Compile a list of rhyming words. Tell the children to form a giant circle and to turn to their right so they are looking at the back of the student to their right. Start by saying a word and then a rhyming word. Whenever students hear a rhyming word, they should take a step forward. When they hear a word that doesn’t rhyme, they should all sit down. Start a new rhyming pattern when you run out of rhyming words for the starting word.
Make large cards with a different rhyming word on each. You will show the children a word card and say, “I say ____.” Then you will hold up a card with a rhyming word and say, “You say ____.” Start with short words, such as, “I say bat.” “You say cat.” As the children progress in their understanding of rhyming words, increase the difficulty of the words.
Make a list of words that have several other words that rhyme with them. Have the students sit in a circle. You will say a word and ask the children to raise their hands if they know a rhyming word. Pick the first student who raises their hand. If she correctly says a rhyming word, toss the ball to her. Say another word and ask the class if anyone knows a rhyming word. Call on the student who first raises his hand. If he answers correctly, the first student will toss the ball to him. If a student answers incorrectly, pick another student to answer.
When students understand rhyming words, they are ready to learn about rhyme schemes. Start with the words to “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” and write them on the blackboard. Ask students to identify the words that rhyme. Have one child come to the blackboard and circle each pair of rhyming words in a different color of chalk. Explain how to mark the pattern and ask another student to write the pattern next to the last word of each line. (They will mark “AABB,” because the first and second lines rhyme and the third and four lines rhyme.) Give them other poems to try. Then ask them to write their own poems using one of the rhyme schemes.