Lesson Title – There was an Old Lady . . .

Contributor –Anne Draper       

Grade Level - Pre-K - Kindergarten

Essential Reading Element – Phonics and Poetry

Objective(s) – students will become familiar with poetry and the way it flows and moves as it is read and acted out

Procedure – Have students discuss the picture on the front of the book. Once they have discussed the cover, read through the book, There was an old lady who swallowed a bat, the first time having the students clap each time they hear a word that rhymes.  Then the students will act out the poem – There was an old lady who swallowed a bat using large mouth old lady puppet and the other characters in the poem.  After performing the poem there will be time to discuss the other poems about the old lady and what she has swallowed.  They will be able to compare and contrast the different poems.   

Implementation -  This can be implemented many different times during the year depending on which version of the “old lady” is used: There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly, There Was A Cold Lady Who Swallowed Some Snow, There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Bell!, There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Shell!, I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Pie, and There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed the Sea. This lesson was implemented with There was an old lady who swallowed a bat.  The students really enjoy acting out the poem with the old lady puppet.  They quickly picked up on the rhyming words.

Examples, Resources, and Links - http://www.teachingheart.net/oldladybat.html

http://www.virtualteacherslounge.org/view/viewer?object_id=vtl:rel:hilda16836866911021921471&SiteObject=lesson

http://www.marcias-lesson-links.com/YourIdeasforOldLady.html

http://www.thesolutionsite.com/lesson/2452/lesson5.htm

http://eduscapes.com/library/t/there_was_an_old_lady_who_swallowed_a_fly.htm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSlK5YTI3XY&feature=related