Noses
'My nose is a funny thing — it just sticks out there, right in the middle of my face!'
1. About the Poem
Poet: Aileen Fisher Theme: Humour, curiosity, and everyday observation
The poet looks at her nose and wonders — why does it STICK OUT so much? It is always there, right in the middle of her face. She finds it quite FUNNY and a little strange.
2. The Poem
I looked in the mirror And what did I see? A funny little nose Looking back at me!
It sits in the middle And pokes out so far. Why does my nose Go out where it are?
I sneezed and I sniffed And I wiggled it too. My funny little nose Knows just what to do!
3. Understanding the Poem
What Happens in the Poem
- The child looks in the MIRROR
- She sees her nose and finds it FUNNY
- She wonders WHY it sticks out so much
- She tries wiggling and sniffing with it
- She realises her nose KNOWS what to do
The Humour
The poem uses SIMPLE language and a child's innocent question: 'Why does my nose go out where it are?' The grammar is deliberately WRONG to sound like a little child talking.
4. What We Learn
About Our Nose
| Function | Description |
|---|---|
| Breathing | Air goes in and out through the nose |
| Smelling | The nose detects different smells |
| Filtering | Tiny hairs inside trap dust |
| Warming | The nose warms the air before it reaches the lungs |
| Speaking | The nose helps us make certain sounds |
Why the Nose Sticks Out
- To be FAR from the mouth (so we can breathe and eat at the same time)
- To CATCH smells from the air better
- To WARM and FILTER air before it goes to the lungs
5. New Words
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Mirror | A glass surface that reflects your image |
| Pokes | Sticks out |
| Sneezed | Suddenly pushed air out of the nose and mouth |
| Sniffed | Breathed in through the nose to smell |
| Wiggled | Moved quickly from side to side |
6. Aileen Fisher — About the Poet
Aileen Fisher (1906-2002) was an American writer who wrote MANY books and poems for children. She LOVED nature and writing about everyday things in a FUN way. Her poems often make children LAUGH and THINK.
7. Key Facts
- The poem takes a FUNNY look at a body part we take for granted
- The nose has important JOBS — breathing, smelling, filtering
- The child's question 'Why does my nose go out where it are?' shows CHILDISH curiosity
- The poem is written from a CHILD'S point of view
- We use our nose ALL the time without thinking about it
8. Common Mistakes
'Do NOT say "where it are" in formal writing — it is WRONG grammar. The poet uses it to sound like a child.' 'Do NOT confuse 'nose' and 'knows' — they sound the SAME but have different meanings.' 'Do NOT think the poem is ONLY funny — it also makes us appreciate our body.' 'Do NOT forget that we breathe through BOTH our nose and mouth, but the nose is the HEALTHIER way.'
9. Fun Activity
Mirror Observation Stand in front of a mirror and look at your nose. Draw it. Write three funny things about it.
Smell Test Ask a family member to give you three things to smell (an orange, a flower, a spice). Close your eyes and guess each one just by SMELLING.
Nose Facts Find two interesting facts about the human nose. Share them with the class.
10. Self-Test
Q1. Who wrote the poem 'Noses'? Answer: Aileen Fisher
Q2. Where does the child see her nose in the poem? Answer: In the mirror
Q3. What does the child do with her nose in the poem? Answer: She sneezes, sniffs, and wiggles it.
Q4. Why does the child think her nose is funny? Answer: Because it sticks out so far, right in the middle of her face.
Q5. Name two important jobs of the nose. Answer: Breathing and smelling
Q6. Is the grammar in 'where it are' correct? Why does the poet use it? Answer: No, it is not correct. The poet uses it to sound like a little child talking.
11. Key Vocabulary
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Nostril | One of the two openings in the nose |
| Sniff | To breathe in through the nose |
| Sneeze | To force air out suddenly through nose and mouth |
| Wiggle | To move quickly from side to side |
| Smell | To detect something using the nose |
