Hickory Dickory Dock

Well, I think I am going to keep it going this week!

I really have been wanting to do this nursery rhyme because I have had a really fun idea in my head for a few weeks now!

Did you know there are 12 verses?

Hickory Dickory Dock,
The mouse ran up the clock.

The clock struck one,

The mouse ran down!

Hickory Dickory Dock

First read through: Point out the clock and mouse in the pictures. Talk about UP versus DOWN.

Second read through: Ask why would the mouse be running up the clock? Who could be chasing the mouse?
And....After multiple times of reading this rhyme.... change it up!

Hickory Dickory Dock,
The mouse ______ up the clock.

The clock struck one,

The mouse _______ down!

Hickory Dickory Dock

It doesn't matter what age your child is. You can pick a new verb and read it yourself. Or have older your child pick a verb and re read it. 

When introducing verbs, use the word verb. Tell your child it is an action word, and then have them try to do some! (Skip, hop, jump, shake, wiggle, slither, tip toe, run, dash, twirl.)

Now here comes the fun idea that has been stuck in my head!

Grab some painters tape or electrical tape, and make some lines on your floor. (Straight, Zig Zag, dashed.) I did different colors because I like adding in color words where ever I can! (See if they can follow more instructions!!)

Sorry for the bad pic, its night time here, and I have no light!

Okay, the idea here... Think Gross Motor learning!!

Have your kids crawl or walk on the lines. Then try having them use different action words! Hop on the dashed line. Slither on the straight line. Run on the zig zag. Just have fun with it. Ask your child to pretend they are a mouse going up the clock.

My kids are in bed, but I know first thing in the morning, they will be either trying to rip the tape up off the floor, or they will be running all over it. So, this could be hit or miss. But you just have to try new things sometimes!

Mother Goose Mondays

Have you guys figured out my day to post is Monday?? I have this idea that I want to do a nursery rhyme every Monday, but I don't know if I will be able to stick to it... we shall see!

First, I think every home should have a good copy of Mother Goose rhymes. (It really shocked me as a teacher, how kids today don't know nursery rhymes.)  Here are a few of my favorites:

Mary Engelbreit's Mother Goose

This copy has beautiful artwork. I just love M.E.!

The Real Mother Goose

This was the copy we grew up with. Very Traditional.

Walt Disney's Mother Goose

We got this copy as a Christmas present. 

Can't go wrong with Disney. It is cute.

One of our favorite times of day around our house is when it is time to put on our shoes. The boys love saying the word shoe, picking up shoes, wearing shoes. I think they know they will get out of the house if they have their shoes on!!

So This week's Mother Goose Monday is:

There was an Old Women who Lived in a Shoe

There was an old woman who lived in a shoe;

She had so many children she didn't know what to do.

She gave them some broth and two slices of bread;

She kissed them all fondly, then sent them to bed.

First Read through: 

Older Children: Go over vocabulary. What is broth? Kissing Fondly? etc.

Younger Children: Have them sit in your lap as you read this. Then read it again and: Touch their feet when you say shoe. Shrug your shoulders and make the 'I don't know' arms for this poor sad old lady. And kiss them fondly!

Activities to extend this nursery rhyme:

Shoe Matching:

Grab pairs of their shoes, mom's shoes, dad's shoes, baby shoes, boots. Put in a pile and have them sort the shoes and see if they can find matching pairs! The older the child, the more pairs you should have!

Cardboard Shoe:

Draw the shape of a boot onto cardboard and cut it out. 

Older Children:

Punch holes around the outside to practice 'sewing' with yarn, ribbon, or a shoe lace.

Look through magazines and glue pictures of children onto the shoe.

Younger children:

Finger paint on the shoe. 

Use the shoe as a puppet as you read.

Using Food:

Toast bread and use a shoe shaped cookie cutter, or cut out your own boot shape.

Have soup for lunch and call it broth!

Bridging the Connections:

I don't know if yall read as many books as we do, but there is always a way to make connections in the books you read daily. 

We are on a BIG No David, by David Shannon; kick around here.  So, as I am reading it for the 22nd time today. I am asking questions like, "Where are David's shoes?" or "remember that poor old woman who lived in her shoe?" But it can be any book. Spot all the shoes. Point to them. Even talk about how different jobs/weather need different kinds of shoes. (Fireman, basketball star, ballet, rain boots, snow shoes, etc.)

Seriously, who knew talking about shoes would consume my day. But the things you do for your children. I mean, when will I stop shouting airplane every time I see one??