Nursery Rhyme Fun Time!
Materials Needed:
- A collection or printouts of various nursery rhymes (e.g., Hey Diddle Diddle, Humpty Dumpty, Jack and Jill, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star)
- Paper (plain or construction)
- Crayons or markers
- Optional: Simple props for acting out (e.g., a small pail, a toy star, a stuffed animal cat)
Lesson Activities:
- Rhyme Time Introduction (5-10 minutes):
Start by reading a well-known nursery rhyme together, like "Hey Diddle Diddle." Read it once normally, then read it again, emphasizing the rhyming words (e.g., diddle/fiddle, moon/spoon, dog/log). Ask the student: "What words sound alike? Those are called rhymes!" - Rhythm Readers (10 minutes):
Choose another rhyme, like "Jack and Jill." Read it aloud together, clapping or tapping your lap to the rhythm of the rhyme. Encourage the student to focus on saying the words clearly and with expression. Take turns reading lines or stanzas. - Rhyme Detectives (10 minutes):
Read a few different rhymes aloud (or have the student read them if able). After each rhyme, ask the student to identify the rhyming pairs they heard. You can write them down together. For example, in "Humpty Dumpty," find "wall" and "fall." - Story Scenes (15 minutes):
Ask the student to choose their favorite nursery rhyme from the ones read today. Give them paper and crayons/markers and ask them to draw a picture of what happens in the rhyme. While they draw, ask simple questions: "Who is in this rhyme?" "What are they doing?" "Where does it happen?" - Act It Out! (Optional, 10 minutes):
If time permits and the student is interested, use simple props to act out one or two of the nursery rhymes. This helps with comprehension and is lots of fun! - Wrap-up (5 minutes):
Review the rhymes read today. Ask the student which one was their favorite and why. Perhaps recite one more favorite rhyme together to end the lesson.