Nursery Rhymes Starring Lambs and Sheep, or Props are Helpful When Teaching

During the month of March, I introduced the lamb (who grows up to be a sheep) for the toddler and preschool story dance classes.  Using a book with great illustrations, I read Mary Had a Little Lamb (we also sang). The lamb grows-up to be a sheep and we read Little Bo Peep, then we sang and read Baa Baa Black Sheep. We also changed the color of the sheep a few times.

After reading Mary Had a Little Lamb, we played follow-the-leader. I gave one tot the stuffed animal and she became the leader and we all followed her around the room. We played this until everyone got a turn. I followed the leader while tapping a beat on the tambourine.

The Redstone School, now in Sudbury, Massachusetts, is believed to be the schoolhouse mentioned in the nursery rhyme.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Had_a_Little_Lamb

The stuffed animal as a turn-taking prompt has been working very well for the toddlers and preschoolers. And since sharing is not a toddler's greatest skill, I am so glad when I see them hug and pass.

We also acted out Little Bo peep, which the little ones really seemed to get a kick out of. I pretended to be Little Bo Peep, distraught over losing all my sheep, while the children hide (pretended to hide). Then, they all come back wagging their tales behind them. They wanted to play this several times, some children took turns as Bo Peep. Toddlers and preschoolers enjoyed the dramatic action!

In general, props have a wonderful role in the creative movement class, and other expressive arts, as they invite imagination, extension, and discovery of movement; a theme I have seen repeated over and over. Visual and kinetic learners may especially appreciate when a prop appears in the learning space.