Turn nursery rhymes into skits in the classroom. Read several nursery rhymes to the students to familiarize them with the genre. Divide the students into small groups, allowing each group to select its favorite nursery rhyme. Help the groups develop the skit based on the actions in the nursery rhyme. Have them create costumes, props and scenery for the performance. A drawing or painting on a piece of butcher paper provides a suitable background. Have the students practice reciting the nursery rhyme to ensure they are ready for the performance. Invite another class, staff members or parents to watch the performance.
Choose a food-related nursery rhyme to create a cooking activity for the classroom. Baking or decorating cupcakes extends the learning of "Pat-a-Cake." Scrambled eggs let children practice cracking eggs while incorporating the "Humpty Dumpty" nursery rhyme. Make a pot of porridge or oatmeal to accompany "Pease Porridge Hot." Bake a pumpkin pie or pumpkin bars for "Peter, Peter, Pumpkin Eater." These dishes connect the students to the nursery rhymes in concrete ways and provide the children with the real life skills that accompany cooking.
HubbardsCupboard.org suggests using nursery rhymes to help the children practice ordering events. Select nursery rhymes with at least three sequential events, such as "Jack and Jill." Draw or print a picture that corresponds with each event in the nursery rhyme. Place the pictures in random order on the board, then read the nursery rhyme to the class. Ask students to help put the pictures in the correct order. Reread the nursery rhyme, asking the children to verify that the pictures were ordered correctly. Create several sets of the nursery rhyme ordering cards for additional practice. These cards also work well as an activity in an independent learning station.