Smart
By Shel Silverstein
Silverstein, Shel.Where the sidewalk ends. HarperCollins: New York. 1974.
Introduction:  Integrate this poem with a math lesson on the value of money.  Discuss and display quarters, dimes, nickels, and pennies.  Review how many quarters, dimes, etc. make a dollar.
Smart
By Shel Silverstein

My dad gave me one dollar bill
'Cause I'm his smartest son,
And I swapped it for two shiny quarters
"Cause two is more than one!

And then I took the quarters
And traded them to Lou
For three dimes-- I guess he don't know
That three is more than two!

Just then, along came old blind Bates
And just 'cause he can't see
He gave me four nickels for my three dimes,
And four is more than three!

And I took the nickels to Hiram Coombs
Down at the seed-feed store,
And the fool gave me five pennies for them.
And five is more than four!

And then I went and showed my dad.
And he got red in the cheeks.
And closed his eyes and shook his head--
Too proud of me to speak!
Extension:  Discuss the poem and the money situation of the poem.  Review money and which is more - for example, a quarter or a dime.
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