Dancing with the Nursery Rhyme Stars
By Lois Lewis
Grade Level: 3-6
Story Preview: Famous nursery rhyme characters compete in a dance contest.
Roles: Narrators 1-2; Old King Cole; Jack and Jill; Jack Be Nimble; Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary; Peter Piper; Queen of Hearts; Little Boy Blue; Little Miss Muffet
cockleshell: the hard outer covering of a water animal similar to a clam
ovation: excited recognition, often with loud clapping
tart: a small dessert pie with filling and no top crust
Props: (Optional) classroom desks; CD or other music player (for dance music); teacher-provided or student-made pot; bag of toy coins; student-made paper crowns (for Old King Cole and the Queen of Hearts); toy or student-made horn (for Little Boy Blue); stool or cushion (for Little Miss Muffet); toy or student-made microphone; two coats or capes (for Old King Cole and the Queen of Hearts); a few bells and shells (for Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary); candlestick or candleholder (for Jack Be Nimble)
Follow-Up Questions:
Who is the host of the show and who are the judges? Who are the contestants?
What is the grand prize?
What are some clues in the dialogue that tell about the characters in the play? Give three examples.
What is Peter Piper's role?
What were three of the dances that were performed?
How would you describe the original dances performed by Teams 1 and 2? Compare and contrast them.
Who did Jack and Jill donate the pot of gold to? Why?
Follow-Up Activities:
Encourage students to research the nursery rhymes for the characters in the play. Then have each student create an original rhyme for a new nursery rhyme character. Invite students to draw pictures to illustrate their characters. Compile students' rhymes and drawings and post them on your class or school Web site, or put them into a booklet for your classroom library. You also might have students research the dances mentioned in the play, as well as other dances. Study how they are performed. Then hold your own classroom dance competition!
Dancing with the Nursery Rhyme Stars