I Didn’t Mean To by Margaret Pearce

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I didn’t mean to
pretend to be dead
while staying in bed.
I didn’t mean to
very loudly shout
“I’m not coming out!”
I didn’t mean to
leave my room in mess
causing you distress.
I didn’t mean to
try your new boots.
That style really suits.
I didn’t mean to
to create a scene
’cause you acted mean.
I didn’t mean to
refuse my breakfast.
I ate it at last.
I didn’t mean to
run away from you.
Was it a bad view?
I didn’t mean to
be a dreadful pest
but the perfect guest.
I didn’t mean to
always wag school.
Was it so uncool?
I didn’t mean to
play up like a fool
while attending school.
I didn’t mean to
stand under the wheel
my foot might never heal.
I didn’t mean to
buy so many sweets
for my birthday treats.
I didn’t mean to
be obsessed with screen.
I’m so computer keen.
I didn’t mean to
be a cheeky lad.
Always very bad.
I now intend to
be so very good
like you say I should.

Unpacking The Webb Telescope by Celia Berrell

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First, un-pleat some solar cells
and wag that space antenna tail
to give our telescope some power
for data-sending mail.
Open sides, like two long arms,
then stretch-out layers of silver veils
to make a heat-shield from the Sun.
Too hot, our Webb could fail.
Next, erect the smaller mirror
then a radiator,
before reflective parts hinge wide.
That giant mirror’s locked, both sides,
to make a golden-petal flower
with infra-red its viewing power,
to be an ancient star-locator.
Deepest history translator!

Inspired by animation of deployment
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzGLKQ7_KZQ

Goose On The Loose by James Aitchison

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Hey, hey, the goose got away,

down the street

on its two webbed feet!

“Honk, honk! Out of my way

I want to do my shopping today!”

(Teacher’s note: Apart from flock, what other collective nouns apply to geese? It all depends where they are.  Geese on the ground are a gaggle, or if they are flying, a skein, a trip or a team.  If flying in formation, they’re a wedge.  Geese flying close together are a plump.  Some other choices: a chevron, a nide, a lag, a sord, and the poet’s favourite, a christmas of geese!)

A Very Funny Animal by Norah Colvin

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It isn’t quite a beaver, though it has a beaver’s tail,

A freshwater-living mammal, much smaller than a whale.

It’s something like an otter with body dressed in fur.

Its bill and feet are duck-like but it has a poisonous spur.

It burrows into riverbanks to lay its eggs therein.

It swims around in waters while having not one fin.

If you come across it, I urge you not to scream.

It wouldn’t ever harm you. It’s just a monotreme.

Its name can be quite tricky, but you’ll learn it without fuss.

So try:

               Or –

                      Or – nith – or

                             Ornithorhynchus,

You might call it the platypus.