Hickory Dickory Dock; let’s learn a lot with these books of nursery rhymes! Nursery rhymes are an essential part of early literacy instruction by helping children learn rhythm, rhyme, and comprehension through short poetry. We had so much fun learning some new nursery rhymes (including extended versions) and practicing some of our favorites with these nursery rhymes books.
This post contains Amazon affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you by linking to Amazon.com. See the full disclosure here.
Nursery Rhymes Lesson Plans
Baa Baa Black sheep
by Iza Trapani
The sheep has plenty of wool for the master, the dame, and the little boy who lives down the lane. However, she doesn’t have milk for the kittens, slop for the pig, hay for the horse, or food for any of the other animals on the farm. They all assume she is being selfish, but in the end, realize that the sheep is thoughtful and giving with what she has.
Sometimes we may not have a lot to give, but there are always ways to think of and give to others.
Questions:
- Can you remember what some of the animals asked for?
- Let's talk about the word assume.
- Was the sheep being mean to all of the animals?
- What are some nice things you can do for others?
Mary Had a Little Lamb
by Iza Trapani
Another excellent book of nursery rhymes by Iza Trapani: Mary Had a Little Lamb. He has done a fantastic job of taking a ton of nursery rhymes and making them into beautifully told extended stories. No other author has done this.
In this book, the little lamb decides to venture away from Mary and have some fun and messy adventures with the animals around the farm.
Questions:
- Can you name some of the animals in the book?
- How was the little lamb when Mary found it?
- How did the story end?
After the Fall
by Dan Santat
Wow! I cannot express the profound effect this book had on me. After the Fall (How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again) by Dan Santat not only has beautifully crafted illustrations but has such a deep message!
Humpty used to love bird-watching atop the wall, but after he fell, he was scared to climb back up again. He began watching birds from the ground, but it wasn’t the same. He finally came up with a brilliant way to reconnect with the birds. Wait until you see the end!
Questions:
- How did Humpty change after his fall?
- Raise your hand if you’ve ever been afraid to do something.
- What happened at the end of the story?
Hickory dickory Dock
by Keith Baker
Next up we read Hickory Dickory Dock by Keith Baker. The book begins with the classic nursery rhyme, but as each hour chimes by, a new animal encounters the mouse. Colorful, vibrant, and full of new ideas with this classic nursery rhyme.
And if you want another extended version of this book to add to your math centers, check out our Hickory Dickory Dock counting clock.
Questions:
- What time was the clock at the beginning of the story?
- What rhymes with one? Two? Three?
- Did you notice the mouse on each page?
- Where did the mouse sleep at the end of the story?
Pete the Cat and the Itsy Bitsy Spider
by James Dean
Pete and his friends watch as the itsy bitsy spider struggles to make it up the water spout over and over again. Fortunately, these friends know exactly what to do to help the spider out. And your little ones will love the message of encouragement that is woven throughout the book.
Questions:
- How did the Itsy Bitsy Spider feel after the first rain?
- What do Pete and his friends do to help?
- How did the spider make it to the top?
You might also like...
MORE Nursery Rhymes Activities
There was a tired teacher who worked in a shoe. She had so many children she didn’t know what to do. Don’t be like her by searching for days and spending hours creating highly engaging nursery rhymes centers that your students will jump over the moon for. All of these nursery rhymes centers for preschool are included in this discounted bundle! Plus, you get your nursery rhymes lesson plans done for you with the complete list of books of nursery rhymes so you will know exactly what to do with all of your children. You might even get a nap with all of the time you will save.
