IT's A WONDERFUL WORLD, BUT THEY MADE A FEW MISTAKES

Introduction

Explain the concept of a utopia with children. Share with them your vision of a utopian community. Invite them to share their visions.

It's a wonderful world, but they made a few mistakes.

Like leaving out unicorns and putting in snakes.

Like no magic carpets, no wishing wells, no genies.

Like good guys getting picked on by the meanies.

Like arithmetic, especially multiplication

Like expecting a person to stay at home for one whole week with a

Sitter while that persons mother and father take a vacation.

Like needing to finish the green beans to get the dessert.

Like everyone caring way too much about dirt.

Like letting there be a cavity in a tooth.

Like calling it a lie when all that this person has done is not mention part of the truth.

Like raining on soccer games, and liver for supper.

Like bunk beds where the younger person always gets stuck with the

Lower and the older person always gets the upper.

Like leaving out mermaids and putting in splinters and bee stings

And wars and tornadoes and stomach aches.

Its a wonderful world, but they made a few mistakes.

                                                             Judith  Viorst                   

Extension

Have children draw and paint pictures of their utopian communities. Encourage them to write brief descriptions of their utopian communities.

 Viorst, Judith. 1995. Sad underwear and other complications. Atheneum Books. New York: ISBN: 0689319290