................................................................................

But I think… ........................................................................... are… .......................................................................

Here is an example:

I think elephants
Are stupendous
Their trunks are huge
Their feet are wide
Their tusks are long
They’re nice to ride.
Indian elephants are smaller than
African elephants, killed
for ivory by Cruel man
But I think elephants
Are stupendous!

© www.teachitprimary.co.uk 2017 29816 Page 3 of 4

 ‘Mice’ by Rose Fyleman – comprehension activities
Answers

1. What is the poet’s opinion of mice?

She thinks they are ‘rather nice.’

2. The poet includes a description of mice. Can you find:

a. five parts of a mouse’s body

tails faces chins ears teeth

b. two adjectives

small pink white long nice

c. two colours

pink white

d. two things mice do

run about nibble things they shouldn’t touch

3. Can you find all the rhyming pairs in the poem? For example, mice and nice.

small and all white and night touch and much

4. When do mice run about the house?

They run about the house at night.

5. Do most people like mice?

Most people do not like mice, according to the poem.

6. Do you like mice? Why or why not?

Accept sensible answers.

7. Do you like this poem? Why or why not?

Accept sensible answers.

© www.teachitprimary.co.uk 2017 29816 Page 4 of 4