snurseryrhyme

NURSERY RHYME: Mary Had A Little Lamb Mary had a little lamb. Its fleece was white as snow. And everywhere that Mary went, The lamb was sure to go.

(additional verses below:) It followed her to school one day- That was against the rule. It made the children laugh and play To see a lamb at school. And so the teacher turned it out, But still it lingered near. And waited patiently about 'Til Mary did appear. "Why does the lamb love Mary so?" The eager children cried. "Why, Mary loves the lamb, you know!" The teacher did reply. From Stormie:

Although I'm posting ideas below as often as I can, my very favorite "Mary Had a Little Lamb" activities have been reserved for my "NURSERY RHYMES" booklet. I create and sell booklets and other teaching aids to help defer the costs of keeping my website on the internet. You can find my booklets and games here in "Stormie's Stuff for Teachers" then keep hitting your back button to return to this page. Financial donations are also greatly appreciated as my website is now a part-time career for me.

Sorting By Size: Cut out sheep shapes of the same color but in several different sizes (3-4 sizes) for children to sort.

Snack:Cookie-Cutter Sheep: Allow children to cut sheep shapes from white bread using a cookie cutter. Then, provide plastic knives for them to spread flavored softened cream cheese atop their sheep shapes.
Food Project/Snack (although sugary): Cookies: Children spread white frosting on sheep-shaped cookies and sprinkle coconut on top..

Expressions:
Show me how you would look if you were Mary's lamb and the teacher put you out of school.
Show me how you would look when you saw Mary appear at the door again.

Music: Don't forget to "SING" the old familiar song version of the rhyme.

Textured Take-Home Sheep: Provide posterboard (or construction paper) sheep shapes. Children brush glue onto the cutout then sprinkle (fine motor) on dry oatmeal, rice, or grits.
My favorite take-home lamb, however, is one that has little styrofoam pieces glued all over it.

Pre-Math Learning Center Matching Game: Cut out several posterboard lambs and laminate them. Tie the same ribbon around the neck of every two of them. Place the lambs in the learning center for children to match by the kind of bows they are wearing. (Each lamb will have a partner, which also amplifies the theme of "pairs" if Number 2 is one of your numbers this month.) These are so cute because you can use real ribbon.

Blocks Center: During first group time, ask, "I wonder if someone could build a fence or pen for Mary's lamb in the Blocks Center today?" (Allow the children to play as they wish, however.)

School: Turn a corner of the classroom into a pretend school and allow children to act out the rhyme in any way they wish throughout Free Choice playtime.

Science: Fabric Comparisons: Provide wool fabrics for children to "feel" and compare to other fabrics.

Gross Motor: Have the children take turns pretending to be lambs by getting down on all fours. In that position, have them experiment with how they might "roll a ball" if they were lambs, or, how would a lamb "balance" on three or two legs (or even one leg).

Bulletin Board Idea: Group Project: Have small groups "tear" sheet cotton then glue it onto a large bulletin board sized sheep. Place a red bow with a bell around the neck and staple it to the center of your bulletin board.

From Mary, in Prattville, Alabama:
Mary and Her Lambs: Since my name is Mary (and the children know me as Mrs. Mary), I often used this as our first nursery rhyme of the year. I play the role of "Mary" and the children are my lambs (after making paper plate lamb masks). We walk around the room or playground as Mary with the lambs following her (great practice for "walking in line").

Favorite Books:
From Stormie:
Mary Had A Little Lamb, Written by Sarah Josepha Hale; Bruce McMillan, photo-illustrator:The words are the same exact ones as the famous nursery rhyme but with real life photographs. What a delight!

Please share your "Mary Had a Little Lamb" ideas by e-mailing me at stormie@preschoolbystormie.com

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