Humor can also be a great way to inspire kids to enjoy seemingly boring tasks like memorizing poems. Tasked with doing just that in the 1st grade, when I was six years old, I so committed to memory the following that I remember it more than 50 years later.

One bright day in the middle of night
Two dead boys got up to fight
Back to back they faced each other
Drew their swords and shot each other

Deaf policeman heard the noise
Came and killed the two dead boys
If you don't believe this lie is true
Ask the blind man. He saw it too!

I don't remember the name of the poem, or who wrote it, but it was farcical enough to make an impression on my young mind.

Thanks!