poem the homework machine

PoetryVerse

Shel Silverstein

The homework machine.

The Homework Machine, Oh, the Homework Machine, 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 me . . . I guess it's not as perfect As I thought it would be.

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• Poem Shel Silverstein
• 31 May 2024

The Homework Machine

The Homework Machine, Oh, the Homework Machine, 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 me . . . I guess it’s not as perfect As I thought it would be.

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Shel Silverstein

The homework machine.

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Other works by Shel Silverstein...

Oh, I’m being eaten By a boa constrictor, A boa constrictor, A boa constrictor, I’m being eaten by a boa constrict…

If we meet and I say, ‘Hi,’ That’s a salutation. If you ask me how I feel, That’s a consideration. If we stop and talk a while,

Last night, while I lay thinking… some Whatifs crawled inside my ear and pranced and partied all night… and sang their same old Whatif son… Whatif I’m dumb in school?

Channel 1's no fun. Channel 2's just news. Channel 3's hard to see. Channel 4 is just a bore. Channel 5 is all jive.

Whosever room this is should be as… His underwear is hanging on the la… His raincoat is there in the overs… And the chair is becoming quite mu… His workbook is wedged in the wind…

I’ve been working so hard you just… And I’m tired! There’s so little time and so much… And I’m tired! I’ve been lying here holding the g…

She’s a liberated lady and she’s l… And she don’t need your protection… And she does not want your help. And if you’re lookin’ for some pre… You better go look somewhere else,

I have nothing to put in my stew,… Not a bone or a bean or a black-ey… So I’ll just climb in the pot to… If I can make a stew out of me. I’ll put in some pepper and salt a…

Joey Joey took a stone And knocked Down The Sun!

Hungry Mungry sat at supper, Took his knife and spoon and fork, Ate a bowl of mushroom soup, ate a… Ate a dozen stewed tomatoes, twent… Fifteen shrimps, nine bakes potato…

Every time I’ve raced my shadow When the sun was at my back, It always ran ahead of me, Always got the best of me. But every time I’ve raced my shad…

I said, 'I’ll take the T-bone ste… A soft voice mooed, ‘Oh wow.’ And I looked up and realized The waitress was a cow. I cried, 'Mistake—forget the the…

Only ate one drumstick At the picnic dance this summer, Just one little drumstick— They say I couldn’t be dumber. One tough and skinny drumstick,

There is a place where the sidewal… And before the street begins, And there the grass grows soft and… And there the sun burns crimson br… And there the moon-bird rests from…

She put in her clothes, Then thought she’d get A free bath here At the launderette. So round she goes now,

• The Homework Machine
• Shel Silverstein

Reading Time: < 1 minute

The Homework Machine, Oh, the Homework Machine, 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 me . . . I guess it’s not as perfect As I thought it would be.

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The Homework Machine by Shel Silverstein

The Homework Machine, Oh, the Homework Machine, 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 me . . . I guess it’s not as perfect As I thought it would be.

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The Homework Machine- Summary & Analysis

Table of Contents

About the Poem “The Homework Machine” 

Themes of The Homework Machine 

The themes of the poem “The Homework Machine” by Shel Silverstein are:

• The dangers of relying on technology ➤ The poem suggests that if we rely too much on technology to do our work for us, we may lose the ability to think for ourselves and learn.
• The importance of hard work ➤ The poem also suggests that there is no substitute for hard work. Even if we had a machine to do our homework for us, we would not really be learning anything.
• The importance of creativity and imagination ➤ The poem ends with the speaker imagining a world where everyone is the same and no one is creative. This suggests that creativity and imagination are essential for a fulfilling life.

“ The Homework Machine ” Poem by Shel Silverstein

The Homework Machine, Oh, the Homework Machine, 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 me . . . I guess it’s not as perfect As I thought it would be.

The Homework Machine Summary & Analysis

The Homework Machine by Shel Silverstein is a humorous and cautionary poem about the dangers of relying on machines to do your work for you.

The poem begins with the speaker describing the “Homework Machine” as the “most perfect contraption that’s ever been seen.” The speaker is excited about the machine because it can do your homework for you. All you have to do is put in your homework, drop in a dime, and snap on the switch. In ten seconds, your homework will be done, “quick and clean as can be.”

The speaker is eager to try out the machine, so they put in their math homework and drop in a dime. They snap on the switch, and in ten seconds, their homework is done. The speaker is thrilled. They can now spend their time doing other things, like playing or watching TV.

However, the speaker’s excitement is short-lived. When they look at their homework, they realize that the machine has given them the wrong answer to a math problem. The answer to “nine plus four” is three, which is obviously incorrect.

The speaker is disappointed and frustrated. They realize that the Homework Machine is not as perfect as they thought it was. They also realize that they need to learn to do their own homework, even if it is difficult.

The poem ends with the speaker realizing that they “guess it’s not as perfect / As I thought it would be.” This line is a reminder that we should not rely on machines to do everything for us. We need to learn how to think for ourselves and do things on our own.

FAQs from The Homework Machine

What is the story of the homework machine.

A kid finds a homework machine, but it gives them the wrong answer to a math problem, so they learn that it’s important to do their own work.

What is the central idea of the poem homework?

The central idea of the poem “The Homework Machine” is that it is important to learn to do your own work, even if it is difficult.

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• Lesson Plans
• Arts & Crafts Lessons
• The Homework Machine

"The Homework Machine" Visualizing Activity

Grades: Any Lesson Plan Summary: Read The Homework Machine poem and have students draw what it would look like.

Materials: Paper Pencils and erasers Pencil crayons (or crayons, felt pens, paint, etc.)

Give each student their supplies. Have each student close their eyes. Tell them to close their eyes and get ready to use their imaginations. Tell them they are going to make a picture in their minds and they'll be drawing it later.

Read the class the poem "The Homework Machine" by Shel Silverstein. When you are finished, tell the class to draw and color a picture of what they think the homework machine would look like.

Then the students are done drawing, have a discussion about the poem and their pictures. For primary grades (especially K or 1), questions like "How big do you think the machine is?" and "What kind of noises do you think the machine would make?" are suitable. Older grades can answer questions like "Why do you think the machine didn't work properly?" and "How would you build a homework machine?" Submitted by: Patricia Pruim - Iskut, BC, Canada

We want your pictures! Did you do the "Homework Machine" or a similar activity? We would love to get a picture to add to this activity page! Help others by showing off how you did it! Send us your picture or lesson modification ideas.

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The Marvelous Homework and Housework Machine

From the book Revenge of the Lunch Ladies

Attention all students! Attention all kids! Hold onto your horses! Hold onto your lids! We have just exactly the thing that you need whenever you’ve way too much homework to read.

The Marvelous Homework & Housework Machine will always make sure that your bedroom is clean. It loves to write book reports ten pages long, then put all your toys away where they belong.

This wonderful gadget will do all your math, then mop up your messes and go take your bath. The Marvelous Homework & Housework Machine is truly like no other gizmo you’ve seen.

It hangs up your clothes on their hangers and hooks, then reads all your boring geography books. It brings you a pillow to give you a rest, then brushes your teeth and prepares for your test.

This thing is amazing. I’m sure you’ll agree. It feeds you dessert while you’re watching T.V. There’s only one thing this device will not do. It won’t eat your Brussels sprouts; they’re, like, P.U.

 — Kenn Nesbitt

Copyright © 2007. All Rights Reserved.

Reading Level: Grade 4 Topics: School Poems , Science and Technology Poems Poetic Techniques: Alliteration , Descriptive Poems , Irony Word Count: 174

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Homework Poems

Homework stew.

I cooked my math book in a broth and stirred it to a steaming froth. I threw in papers—pencils, too— to make a pot of homework stew. I turned the flame up nice and hot and tossed my binder in the pot. I sprinkled in my book report with colored markers by the quart. ......

My Dog Does My Homework

My dog does my homework at home every night. He answers each question and gets them all right. There's only one problem with homework by Rover. I can't turn in work That's been slobbered all over

All My Great Excuses

I started on my homework, but my pen ran out of ink… My hamster ate my homework… My computer's on the blink… I tripped and dropped my homework in the soup my mom was cooking… My brother flushed it down the toilet when I wasn't looking… ......

Science Homework

I hope that you believe me, for I wouldn't tell a lie. I cannot turn my science homework in and this is why: I messed up the assignment that you gave us yesterday. It burbled from its test tube and went slithering away. ......

Homework! Oh, Homework!

Homework! Oh, Homework! I hate you! You stink! I wish I could wash you away in the sink, if only a bomb would explode you to bits. Homework! Oh, homework! You're giving me fits. I'd rather take baths with a man-eating shark, ......

The Homework Machine

The Homework Machine, Oh, the Homework Machine, 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 me . . . ......

My Teacher Ate My Homework

My teacher ate my homework, which I thought was rather odd. He sniffed at it and smiled with an approving sort of nod. He took a little nibble— it's unusual, but true— then had a somewhat larger bite and gave a thoughtful chew. ......

Homework, I Love You

Homework, I love you. I think that you're great. It's wonderful fun when you keep me up late. I think you're the best when I'm totally stressed, preparing and cramming all night for a test. Homework, I love you. What more can I say? I love to do hundreds of problems each day. You boggle my mind and you make me go blind, but still I'm ecstatic that you were assigned. ......

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Homework! Oh, Homework!

Homework! Oh, Homework! I hate you! You stink! I wish I could wash you away in the sink, if only a bomb would explode you to bits. Homework! Oh, homework! You’re giving me fits. I’d rather take baths with a man-eating shark, or wrestle a lion alone in the dark, eat spinach and liver, pet ten porcupines, than tackle the homework, my teacher assigns. Homework! Oh, homework! You’re last on my list, I simply can’t see why you even exist, if you just disappeared it would tickle me pink. Homework! Oh, homework! I hate you! You stink!

 Summary of Homework! Oh, Homework!

Analysis of literary devices used in homework oh, homework.

“Homework! Oh, Homework! I hate you! You stink.”

“I simply can’t see why you even exist, if you just disappeared it would tickle me pink.”

“ Homework! Oh, Homework! I hate you! You stink.”

Analysis of Poetic Devices Used in Homework! Oh, Homework!

Quotes to be used.

“ You’re last on my list, I simply can’t see why you even exist, if you just disappeared it would tickle me pink.”

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The Homework Machine

by Dan Gutman (Author)

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