1-2-3 Come Do Some Nursery Rhyme Activities With Me

I plug in nursery rhymes whenever I can, so during our winter “mitten theme” my young fives enjoy learning “The Three Little Kittens”.

Since my storytelling wheels have been so popular, I decided to make “Rhyme Time” poetry wheels, to help practice the “retelling & sequencing” a story standards, using favorite nursery rhymes.

Each packet contains background information on the nursery rhyme, along with a colorful anchor chart poster of the poem.

I’ve included a BW version for students, to help practice reading and whatever other skills you are working on.

For example, using this “worksheet” beginning readers can circle rhyming words, color words, number words, or other sight words.

Reinforce spelling by having children underline “silent e” words; 1, 2 or 3 syllable words; vowels, or long and short vowels etc.

There are full color patterns to use for an independent center, as well as a sample to share, plus a black and white pattern, so students can make their own.

When everyone is done with their “Rhyme Time Story Wheel”, take a moment to retell the rhyme as a whole group, by turning the wheels.

To reinforce the lesson further, encourage students to “show & share” their wheels with their family, retelling the rhyme once again. Can anyone recite it?

I also have my students pick a partner and take turns sharing their wheels with each other. Sometimes we do this with our older, reading buddies.
This is a quick, easy & fun way to check comprehension too.

Since the wheel is cut into 6 equal parts, if you’re studying fractions, be sure and take a teachable moment to review that vocabulary and information as well. 

Another interesting way I teach "The 3 Little Kittens" nursery rhyme is with a "slider" craftivity.  This is a different option for practicing the "sequencing" and "retelling" a story standards. 

If you like both, simply use one as a center, and the other for an in-class, whole-group activity, or fun homework assignment.   

There are 2 outside slider options to choose from.  Pick your favorite or give children a choice.

Students color the story elements on the “slider strip” then cut and glue it together.

As they pull on the end of the “slider-strip” the various pictures go through the “window”, so that children can take turns retelling the nursery rhyme to a partner or reading buddy, then take their craftivity home to share with their family, once again practicing these standards.

I introduce the lesson by reading the colorful, poster-poem (anchor chart) then share my completed "slider craft” with my students.

I’ve also included a BW version of the poem for students, so you can use it as a worksheet.

So that you can quickly, and easily make an example, I’ve included a full-color slider pattern.

After I read the nursery rhyme, we recite it together, using the picture prompts on my slider.
I have them guess which element of the rhyme they think comes next, before I pull the picture through the “window”.

“Rhyme Time Sliders” are also an easy & interesting way to assess comprehension. 

Since March is just around the corner, today's featured FREEBIE is a collection of sheep-themed nursery rhymes, which my Y5s enjoy learning during our lion-lamb theme in March.  I hope you find them useful too.  

Well that's it for today.  Thanks for popping in. The sun is valiantly shining, despite some windblown clouds that threaten to cover the warm rays.

Maybe I'll get a bit of yard work done today...or not!  So many options and not enough energy.   Wishing you a fun-filled day.

"The most important part of education is proper training in the nursery." -Plato