Rhymes are typically created from word families. Write some words on a chalkboard from any nursery rhyme; that gives opportunity for the preschoolers to think of some words to fit in the word families. While rhyming words are included in the verses, there are also words that children can build on for word families. Some examples include fall, hill, moon, cat, mouse and mice. Preschoolers can give suggestions to fill in the word families under each key word.
Play counting games while saying one or more rhymes. Have preschoolers jump five times, then four, three, two and one for while saying "Five Little Monkeys." Have them form groups of three, and try to make their way around a circle while closing their eyes and holding hands as they recite "Three Blind Mice." Encourage the children to repeat each action in, "One, Two, Buckle My Shoe."
Provide printed pages with large shapes for the children to cut out. They can add other craft materials to make an oval Humpty, fold an oval in half to create Little Boy Blue's haystack or turn an oval into a sheep or spider. Glue some glitter onto star cutouts, and tape the stars onto a paper towel tube for the children to hold up their stars while reciting, "Twinkle, Twinkle" or "Star Light, Star Bright." Fold a heart shape in half and work with the flat side downward. Add a long yarn tail and yarn whiskers for a mouse or paper legs and ears for a sheep. Cut a red heart and a black one. Cut the red one in half. Glue the red wings over the black heart. Glue on some eyes, black spots and feelers. Make circle moons, pumpkins, spiders or dog and cat faces.
During circle time, have preschoolers listen to nursery rhymes and try to tell which parts of each rhyme is an opposite. Have them climb up and fall down for "Jack and Jill," walk up and down for "Hickory Dickory," or climb in and out of a pretend water spout for the "Itsy Bitsy Spider." Go further than the rhymes with opposites activities. Give children big and little snacks. Have them put hats or gloves on and take them off. Let them jump in and out of a Hula hoop. Put items in the water table center and have the children dry some off, then get them wet again or wet and dry opposites.