After reading several Mother Goose rhymes, play a guessing game using the characters. Write clues that lead the class to the right conclusion. Humpty Dumpty clues might include phrases such as; I am round, I sit on a wall, I fell down. For Little Bo Peep, highlight the fact that she lost something, and for the Three Blind Mice, mention that they run. After a few rounds of the game, instruct the kids to write their own clues using different rhymes. Have them try to stump the teacher.
Older children can still use traditional Mother Goose nursery rhymes as writing prompts. Split the class into groups and assign each a rhyme. Instruct them to read the familiar rhyme several times while considering what might have happened next if the story were to continue. Discover what happened when Mary's lamb grew up, and find out what does the hickory dickory dock mouse does next.
Give each student a copy of a nursery rhyme. Have them chart the similarities in the words used. They can make tally marks for all the words that have double letters, rhyming words, words with the letter "O," words they do not know, animal words or sounds, nouns, verbs and adjectives. Put all the information on a graph form. This integrates a math concept into their literature studies while encouraging them to read carefully.
Assign a different nursery rhyme to each student. Instruct the students to illustrate their particular rhyme. Encourage detailed work. Once all the illustrations are done, bind them into a classroom book. Photocopy the collection to give to each student, present the book to the student's former teacher, or have the school librarian include the book in the library.
Perform nursery rhymes in class. Select a few favorite Mother Goose rhymes to act out. Children can get involved in all aspects of planning a nursery rhyme event that can be opened up to parents or other classes. Some nursery rhymes can be turned into a short play, performed as a choral reading, a choreographed dance, or include hand motions to teach the audience.