Homeschool: How to Make Nursery Rhyme Pockets for Preschoolers
We have been homeschooling four of our children for a while. The three littlest one have been learning at home using Sonlight since last May. Then, this January we brought the 12 year old home to learn as well.
For our littlest guy, who just turned four, I enjoy using Sonlight’s Preschool Curriculum that is recommended for 3 and 4 year olds. I also like to add a little bit to it.
Now, don’t get me wrong, we do not have a steady hard-core schedule for Matthew. He is only 4. There is not a strict schedule or even daily sitting down at the table for him. Right now he kind of leads the way and I do school work with him as he is interested. Some days he is not interested and some days he wants to do everything his brother’s are doing.
I am fond of the forums that Sonlight offers for their users and I am on there all the time looking for more resources (imagine that). I love these “pockets” that another mom suggested and it was a way for me to incorporate some crafts and worksheets.
There are Literature Pockets, History Pockets, Monthly Theme Pockets and more. These are available by grade level and by topic. So, for example, you can get History Pockets for a 2nd grader that focuses on The Revolutionary War.
I found a Literature Pocket that is all nursery rhymes. This book covers some of your favorite stories like A Little Bird, Little Miss Muffet, Little Bo Peep, Rub-a-Dub-Dub and more.
How it works is, you make a “pocket” using a large sheet of manilla paper. Simple instructions are included, but this is what it looks like.
Then, there are some worksheets and activities for each nursery rhyme.
So, our first story was A Little Bird. Matthew colored the pocket title and we glued it to the front of our pocket.
Then, over a couple of days we did the little worksheets, crafts and projects.
There was a super simple little book we made simply from folding the sheet of paper and coloring each little page. He loved making his own book.
Then one worksheet was a poem that we cut out, colored and pasted to a sheet of construction paper.
I love that we can work on cutting skills and gluing skills. (I help of course.)
There was a template to make our very own little birdy.
Again, cutting, gluing and following directions. I love that there are no crazy supplies that I have to run to the store and get. So far we have used common items that you likely already have on hand.
And then everything is stored in the pocket.
As we move on to the next nursery rhyme we make a new pocket that can be attached to the first pocket as to make our own large book of nursery rhyme crafts and activities.
I love that we get to spend some time together, works on basic motor skills, he can listen to me read and it is fun non-stressful learning.
We are loving it!
I am so proud of you Crystal! I knew you could homeschool. Your kids are thriving. 🙂
Thanks so much for writing about this great resource. Pinned it!
Monica
http://happyandblessedhome.com
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Glad you liked it Monica. We are having a great time learning about and reading these nursery rhymes while making our own little scrapbook of activities.
Thanks for stopping by!