Putting Humpty Dumpty Together Again

What is YOUR favorite Nursery Rhyme? 

One of my all time favorites, hands down, is Humpty Dumpty! 

I remember when I was about five or six and I bought a stuffed Humpty Dumpty doll at a small store in Kentucky.  I played with that doll for YEARS!!!  He climbed many walls and somehow managed to come out still in one piece!  My love for that "cracked up egg" has never changed! In fact, it continues to impact me to this day!     

So, let's get "cracking" with some multisensory ideas for you to use as you build knowledge and make memories with your little ones using our beloved friend, Humpty Dumpty!

There are many ways that Nursery Rhymes can boost social/emotional, cognitive, language, and physical development and include lots of fun science, cooking, and fine art activities that are sure to keep children interested and learning!

Did you know?  

“Experts in literacy and child development have discovered that if children know eight nursery rhymes by heart by the time they’re four years old, they’re usually among the best readers by the time they’re eight.” ~Mem Fox

Of course we always start with great children's books!  One of my favorites is Mother Goose Neighborhood!  The author puts a fun twist on over 40 rhymes with unique photos taken all around Brooklyn!  Learn more by following the link below! (*Amazon Affiliate Link)





Dave Horowitz has this fun and unique version of Humpty Dumpty that was a staple on my bookshelf.  In Humpty Dumpty Climbs Again this daring little Humpty just loves to climb...will he learn his lesson?





March is the perfect time to play with Humpty Dumpty since Spring is just around the corner and good ole' Humpty lends himself well to "spring things" such as birds, chicks, and eggs!

I usually get things rolling (pun intended) with some REAL eggs! 

This activity is best when introduced to the large group, but then broken up into smaller groups to decrease waiting time.  Bring in a WHOLE dozen eggs (or more) so everyone gets a turn!  The kids decide how tall they want the wall and whether they want Humpty Dumpty to fall on a hard surface or a soft surface!  Just look at all those language and math concepts would you!!!

Depending on the group of kids I have, either I use a permanent marker to make a face on the egg or I let the kids do it!  We make sure to discuss what Humpty Dumpty's face would look like when he sits on the wall.  Would he feel scared?  What do YOUR eyes and mouth look like when you feel scared?

The kids love doing this over and over as each child gets a turn to put their egg on the wall and recite the traditional rhyme with the group as we see what happens when he falls!

There is lots of new vocabulary involved in this lesson such as: yolk, shell, egg white (albumen), hard, soft, high, low, king's  horses and men, bricks, mortar...This would be the perfect time to have older children go back to the table and draw or write about what happened to Humpty Dumpty!

We also talk about all the other things that Humpty Dumpty could sit on that might rhyme with fall.  Some examples might be ball, mall, doll, or a stall.  Bring in or make some of these items and experiment to see what happens!  Rewrite the rhyme to include the new words and illustrations!  

As an extension, we always use the I Love You Ritual by Dr. Becky Bailey.  It goes like this:

"Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.
All the kings horses,
And all the queen's men.
Could put Humpty together again."

This connecting activity has motions that go with it that help you make connections with and among children.  They include eye contact, touch, presence, and playfulness.  The underlying message of this I Love You Ritual is Safety.  You are reminding children that no matter what happens YOU will keep them safe!

Here is a short video clip of me enjoying the ritual with one of my students with special needs.  It was especially fun for him since he really enjoyed intense sensory experiences!  There are so many fun ways to modify this ritual to fit your needs!

We also made a class book with the ritual by taking photos of children doing the activity with a partner.  We added the words and then each child had a turn to take the book home to share this loving ritual with their family!  Once everyone had a turn, we added it to our classroom library and children enjoyed it over and over again!  

They also had the opportunity to illustrate their own individual books!

AND they practiced their visual motor skills by cutting apart a Humpty Dumpty puzzle and then gluing him back together again on a printed wall that included the rhyme for them to take home. 

You can also do this with a brown paper sack and let them use rectangular sponges dipped in red paint to sponge paint bricks on the bag and put their Humpty Dumpty puzzle inside the bag so they could "fix" him over and over again!

I have had these little Humpty Dumpty finger puppets for years!  I think they came from Mailbox Magazine.  Super simple!   



The kids loved having the opportunity to practice using the Skill of Empathy with Humpty Dumpty when he fell down!

Using items from the Wish Well bag they helped Humpty Dumpty regulate his sadness after his fall by offering comfort and well wishes.  Some helped him breathe by using a pinwheel.

Some gave him Band aids and kissed his boo boos.

Others rubbed Boo Boo Cream on him as they sang:
"Bye, bye boo boos!  Bye, bye boo boos!  Bye, bye boo boos!  It's time for you to heal."
(From I Love You Rituals, By:  Dr. Becky Bailey)

They even comforted Humpty Dumpty with this cozy warm heart while wishing him well!

We used these healing rituals based on the idea that "what you offer to others, you strengthen in yourself."  When the children offer Empathy to Humpty Dumpty, they are strengthening their ability to do the same for themselves.

Since I have many children in my classroom with special needs, I  try to include lots of sensory experiences along with our lessons.  This is always a real favorite!

We get out lots of shaving cream and several different sizes of wooden blocks.  The kids use the shaving cream as the "mortar" to help them build walls for Humpty Dumpty.  We give them a plastic egg and let them explore their senses as they continue to enjoy the Nursery Rhyme.



Children learn in so many different ways.  Whenever you are teaching the Nursery Rhymes it is about so much more than just the words on the page.  They need many different opportunities to interact with the materials and experience them using all of their senses!

Some other extension activities we enjoy with Humpty Dumpty include cracking and eating hard boiled eggs.  We decorate and dye eggs and we even bring in live chicks whenever we have the chance!!!

For more great ideas check out my Nursery Rhyme Pinterest Board or this great website!

I look back on my childhood and smile when I think of all the ways I experienced learning.  I'm sure that's why I chose to be a preschool teacher!  I want to give children the opportunity to have rich childhood experiences that not only make them lifelong learners, but also experiences that will perhaps impact them as a parent or caregiver someday!  What will children remember about the lessons YOU plan?  

I hope this gets your imagination "cracking" as you plan some fun Spring activities that are sure to include Nursery Rhymes! 

What are some of your favorite Humpty Dumpty activities? 

BOUNCY LAP SONGS and CHANTS!

HI!  It's Miss Carole of Macaroni Soup, mounting up for Horsey Rides!
    Do you remember bouncing along on Mommy or Daddy's knee?  How about Grandma or Grandpa's?  If you don't, it's not too late to give the gift of this wonderful sense-memory to the child or children in your care.
TRY THIS ONE:  Ride a little horsey, down to town
                            Better be careful so you don't fall D
                                                                                        O
                                                                                            W
                                                                                                N!
   That's an easy one - just bounce, then dump the child forward - hold on tight!  Once they know what's coming, they may lean forward before you're ready!
   Many knee-bounces came from jump rope rhymes, or vice-versa.  Nursery rhymes, with their rhyme and rhythm patterns make great material for this activity.  The smiles and squeals start, and the kids beg for more!
    Put a child on your lap, facing away from you, straddling your knees.  Babies should be securely holding their heads erect before trying ANY lap songs.  Now, as you chant the following verse, lift one knee, then the other.  The child will rock from side to side - great for the vestibular system.  On "giddy-up. giddy-up, use BOTH knees to bounce, then wrap one arm around the child and pull back gently for "Whoa!"

Ricketty ricketty rocking horse
Over the fields we go
Ricketty ricketty rocking horse
Giddy-up, giddy-up, WHOA!

What do you need?  One child + one chair
How do you start?  Sit in the chair, child on your lap.  GO!
NOTE:  The child can sit facing you, or facing away from you.  I like to vary positions from rhyme to rhyme.

Lap songs are a great time to put a beat into our bodies.  Gently tap your child's foot for this one (or they can tap their own!)
Shoe a little horsey, shoe a little mare
But let the little pony go bare bare bare!
   Now do the other foot, then do both feet, tapping together!

Try the next one with the child facing you - make eye contact, smile, eyes big with anticipation (that's YOUR instructions - the child knows what to do - have fun!)

Who's sitting on WHO's lap???

This is the way the ladies ride
Side (che che) to side (che che)
Side (che che) to side (che che)
This is the way the gentleman rides
Front (che che) to back (che che)
Front (che che) to back (che che)
And this is the way the country boys ride:
Da da dum da da dum da da dum dum dum
Da da dum da da dum da da dum dum dum
Da da dum da da dum da da dum dum dum
Da da DA. da da dum dum dum!  (that's the William Tell Overture!)

What to do:  for the Ladies, lean child from side to side, Gentleman - pull child toward you, then away.  For the country boys - it's a wild bouncy ride!  At the end, slide your hand under the child's neck/head and lean them over backward - almost to touch the floor!  Come up gently!

And finally - my favorite, and admittedly many children's favorite:  "Walk Ol' Joe!" There are several different tunes for this one, or it can be done as a chant.  You can find it on my "Sticky Bubble Gum...and Other Tasty Tunes" cd.

BOTTOMS UP!

    Put the child in your lap, facing out.  Hold them by putting your hands under their thighs, ready for the grab and lift!
Walk Old Joe, walk Old Joe
You walk better than any horse I know.
Walk Old Joe, walk Old Joe
You walk better than any horse I know.
Whoa, Joe!   WHOA, Joe!

Repeat with additional verses of "Trot Old Joe" and "Gallop Old Joe!", making the bounces bigger with
each verse!  Sorry the picture is blurry - they were really moving!

What to do:  Bounce along while singing the song.  When you get to "Whoa, Joe", while holding your child by the thighs, cradeling their head at your shoulder, lift their bottom into the air.  Remember - this is to delight, not scare the child.  If they don't like it, DON'T DO IT!

   LET'S GET FANCY!  There's also a move called "dandling":  while sitting in a chair, cross one leg over the other at the knee, then put your child on your foot and bounce your top leg (with the child on it) up and down.  WHEE!  I'm told that Dads are particularly good at this!

PERSONAL STORY:  I was presenting a workshop for teachers who work with Toddlers about 10 years ago in Indiana.  I taught this group of Lap Songs.  When I finished, an elderly teacher back in the crowd raised her hand to share:  "This is very important, what Miss Carole is telling us.  I am sitting here now, but I can feel what my mother's body felt on my back.  She did these lap songs with me over 60 years ago."  It stopped me cold.  Tears were on her face. She added quietly, "I miss her."

    DO YOU DO LAP SONGS?  I'd love to hear what you use!  TELL ME!
    If you don't, and try some of these - let me know how it went!
YES - you can do lap songs even if you have more children than adults!  Kids will gladly wait their turn, usually bouncing along on the floor and enjoying watching others!

Yours for a Song!
"Miss Carole" Stephens
Macaroni Soup! Active Music for Kids!

Showers & Flowers = Beat & Melody

      Miss Carole here, of Macaroni Soup, and I’m LOVING the Spring weather we're having in Chicago!  How are things where YOU are?  It's a perfect time for singing and chanting to practice keeping a steady beat and matching pitch.  Mister Rogers wrote that children are born with rhythm and pitch.  Then how do we get 4 and 5 year olds who struggle to find and keep a beat or can’t carry a tune?

                                               LACK OF EXPOSURE!

     Sometimes it’s the simplest of activities that have the greatest impact on learning.  That doesn’t mean you have to have "musical talent."  My Mom, a preschool teacher for 35 years couldn’t “carry a tune in a paper bag” – that’s what she’d say – but it never stopped her from singing with her classes every day!  Off-key sometimes, yes, but no children were harmed in the process.  Quite the contrary!  The local Kindergarten teacher once told me that she could always tell which children came from my Mom’s school:  they were the best listeners, followed directions well, and were usually the first readers in her class.  So let’s get singing for Spring!

     Putting the beat into your body gets it into the brain, too!  Marching, stamping, clapping, jumping and tapping are great ways to keep the beat.  Here’s two of my favorite activites– and you probably already know the words and/or melody!

Chant:

Rain, rain, go a-way

Come a-gain a-nother day.

Little children want to play

Rain, rain, go a-way!

What to do:  Start out patting the rhythm on the floor with your hands.  Hit the floor on the underlined words, and you’ll have the beat.  Be sure to start out slowly – it’s not a race.  Children get their natural rhythm from Mom’s heartbeat!

     Change (without stopping the beat) to clapping your hands for the next repetition of the verse.  Then softly pat you shoulders.  And finally silently tap your head.  You may choose to “mouth” the words at first, but once the children have the beat and know the poem, just tap, audiating the melodic rhythm.  You should all end at the same time!

What are we doing:  we’re practicing finding and keeping the beat, we’re developing a group dynamic in working together, and we’re putting the beat in our body and brain.

A garden of children!

Try the next one with a flannelboard demonstration to get everyone onboard.  Don’t have a flannelboard?  Cover a 24 x 14” piece of foamcore board with blue or white flannel.  Use packing tape to secure it to the back (easy to tear off when the flannel needs washing).  Use my patterns below or make your own to create the felt pieces.  But sure to cut enough raindrops so that every child will have the opportunity to put something on the board. 

I’m A Little Seed  (hear it here)

      Tune:  “I’m a Little Teapot”

I’m a little seed in the dark, dark ground,

Out comes the sun,  yellow and round.

Down comes the cool rain, soft and slow.

Up the seed begins to grow!

What to do: 

Line 1: Curl up on the floor on your knees, tuck arms in 
Line 2: Sit up, put arms over head to make a "sun" 
Line 3: Wiggle fingers as hands move downward like the rain 
Line 4: Stretch up tall, or stand, hands reaching for the sky!

     Be sure to ask what color the little flowers are in your class!  Then get small again and repeat the song.  Children may tell you what kind of flower they are – I had a garden of roses the other day!  You’ve not only done music – you’ve included a science lesson on germination.    ...From my garden to yours!                                                                        

       Yours for a Song!
     Miss Carole

Macaroni Soup!  

Active Music for Kids!

Bring Back the Rhymes (and a freebie, too)!

No, nursery rhymes are not just for babies.  In fact, lots of babies aren't even hearing them anymore.  Let's bring back the rhymes and engage children in meaningful rhyme and story.  My kindergarten students LOVE to read (and reread and reread) nursery rhymes and they also love to take them apart, put them back together and change them around.  It's no secret that children love anything personalized with their name or their picture, so let't take that idea and run with it right??
We recently did the nursery rhyme Three Little Kittens.  Perfect, right?  It's cold, the children wear mittens and are always losing their mittens and getting their moms all frantic, so they can really relate. There are so many skills and concepts found hidden in this rhyme:

• My favorite is using intonnation when you read and really "reading" the punctuation that is there. The kids get how upset the kittens will be to tell mama cat that they've lost their mittens, so how will they say it?  They also get how upset mama will be when she knows they've lost their mittens.  How will she respond?  Try reading it without any expression and see how they react.  This is how they begin to learn about intonnation in their own reading and how it can change the whole meaning of a story or change the excitement of the audience anyway.
• I always introduce the concept of mystery through this rhyme.  Where did those mittens go anyway?  Some of the ideas that these childdren have will simply amaze you.  It generates amazing writing and excitement.
• Math:  I always coincide this with skip counting by twos. Mittens do come in pairs, right??  And, of course those silly kittens lost both mittens to help us find pairs.
• Phonics and reading skills:  rhyming, of course!  Finding words we know in words we don't (example it is found in little and mittens and kittens).  But, also, there are copious amounts of chunks to be found and located in this rhyme as evidence shows below (I have my students "butter" the chunks and words we know in the poems with "sticks of butter" a.k.a highlighters--keep it fun, people!).  When children see all they know in excerpts they are going to read, it makes them realize, "Wow, I really can read this!":

Check out the amazing art that is generated from this personalized rhyme where the student becomes the angry person who the kittens reveal that they've lost their mittens to. 

Please hop on over to my blog if you are interested in getting a 3 Little Kitten packet to use with your students!