Language

ABC Apron with Pockets

Place a mini-nursery rhyme book or a small toy/object/picture that represents the rhyme beginning with that letter into the corresponding letter pocket. Discuss sounds/words that start with the corresponding letters on the ABC apron and introduce by singing the Alphabet Song.  Each child takes a turn to choose a letter.  Pull out the object that represents the rhyme beginning with the letter the child has chosen.  Continue until all the pockets are empty.  For letters that are difficult to determine a rhyme, use a rhyme that has a high frequency count for the sound (X - Sing a Song of Sixpence and Z - Sneezing).  Extended activities can include paper bag puppets, sequence story frames, snacks, mini science experiments, gross motor activities, hidden picture sheets, plays, flannel board story cutouts and more... 

A List of Rhymes that can be used:

A-The Alphabet Song	N- A Needle and Thread
B- Baa Baa Black Sheep	O- One Two Buckle My Shoe
C- Cock a Doodle Doo	P- Pussy Cat, Pussy Cat
D- Hey Diddle Diddle	Q- Queen of Hearts
E- Elizabeth	R- Rub a Dub Dub
F- Fiddler's Three	S- SeeSaw
G- Goose Goosey Gander	T- Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear
H- Humpty Dumpty	U- The Lion and the Unicorn
I- I Am a Gold Lock (Lock and Key)	V- One, He Loves
J- Jack and Jill	W- Wee Willie Winkie
K- Old King Cole	X- The Crooked Sixpence
L- Little Bo Peep	Y- You Shall Have an Apple (for baby)
M- Little Miss Muffet	Z- Sneezing

Sources:
The Real Mother Goose, Rand McNally & Co.
Let Loose on Mother Goose, Book Activities to Teach Math, Science, Art, Music, Life Skills and Language Development, by Terry Graham
Nursery Rhymes, Reproducible Stand-ups, by Carole Charters, Judy/Instructo
My Favorite Nursery Rhymes - 8 Adorable Little Books, The Five Mile Press Pty, Ltd.
MacMillan Seasonal Activity Packs

This wonderful early literacy and language idea was submitted by Marjorie Martinez.